Hulu Not Working: Error Codes, Troubleshooting Tips, and More

You’re one episode away from finishing the first season of Devs and . . . Hulu crashes. The dystopian future is now your dystopian present.

In our experience at CableTV.com, Hulu is one of the more reliable streaming TV apps, operating with rarely a glitch. Still, sometimes Hulu just doesn’t work, so we’ve put together some troubleshooting tips for Hulu and Hulu + Live TV so you can get back to that Devs finale.

Jump to:
Check Hulu’s status
Close and reopen Hulu
Power cycle your device
Check internet connection
Upgrade internet connection
Check other apps
Check for app updates
Check for device updates
Clear device cache
Deactivate and reactivate device
Uninstall and reinstall Hulu app
Hulu error codes

Check Hulu’s status

The problem could be on Hulu’s side—it’s not you, it’s them. There are several ways to check on Hulu’s current status, including sites like Downdetector and IsItDownRightNow, as well as official sources like the Hulu Community forum, Hulu Support social media (Facebook and Twitter), and good ole customer service by phone (1-888-265-6650).

Close and reopen Hulu

Give Hulu a second to think about what it’s done by closing and then reopening the app. If a quick close-and-open doesn’t work, try closing it for a minute or two before reopening.

Power cycle your device

Your streaming device, smart TV, phone, or computer could be the culprit. Turn the hardware off for a minute (or longer—maybe take the dog for a walk) and then turn it back on. Also, while that device is off, try Hulu on another device to rule out, or confirm, gear failure.

Check internet connection

You can also power cycle your internet modem/router—we’d recommend turning it off/on once a month, anyway. After that, run a speed test to determine if your internet is supplying enough juice. Hulu says 8 Mbps is sufficient for streaming; we say 25 Mbps is the bare minimum for any household because who’s using the internet to stream just Hulu?

Upgrade your internet connection

If Hulu is lagging due to your internet speed, consider upgrading to a faster plan, or even a new internet provider if possible. Within larger homes, a simple install like a Wi-Fi mesh network or a range extender can help deliver a stronger signal (thus more speed) to your device. If the distance between your router and your streaming device is short, try a direct-wired connection with an Ethernet cable.

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Check other apps

Are any of your other streaming apps giving you similar problems? It could be due to device or internet connectivity issues like those mentioned above. Run your other apps to see how they’re behaving—it might not just be Hulu/Hulu + Live TV.

Check for app updates

Apps are supposed to automatically update, or at least let you know about a newer version—but that’s not always the case. Look in your platform’s app store to see if an update has been released; if so, install it.

Check for device updates

There could be a new update to your device’s system that hasn’t yet been installed interfering with Hulu. Check your device’s settings menu and run any available system updates.

Clear device cache

Your device’s system could be getting crowded. Go to the system settings and clear the device’s data and cache (if available) to temporarily free space on the drive.

Deactivate and reactivate device

If the above doesn’t work, open your Hulu/Hulu + Live TV account page, go to “Manage Devices” and remove the device (or devices) that’s being problematic. Then reactivate the device(s) and try Hulu again.

Uninstall and reinstall Hulu app

As a last resort, uninstall the Hulu/Hulu + Live app altogether, then reinstall it. Also, when entering your login information, maybe change your password—always a good security move.

Hulu error codes

When watching Hulu/Hulu + Live TV, you might occasionally have an error code pop up with little to no information about its meaning or solution. Below are some of the most common Hulu error codes.