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Is Hulu Not Working Properly?

Is Hulu Not Working Properly? [Quick & Easy Hacks May 2024]

December 22, 2022 — 10 min read — 2,237 Views — Last Updated: February 5, 2024

Summary

With millions of global users across its on-demand and live TV subscription plans, Hulu is one of the most-watched streaming platforms. However, even with such an incredible subscriber base, it isn’t immune to issues. Let’s look at the plausible explanations for why Hulu is not working on your streaming device.

Table of Contents

Is your Hulu not working? This issue happens way less now, but when it used to be frequent before, we tried several things to make it work, and it does end up working! You won’t have to chat with customer support if that’s what you’re fearing, but it may lead to that if you don’t fix the issue right away.

Just like any other streaming service, Hulu has problems like buffering and bad video quality, as well as Hulu connection errors, playback failures, and skipping. There are numerous possible reasons for each of those issues.

If your Hulu is not working correctly, here’s how to fix common Hulu streaming issues so you can immediately resume watching your favorite show.

How to Fix Hulu Not Working with One Solution this 2024

Fixing Hulu is super easy. Don’t believe us? Follow along!

  1. Subscribe to a trusted VPN. We recommend ExpressVPN.
  2. Download and install the VPN app.
  3. Connect to a US-based server. [Recommended Server “New York.”]
  4. Now, visit the Hulu App or log in if required.
  5. Congrats! You just fixed the Hulu Not Working issues.

Get Risk-Free VPN Now!

Why Is Hulu Not Working?

Problems with connecting to the internet and with the software are the two main things that stop Hulu from working and Hulu not loading.

Your home network or internet connection could cause the first problem, but it could also be a problem with the Hulu service itself. Or, you might be streaming Hulu outside the US without any support from a VPN. There are several issues, and similarly, many solutions as well.

We’ve mentioned all possible solutions to fixing Hulu by yourself, so should you run into a problem, you know what to do!

19 Fixes to Resolve Hulu Not Working Error

Hulu needs a few things to operate correctly as an online streaming service. For Hulu to work smoothly, you just need a high-speed internet connection, a compatible device, and a Hulu app for your device or a web browser that can run the web player. Hulu won’t work if there is a problem with any of these features.

Try these troubleshooting methods to get Hulu to operate:

1. See if Hulu is Down

You should first check to see if the service is down because this can be done quickly. Check Twitter or other social media first because failures of streaming services are frequently reported there. Look for the #huludown hashtag to see if anything matches your problem.

Check whether Hulu crashed; even a popular streaming service experiences an occasional temporary crash. These interruptions don’t occur often and are usually quickly fixed, but sometimes when an increasing number of users try using the app, it can go down.

A quick way to check to see if Hulu is down is by visiting websites such as isitdownrightnow or downdetector. It’s also wise to check Hulu’s social media and see if they’ve announced any bugs.

The Hulu service could be unavailable if the website or web player won’t open. If this happens, Hulu servers are down, the app won’t play videos, or it fails to load correctly, which means Hulu isn’t working.

2. Analyze any Hulu Geo-Restricted Error Messages

You’ll get a geo-restricted error if you attempt to stream Hulu from a country other than the USA. Due to licensing issues, Hulu is available in the USA.

But you can bypass the error and stream Hulu by subscribing and connecting through a VPN. We suggest ExpressVPN because it’s the best VPN for streaming.

3. Restart the Device

Try to restart your device, whether you’re trying to stream on a computer, phone, video game console, or another device.

Restart the device completely, and if required, unplug it from the power source. Check to see whether Hulu functions properly after turning the device back on.

4. Force stop your Device

If you have any corrupted files on your device, you must delete them. It might create a hassle; hence you should immediately clear your caches and cookies from the Hulu App to secure your connection from Hulu crashing.

Follow these steps to clear cookies and cache from your browser:

  1. Go to your browser’s settings.
  2. Select “Clear Browsing Data.”
  3. Make sure to select the options for cache and cookies, and then click “Clear Data.”

5. Test a Different Device

Try streaming on your phone, or you can try a different browser if you use the Hulu online player on a computer. You may have at least one substitute since Hulu can stream on many different devices.

6. Disconnect your Device

You can deactivate and reactivate your device. Reactivate the device you want to use by deactivating it from your Hulu account page. You can try again by reactivating the gadget. Visit secure.hulu.com/account to log in.

  1. Go to Manage Devices.
  2. Click Remove after finding your device.
  3. Re-sign in on your device, then try streaming.

7. Update your Device

Check to see if there is an update available for your device. If there is, install it and try streaming again.

8. Check the Internet connection

Check your network connection. You must determine your internet speed if you are facing slow and interrupted streaming. This is the speed requirement for Hulu streaming:

  • 3.0 Mbps for Hulu movies/shows
  • 8.0 Mbps for live streams
  • 16.0 Mbps for 4K content

9. Improve Your Network Connection

Check and disconnect other devices connected to your home network and close any other apps you run behind, it consumes excessive bandwidth.

