By now, everyone with an internet connection has heard of Hulu. This extremely popular platform has been around since 2007, and nowadays, it’s one of the most appealing streaming options on the market. There are more than 35 million active users on Hulu, and a large majority are accessing the content on Fire TV.
While Hulu usually provides a smooth viewing experience on Firestick, this is not always the case. In fact, Firestick forums have been filled with complaints from users who can’t watch their favorite Hulu content due to an annoying error. On the bright side of things, there are multiple ways to fix the issue, and today we will help you achieve that.
Hulu is an advantageous service that offers both on-demand content and Live TV without the need for a cable subscription. You can choose from three subscriptions situated at different price points and unique add-ons to their service, such as HBO Max, Cinemax, Starz, and Showtime.
Whether you choose Hulu, Hulu (No Ads), or Hulu + Live TV, you will get access to hundreds of great TV shows and movies, as well as their exclusive Hulu originals. You can even get a bundle of services including Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ at an advantageous price for even more on-demand content.
All in all, if you want to transform your Firestick device into a select collection of great TV shows and movies, Hulu is a great and inexpensive choice.
A company with experience such as Hulu knows how to make their viewers happy, but once in a while, they run into a bug or two. It happens, but this can be a bit frustrating for their subscribers. This is what happened recently with the newest updates affecting people watching on Firestick or Fire TV.
Not to worry, though, because we have put together a comprehensive list of fixes that are bound to help you out. Whether your problem is caused by a new update or something else, you will find the right solution for you on today’s list. Keep on reading and get ready to watch that last season of True Detective in no time.
Top 6 Solutions to your Hulu Streaming Problem on Firestick
The fact of the matter is that there can be a number of causes to your Hulu access issue. From network fixes to clearing cache & data, there are a few possible solutions that can help you get back to streaming your favorite TV show.
We suggest going through each one by one since we are starting with the most common fixes first.
#1 Make sure you have the Latest Updates
The truth is that programmers usually catch up quickly to any errors going on with their software. If there are enough upset customers that report issues with their Firestick or other streaming devices, they will look for a fix and release a new update in one or two days.
Thus, the problem might already be resolved, and you just don’t know it. The first course of action we recommend is to make sure that you have the latest version of Hulu available. Follow these steps to check:
- On your home screen, look for the Your Apps & Channels section;
- Scroll down to find Hulu, then use your remote to open up more options with the Menu button;
- Select More Info to be redirected to the Amazon Appstore;
- Check if there is any Update button and click on it if you find it. Wait for the newest update to be installed.
Your Hulu app might work seamlessly now, but it’s good to keep up with updates to your Fire TV as well. It’s a fact that programmers design their apps with the latest OS features in mind.
For this reason, it’s best to keep both your applications and your operating system up to date with the newest updates. It will save you a lot of headaches in the future. We’ll guide you through updating your Firestick as well:
- Access the Settings tab from your home screen;
- Click on Device & Software (for older Firestick generations, go to My Fire TV or Device);
- Here you will find another sub-menu called About that includes the Check for Updates option;
- If your Firestick informs you there is a newer version of your OS available, select Install Update and wait for it to be done.
If you still can’t use the streaming platform, you will have to look into alternative solutions. Let’s see what those are.
#2 Give your Firestick a Restart
Have you tried turning it off and on again? This might be a cliche question asked by customer service employees, but it’s honestly a fix-all solution that works in more cases than you’d think.
From what we gather, just restarting your Firestick device might be an effective way to get your Hulu app working again. If this is all that your Fire TV needs, then we recommend not going through the slightly more difficult fixes found later on in this article. Here’s how to do it.
- From your home screen, select the Settings menu once again;
- Go to the Devices & Software, My Fire TV, or Device menu, depending on your operating system;
- Here, select Restart and wait until your device turns back on again.
Another remote shortcut that does the same action is performed by pressing down and holding the Select and Play/Pause buttons.
This type of Restart is called a warm boot. We recommend trying a cold boot as well by unplugging your streaming device. Leave it out for about half a minute, and then plug it in again. Turn on your Firestick and launch Hulu again.
#3 Troubleshoot your Internet Connection
If you just got your Hulu subscription and you never managed to make it work, then you might not have the necessary bandwidth for this streaming service. On their website, Hulu mentions that their platform requires:
● 0 Mb/s for 720p quality;
● 10 Mb/s for 1080p quality;
● 16 Mb/s for 4K quality;
● 0 Mb/s for live TV streaming.
Therefore, your first course of action should be to check the specifications of your internet subscription and see if it can handle the Hulu platform. In case you are good to go, but you still can’t stream Hulu on your Firestick, there are still a few internet-related fixes you can do. Follow the tips below.
