How to Fix Hulu Not Working on Roku

Causes of Hulu Not Working On Roku

The issue with Hulu not working on a Roku device could be caused by either the device or the Hulu app itself.

• In some situations, the Hulu service’s servers could be down. So it’s not just you or your device that is having an issue but rather every Hulu user.
• It’s possible that your internet connection is slow or out, which would prevent you from watching shows on any app, not just Hulu. A service outage could cause this in the area, or your modem could be finicky or slow. If you use a router, there could be an access point quirk that needs attending.
• The problem could also be simply with the show you’re trying to watch.
• The issue could lie in the software of the Hulu app itself. As with most other apps, the Hulu app sometimes gets an update.
• There is also an outside chance that the app is fine, but the Roku device needs an update. This is much more of a rare occurrence, but it can happen.
• If the device does not need an update, but the Roku device is older, it may simply no longer support the Hulu app.

See also: How to Fix Hulu Skipping Episodes (7 Tips)

1. Check If You’re Using a Supported Device

The first is if your Roku device is simply too old and no longer supports the Hulu app. This is the rarest scenario and will only affect users with very old Roku devices.

Chances are, you might encounter this if you have one of the earlier Roku devices. It takes a while for Roku to decide to stop supporting an app, so this is a very rare situation.

In this case, there is no fixing the Hulu app, you simply need to upgrade to a newer Roku device, or utilize a different means of streaming the Hulu app’s content.

To check if you have a compatible device, visit the Hulu Help Center to find a list of supported Roku models.

2. Check Hulu and Roku Servers

The other scenario where there is nothing to fix from the user end is if the servers over at Hulu are temporarily down.

There are multiple third-party services, such as Downdetector, that continuously monitors the availability of a service.

You can also follow Hulu support on Twitter, as they might let their followers know if their servers are down and when to expect Hulu to come back on.

This is not frequent, and when it does happen, Hulu tends to get things back up and running quickly. It is recommended that this always be ruled out before tinkering with the device. 

The same idea applies if a particular show won’t load. You can diagnose this as being the issue by simply trying a different show or movie, then trying the show you initially wanted to watch at a later time.

3. Check Roku Internet Connection strength

If the internet service is out in your area, you won’t be able to watch anything on the Hulu app or any other streaming service that requires an active internet connection.

You may also experience out-of-sync audio on Roku with a slow internet connection.

However, if you cannot identify the issue as a mass outage, the problem could be your internet.

It’s possible that your modem or router needs to be reset. If the modem is simply lagging the connection, it may not load certain apps either.

You can use the following steps to check the status of the connection from your Roku:

• Open Settings.
• Choose Network.
• Select Check Connection.
• The indicator will inform you of the strength of your internet signal as the Roku perceives it.

In both situations, you can simply reboot your connection point. To do that, unplug your modem or router for about 10 to 15 seconds, then plug it back in and give it a few minutes to reconnect. Then you can try the Hulu app again to see if you can connect.

See also: How Do I Fix Hulu Subtitles Not Working?

4. Update the Hulu App

The issues could be related to your device’s Hulu application. Mostly this involves the Hulu app needing an update.

These can happen with varying frequency and might, at times, be necessary to resolve some issues, including ones with the shows on the service being able to play. 

To update the Hulu app on Roku, simply highlight the app, and choose the “Star” button to utilize the “Check for updates” option.

If there’s an update available, install it and see if the Hulu app works again on your Roku device.

6. Reset Your Wi-Fi Router

Hulu will likely have issues on your Roku if your router isn’t working properly. Resetting your router might help fix the issue.

Press the Reset button on the back of your Modem/Router for 10-15 seconds using a pin or needle. The reset could take up to 1-2 minutes to complete.

This should help your Roku to connect with Hulu.

7. Update the Roku Device

It can also be that the Roku device itself requires an update. To check for a system update, go to “Settings” then “System” from the Roku menu.

If there is an update, download and install it. Once your device is up to date, restart it, then try to access the Hulu app again.

If no updates on the app or the Roku device are available, and the Roku device is new enough to not have the Hulu app support, then you might simply need to power cycle the device. All you need to do is unplug the Roku, wait about 30 seconds, then plug it back in. 

8. Reset Roku

If all else fails, you should try to reset your Roku device. It will help you to fix streaming and other app issues.

The steps below will show you how.

1. On your Roku device, go to Settings, then the System tab. 
2. Next, select the Factory Reset option. 
3. Follow the on-screen prompts to reset your device.

After you’ve done so, install the Hulu app and check if the problem still occurs.

9. Contact Hulu Customer Service

If you tried all the above solutions and nothing seems to work for you, we’d suggest you reach out to Hulu customer service.

Report the problem you’ve been experiencing with their platform so you can get assistance from the technical experts.

You could also visit the Hulu community center to see if other users have been experiencing the issue. No luck? Make your own post; someone from the forum will be happy to assist you.

10. Contact Roku Support

You can also contact Roku support for further assistance, as the Hulu issue might be on their side. Their customer service is great. You can reach out via online chat and email.

They have a very active community where users post about Roku-related problems. Use the search box to get answers to your Hulu issues.

Final Thoughts on Hulu Not Working on Roku

Most solutions to Hulu not working on Roku are simple. Otherwise, the problem probably is outside of the user’s control.

In most situations, a simple reset of the modem or updating the Hulu app or the Roku itself will typically tackle your ability to stream all of your favorite Hulu shows on the Roku device.

If you have any questions, please use the comment section below.

FAQs – Hulu Not Working on Roku