10. Check the Wi-Fi router

You have to check if your router is in good condition. If the issue doesn’t resolve after you restart your router and get a smooth connection, contact your ISP and schedule an inspection.

11. Check With Your ISP

After checking all of Hulu’s bugs and errors, you can contact your ISP (Internet Service Provider) to check for any problem from their end.

12. Consider Using a Connected Internet Connection

If your device supports it, try connecting to your modem using an Ethernet cable if your connection isn’t fast enough. If it works, there may be a problem with your Wi-Fi connection or too many devices connected to your router.

13. Try a Wired Connection

Due to the bad weather situation, sometimes the Wi-Fi signal weakens or too many people are connected to a single network; you can try to connect to the internet through a wired connection. It might help make Hulu stream adequately.

14. Log out to improve the connection

Log out your Hulu App from every device you are being connected to and then log in again from the device you’re streaming from.

15. Reinstall your Hulu App

Uninstall Hulu from your device if it is not working well. Wait a few minutes and install it again.

16. Clear previous updates

Settle your pending updates, because if left alone, it can cause issues.

17. Check Subscription status

You must keep a close eye on your subscription status, whether it is paid, and how many days are left. Even if it isn’t paid, it’s important to keep track of the benefits it offers, so you don’t let it break. Renew your subscription if necessary to avoid inconvenience.

18. Check Your VPN or Proxy

Your VPN or proxy must be turned off if you are using it from the US (And if you are not living in the US, then you must use a reliable VPN to get easy and hassle-free streaming).

19. Contact Customer Support

Last but not least, if nothing works, then contact Hulu customer support to help you in other ways. They are courteous and can explain why the service is unavailable and what measures you may take to resolve the problem.

Common Hulu Error Codes to Watch Out For

If Hulu is not working and it is showcasing an error, check the error codes it displays. Following are the Hulu error codes and their easiest solution:

Hulu Error RUNUNK13 (Buffering and Playback Problems)

If you’ve gone through the troubleshooting procedures and this problem persists, consider the following frequent solutions:

  1. Clear the cache in your browser.
  2. Uninstall and reinstall the Hulu app.
  3. Troubleshooting or one of these alternatives should restore your ability to watch Rick and Morty or House of the Dragon.

Hulu Error P-DEV320 (Problem with Digital Media Player)

This usually indicates a problem on Hulu’s end, which happens when you’re streaming Hulu on a digital media player like Roku or Xbox.

However, we recommend that you follow our troubleshooting methods just to be sure. If none of those methods work, you must contact Hulu support or wait it out.

Hulu Error Code 5003 OR Hulu Error Code BYA-403-007 (Playback Problem)

Because this is a playback issue, it typically indicates a problem with your streaming device or app. Try these instructions if you’re watching it on your smartphone, Macbook, Apple TV, or PS5.

  1. Uninstall and reinstall the Hulu app.
  2. Restart your computer.
  3. Start your router again.
  4. If none of them, or any of the troubleshooting methods, work, you’ll need to contact Hulu and use another device in the meantime.

Hulu HDCP error (HDMI cable problem)

It’s a protected content error, which stands for High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection. When a source of video is out of date or if there’s a communication failure between the devices, this error shows up.

To prevent this error, use an HDMI cable. But if you are, do these steps and you may iron out the majority of the issue:

  1. Unplug your HDMI cable from the TV and your streaming device.
  2. Unplug your TV as well by removing the power source.
  3. Connect your device directly to your TV using the HDMI cable.

If it doesn’t work, how about you try a new HDMI cable or connect to a different HDMI port on your TV? Restart the device once more to see if the HDCP issue is fixed.

Hulu isn’t Available to Watch in your Location Error

Sometimes you get this error because Hulu believes you’re not at home, but if you are, then you should contact Hulu’s customer service.

If you are not at home, for example, you’ve gone on a vacation to Hawaii but you live in Texas, then you won’t get the same Hulu channels and your library may exclude a few titles due to the fact that Hulu uses geo-restriction on its content to comply with the licensed content policy.

But if you move across the nation, for example, you move from the USA to Australia or UAE, then you’d need to say Goodbye to Hulu, as Hulu’s not available globally yet. But, hear us out, there’s a solution to this issue, which is a VPN, you can use one to change your virtual IP to a US-based one and access Hulu the same way you did back in the USA.

And if we talk about a perfect VPN for Hulu streaming, our top pick is ExpressVPN, which has the most reliable US servers to stream.

Hulu error codes 3 and 5

These are different codes, but they occur for similar reasons. The error code 3 is usually due to an unexpected issue, but not a server timeout or an HTTP issue, an entirely different one. A little refresh and a waiting period for a minimal amount of time will do this error well.

The error 5 is because of malformed data, and it happens when the internet connection is not up to par. Restart your router and this error will be solved.