Internet Connection Speed Test
Even though your internet subscription says that you have enough bandwidth to stream Hulu content successfully, your Firestick might still not be getting enough speed.
To make sure that this is indeed the problem you are facing, you can perform a speed test through an app. We personally like the NetSpeed Test one that is available under Apps & Channels in the Amazon Appstore.
- Start by typing in NetSpeed Test in the search bar above your home screen;
- Choose the right search result and click on the app with the logo shown above;
- All you have to do now is select the Get button to download and install it;
- Select Open to enter the app and see the different types of tests it can perform on your Firestick;
- Look for the section called Test Download Speed (Standard) and perform the test;
- See if the results line up with the Hulu requirements we shared above.
You might notice that your internet speed is enough to make Hulu run smoothly. If that’s the case, then you can move onto the next solution, as your network connection is not the cause of your problems.
However, if the bandwidth received by your Firestick doesn’t match up with the needs of the streaming platform, then there are three easy fixes you can try.
Change the Wi-Fi Frequency to 2.4 GHz
Is your router in the same room as you? Then this is probably not a necessary action for you, but it won’t hurt either.
Nowadays, most internet providers offer their clients two internet frequencies: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. We are tempted to always use 5 GHz because it’s said to offer more bandwidth, but the problem with this frequency is that it doesn’t travel through walls all that well.
If you don’t have your Fire TV in the same room as your router, the device is probably not getting enough bandwidth. In this case, all you need to do is switch to the 2.4 GHz option and test out Hulu again.
Remove Devices from your Wi-Fi Connection
If your internet subscription’s bandwidth barely matches Hulu’s requirements, then this solution is for you. Other devices connected to your Wi-Fi might be eating away at your bandwidth and making it impossible for you to watch the latest Veronica Mars movie.
Think about what non-essential devices are cluttering your bandwidth, from computers and printers to gaming consoles and sound systems. Remove them from your internet connection and try connecting to Hulu again on your Firestick.
Give your Router a Reboot
If the two solutions above didn’t work for you, then the last thing that remains is to reboot your router. Network packets might be overcrowding your router and making your internet connection sluggish.
By giving it a reboot, you will be able to enjoy your router like it’s brand new. This is the most effective solution for internet-related issues with your Hulu streaming. If your network connection is not the problem, though, we still have some fixes available for you.
#4 Clear Cache and Data from your Hulu Account
Another thing that could be clogging up your streaming speed is the cache and data that Hulu collects about you. Of course, these temporary files have a role in making your viewing experience better and recommending the right content based on your previous history. However, if you are not able to watch Hulu at all, do these even matter?
If you’ve had your Hulu subscription for a while now, the platform has probably gathered a large number of cache files that make your buffering time longer than it needs to be. In some cases, the buffering never stops.
If clearing your cache storage turns out to not be enough, you can choose to delete data as well, which includes your login credentials. Keep in mind that you will have to enter them again afterward, so write them down on a piece of paper before.
Here’s how to clear cache and data right from your Fire TV:
- Go to your Fire TV home screen and click on Settings;
- Look for and select the Applications sub-menu;
- From the Manage Installed Applications section, click on Hulu;
- Choose Clear Cache and, optionally, Clear Data too.
#5 Verify if Hulu’s Servers are Working
If you don’t run into this problem a lot and none of the previous solutions have worked for you, it might be a server outage problem. There is really nothing you can do in this situation but wait for Hulu to solve the issue themselves.
As with app errors, their programmers are on top of the problem almost immediately, so you will not have to wait long. In order to check if that’s the issue you are facing, go to downdetector.com/status/hulu/.
#6 Reinstall the Hulu App
Sometimes, the error causing your streaming problem can be eliminated by uninstalling the app. If nothing else worked, then we recommend reinstalling Hulu on your Firestick.
- On your home screen, select Settings;
- Afterward, pick the Applications sub-menu;
- Here you will find the feature called Manage Installed Applications that has a list of all your Firestick apps;
- Select Hulu and then click on the Uninstall button;
- After the app is uninstalled, return to the home screen and use the search bar to look for Hulu once again;
- Select the app and then click on Get to reinstall the streaming app.
All you have to do now is open the app and log into your Hulu account again.
Final Words
There you have it. Six unique solutions to your streaming errors that you can try out at home without the help from customer service. Hopefully, much like other Hulu subscribers, your problem will be solved just by installing the latest updates of the app.
Still, we wanted to offer you a complete guide to the most common causes of Hulu streaming problems, from new update bugs to faulty internet connection.
These 6 fixes can be used and adapted to a multitude of streaming devices. Therefore, we hope today’s article was helpful to non-Firestick users as well.
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