<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001288469-21-000173.txt : 20210602
<SEC-HEADER>0001288469-21-000173.hdr.sgml : 20210602
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20210602165637
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001288469-21-000173
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20210520
FILED AS OF DATE:		20210602
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20210602

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LOUGHEED JAMES
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001642366

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-34666
		FILM NUMBER:		21989927

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		48720 KATO ROAD
		CITY:			FREMONT
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94538

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MAXLINEAR INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001288469
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674]
		IRS NUMBER:				141896129
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5966 LA PLACE CT.
		CITY:			CARLSBAD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92008
		BUSINESS PHONE:		760-692-0711

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5966 LA PLACE CT.
		CITY:			CARLSBAD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92008
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form4_162266738097987.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-05-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001288469</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MAXLINEAR INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MXL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001642366</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LOUGHEED JAMES</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MAXLINEAR, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5966 LA PLACE COURT, SUITE 100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CARLSBAD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92008</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>See Remarks</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-05-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11173</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>11173.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11173</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each restricted stock unit (&quot;RSU&quot;) represents a contingent right to receive one share of MaxLinear, Inc. Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Subject to the Reporting Person continuing to be a Service Provider (as defined in the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan) through each applicable vesting date, ten percent (10%) of the RSUs subject to the award will vest on May 20, 2022; twenty percent (20%) of the RSUs subject to the award will vest on May 20, 2023; thirty percent (30%) of the RSUs subject to the award will vest on May 20, 2024; and forty percent (40%) of the RSUs subject to the award will vest on May 20, 2025, such that all the RSUs subject to the award will then be fully vested.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Vice President, Marketing, High Performance Analog</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Connie Kwong, as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-06-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