Is Hulu not working properly on your Streaming devices? [Quick Fixes]

If you believe your device is up to date and is compatible with Hulu, then it may be a temporary issue or a glitch. Find your device below and perform these fixes:

Roku

Why Hulu is not working on Roku? Do these steps to sort out the issue:

  • Check to see whether your Roku device still supports Hulu.
  • Restart your system or power cycle your device.
  • Refresh the Hulu channel.
  • Remove and reinstall the Hulu app.
  • Clear the cache on the Roku TVs.
  • Reboot your network router.
  • For assistance, contact Hulu or Roku.
  • Examine the Hulu server.

iPhone

Hulu app not working on iPhones? Try these steps now:

  • After removing Hulu, reinstall it on your device.
  • Check your device’s compatibility.
  • Force Restart the device after closing the Hulu App.
  • Check to see whether you have a Hulu subscription.
  • Check Your Internet Connection Speed
  • Examine the login information.
  • Log out and then back in again.
  • Check to see whether the website is down.
  • Remove Cache Data
  • Make some room for the gadget.

Hulu is not working on Chromecast

Is Hulu unable to load on Chromecast? Then follow the mentioned below steps:

  • Look into Hulu’s server.
  • Try watching a different show.
  • Look at the name of your Chromecast.
  • Log out and then back in again.
  • Check your internet connection and then reset it.
  • Clear the cache data from Chromecast.
  • To watch Hulu, use the Chrome browser.
  • Both the Hulu app and the Chromecast device should be updated.
  • Please notify Hulu of the problem.
  • Install the app again.

Android

Why is Hulu not working on Firestick? Below mentioned steps are your way to get Hulu or Firestick:

  • Repair the sluggish internet connection.
  • Hulu’s app should be updated.
  • Update the Firestick as well.
  • Clear the Hulu app’s cache.
  • Delete the app and reinstall it.
  • Force the Firestick to restart.

Smart TV

Why is Hulu not working on my Smart TV? You must follow these easy guidelines to get Hulu on your TV.

  • Cold restart the Samsung TV.
  • Clear the Hulu app cache on your Samsung Smart TV.
  • Try restarting your Samsung TV.
  • Update both the Hulu app and the Samsung Smart TV software.
  • On Samsung, the news, reinstall the Hulu app.

How to Fix Hulu Audio Issues

Turn off the movie or show you’re watching on Hulu and try something else. This may cause Hulu to reset softly. However, you may also try completely stopping the show and then relaunching it.

Examine the audio settings. Hulu’s content library is sometimes only encoded for stereo sound.

Your Hulu audio experience may be affected by how your streaming device’s HDMI cable is connected to your TV (and which port it is connected to). As a result, you should use caution in this area as well.

FAQs

Why is Hulu Live not working?

If you face trouble while streaming Hulu Live TV, you must check your internet speed and sign out of all Hulu devices to reconnect. If it still doesn’t work, delete the Hulu app and download it again. Make sure you’re in the recommended area, AKA your home to stream Hulu Live TV. Don’t be traveling or moving places, as Hulu Live TV is region-restricted.

Is Hulu down?

While Hulu has rarely been down ever since Disney acquired the platform and is working to rep up their reputation, you can check on online forums or social media, where people quickly inform others about an outage.

Is Hulu offline right now?

Check Hulu’s social media or online forum to see if Hulu’s down in your area. If you find any issue while accessing Hulu, you can directly report it to the Hulu support team as they will respond quickly.

Why are the subtitles on Hulu not working?

Because most Hulu TV shows and movies have closed-caption options, captions on some content will not be displayed. So, if you restart the Hulu streaming and the subtitles are still unavailable, you need to disable the closed captions and enable them.

Why is the Samsung TV Hulu app not working?

It might be possible that the Hulu app is outdated on your TV. Update your Hulu app or check your internet connection to see if it gets better. Also, check whether the device is compatible with the app because OS 7 and above are currently eligible.

How to fix Hulu not working with Disney Bundle?

There may be a technical issue or your internet may be having a moment. Consider restarting your internet device or checking the internet forums or social media to see if Disney Bundle has run into a problem.

Hulu not working with media streamers, what to do?

You might try closing the app and restarting it entirely. Restarting your device might occasionally help. At most, try uninstalling and reinstalling the Hulu App.

How to fix the VPN and Hulu not working problem?

To resolve the VPN and Hulu not functioning issue, try the following troubleshooting steps:

  • Select a different VPN.
  • Contact the VPN help desk.
  • Connect to a different VPN server.
  • Modify the VPN protocol.
  • You should clear your cache and cookies

Ending Line

Streaming Hulu is the easiest if you know how to overcome the Hulu Not Working issues. Moreover, a pro tip when Hulu stops working is to connect to a streaming-friendly VPN like ExpressVPN and access Hulu without hassles. It’s super easy and reliable, and you can also stream anonymously while protecting your digital life on the way.

Happy binging!

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Morris Lueilwitz

Lueilwitz Morris finds his comfort in writing about suspense, thrillers, and science fiction shows and movies because it gives him the opportunity to explore his imagination through writing. He has a lot of different interests, like sports, gym, and hiking, but one of his biggest passions is writing.

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