Hulu Not Working on Apple TV? Try these fixes

Hulu might not work on the Apple TV if the Hulu app or firmware of the Apple TV is outdated. Moreover, conflicting applications (like Netflix) or corrupt firmware of the TV may also cause the issue at hand. The issue arises when the Hulu app stops working or freezes when the app is launched with a spinning wheel on the screen of the Apple TV.

Before moving on with the solutions, check if your network is working fine. Moreover, check if switching between ethernet or Wi-Fi (after disabling the other type) solves the issue. Also, check if disconnecting all other devices from the network (except the Apple TV) and launching the Hulu app resolves the issue (if so, then check which device on the network is conflicting with the Apple TV/Hulu). Additionally, make sure Apple TV is compatible with the Hulu app.

Force Quit the Hulu App and Relaunch it

A temporary malfunction of the Hulu app may stop it from working and relaunching the app after force quitting Hulu may solve the problem.

1. Quickly press the Home button on the Apple remote twice and swipe up to force close the running apps (or you can simply close the Hulu app in the recent apps list).

   

2. Now relaunch the Hulu app and check if it is working normally.

Power Cycle Apple TV and Networking Equipment

A temporary glitch of the Apple TV may stop the Hulu app from working and restarting the Apple TV may solve the problem.

1. Launch the Settings of the Apple TV and open the System.

   

2. Then select Restart and once restarted, check if the Hulu app is working fine.

   

3. If the issue persists, power off the Apple TV and unplug it from the power source.
4. Then power off your modem/router and disconnect them from the power source.
5. Now wait for 1 minute and power on the devices (modem, router, and TV) after connecting to the power sources.
6. Once the devices are properly powered on, check if the Hulu app is working fine.
7. If the issue persists, simultaneously press the Menu and Home (or Play/Pause) buttons of the Apple TV remote till the TV reboots. Then launch the Hulu app and check if the issue is resolved.

   

If that did not work, check if powering off the Apple TV with any other content playing (not Hulu), powering on the TV, and launching the Hulu app solves the problem.

Update the Hulu App to the Latest Build

An outdated Hulu app may cause incompatibility between the Hulu app and other modules of the Apple TV, which leads to the issue at hand. In this context, updating the Hulu app of the Apple TV to the latest build may solve the problem.

1. Launch the Settings of the Apple TV and open Apps.

   

2. Now open Hulu and update the Hulu app (if an update is available).

   

3. Once updated, launch the Hulu app and check if it is clear of the issue at hand.

Reinstall the Hulu App

The Hulu app may encounter the issue at hand if its installation is corrupt and reinstalling the Hulu app of the Apple TV may solve the problem.

1. Select the Hulu app on the Home screen of the Apple TV and enter the wiggle mode by pressing/holding the touch surface.
2. Now press the Play/Pause button on the Apple remote and select Delete.

   

3. Once the Hulu app is uninstalled, switch off the Apple TV.
4. Now unplug the Apple TV from the power source and wait for 1 minute.
5. Then power on the Apple TV and reinstall the Hulu app to check if it is working fine.

Update the Apple TV’s Firmware to the Latest Build

The Hulu app might not work on the Apple TV if the firmware of the TV is outdated (as it may cause incompatibility between the TV modules and the Hulu app). In this case, updating the firmware of the Apple TV to the latest build may solve the problem.

1. Launch the Settings of the Apple TV and select System.
2. Now open Software Updates and in the resulting menu, select Update Software.

   

3. Then download and install the Apple TV’s firmware update (if an update is available).

   

4. Once the firmware is updated, launch the Hulu app and check if it is operating fine.

If the issue started after a firmware update of the Apple TV and there is no more update available, then check if downgrading the firmware of the Apple TV solves the issue.

Edit the Apple TV’s DNS Settings

The Hulu app might not work if the DNS settings of the Apple TV are not properly configured or using a non-default DNS (due to which your network could not resolve the web addresses of the Hulu servers). In this context, reverting the DNS settings of the Apple TV to the default may solve the problem.

1. Launch the Settings of the Apple TV and select General.

   

2. Then open Network and click on the Wi-Fi (near the top).

   

3. Now select your network and click on Configure DNS.

   

4. Then set it to Automatic and apply your changes. If it is already set to Automatic, set it to Manual and then revert to Automatic.

   

5. Now launch the Hulu app and check if it is working normally.

Disable the 4K Feature in the Apple TV Settings

The Hulu app might not work if the 4K is enabled in the Apple TV settings (supported models only) and disabling the 4K feature of the Apple TV may solve the problem.

1. Launch the Settings of the Apple TV and open Video and Audio.

   

2. Now select Format and choose 1080P SDR 60Hz.

   

3. Then save your changes and reboot the TV to check if the Hulu app is working fine.

   

Update the Router Firmware to the Latest Build

The Hulu app may show the issue under discussion if the firmware of the router is outdated as it may become incompatible with the Apple TV or Hulu app. In this case, updating the router firmware to the latest release may solve the problem.

1. In a web browser, navigate to the web portal of your router and enter your credentials.
2. Now steer to the Advanced (or Management) tab and head to the Firmware Update tab.

   

3. Then click on the Check button and if a router’s update is available, download and install it.
4. Once the router’s firmware is updated, restart your Apple TV and upon restart, launch Hulu to check if it is working fine.

Remove the Conflicting Apps from the Apple TV

The Hulu app might not work on the Apple TV if an app on the Apple TV conflicts with the Hulu app and removing the conflicting applications (especially streaming apps) may solve the problem. The Netflix app is reported by users to cause the Hulu issue at hand.

1. Select the Netflix app on the Home screen of the Apple TV and press/hold the touch surface (to enter into the wiggle mode).
2. Now, on the Apple remote, press the Play/Pause button and choose Delete.

   

3. Once the Netflix app is uninstalled, switch off your Apple TV and unplug it from the power source.
4. Then wait for 1 minute, power on the Apple TV, check if the Hulu app issue is resolved.
5. If not, check if removing all the apps (except the essentials) sorts out the problem.
6. If not, uninstall all the Apple TV apps (except the Hulu app) and launch the Hulu app to check if it is working fine.

Reset the Apple TV to the Defaults

The corrupt firmware of the Apple TV may stop the Hulu app from working and resetting the Apple TV to the defaults may solve the problem. Before moving on, make sure to back up the essential info/data as everything will be wipe cleaned.

1. Launch the Settings of the Apple TV and select System.
2. Then open Reset and select Reset (or Reset and Update, if you want to update the firmware as well).

   

3. Wait till the reset process is complete (it may take some time, so, be patient) and then set up the TV as a new one.

   

4. Now reinstall the Hulu app and hopefully, it will be working fine.