What you find on this page:
Isn’t it frustrating when you’ve been waiting all week for your favorite show to come out on Hulu when you find the app not working? You’re wrapped up in your blanket, kick your feet up, and you’re welcomed by an annoying error any time you try to open the app.
Hulu and Roku don’t like to get along, but this article is going to give you the tools you need to fix the problem and get back to binging your favorite shows.
Read on for a few solutions to common issues regarding why Hulu is not working on Roku T.V. and devices and how you can fix them.
Why Is Hulu Not Working on My Roku?
There are several reasons why Hulu is not working on your Roku. There is something wrong with your internet connection, there’s an issue with the Roku device, or there’s something wrong with the Hulu app.
Once you pinpoint which of these areas are causing the error, you can fix the problem. Listed below are some common issues regarding these 3 areas in more detail.
The Most Common Errors
The most common errors that prevent Hulu to work on a Roku device are:
- You may be using an unsupported device.
- There could be a poor internet connection.
- The Hulu app could be down.
- Your Roku device could be outdated.
Below you’ll find more details on these common issues.
Using an Unsupported Device
Although this is a less common issue on this list, your Roku device may be too old to run the Hulu app properly. So if Hulu is not working on Roku in 2021, it could be that you need to buy a newer device.
This would be the case only if the Roku is one of the first models released. The newer models support Hulu without any issues.
So if you’ve bought your Roku within the last few years, then you can rule this out.
Bad Internet Connection
Slow or poor internet connection may also cause errors to pop up when you start Hulu, the most common being error 504. When the loading time takes too long, it usually results in the app not opening at all. This may be the reason for Hulu not working on Roku via mobile hotspot.
You can test out the internet on a different device to see if that’s that issue. You can also try to open another app on the Roku to see if it’s all apps or just Hulu.
Hulu Is Down
The Hulu server being down is another possible root of the problems. If that’s the case, there’s nothing you can do on your end. The good news is that if this is the reason, you probably won’t have to wait for long. Hulu is pretty good at resolving these issues fast.
To see if Hulu is down due to the server malfunctioning on their end, you can try to watch a different show and see if it works.
You can also test this by checking to see if Disney Plus and Netflix are not working on Roku. This will also rule out any issues on the device.
Your Roku Is Not Up-To-Date
You may have issues running a few different apps if your Roku is outdated. This is likely the problem if you have Hulu on other devices, such as an Insignia TV or computer, and the Hulu app works on those devices.
This is an easy fix and just requires you to update the software on the device. More information on how to do this below.
The Best Solutions to Fix Hulu Not Working on Your Roku Device
Now that you know some of the common reasons the Hulu app may not be working on your Roku device, you can start running through each suspected issue and fix it.
Below are the best solutions to fix these common issues.
Check Your Roku Internet Connection
If you suspect your internet connection is to be blamed for Hulu not working on your Roku device, you can check the status of your connection by going to the “Settings” option on the menu, choosing “Network,” and then you’ll see an option to “test the connection.”
The Roku will run a diagnostic and let you know if your internet is too slow for the Roku to run optimally.
If your internet connection is poor, you can unplug your router, wait 2 minutes, then plug it back in to let it reset. If the problem persists, contact your internet provider.
Update Your Roku System or Your Hulu App
As mentioned before, you can check to see if your Roku device is outdated by going to the “Settings” options on the menu.
If you’re not sure where to find the menu, select the home button on your Roku remote and you’ll see it to the left.
Go down to “settings” then select “system.” From there you need to go to “system update,” press the right arrow on your remote, and select “check now.”
The Roku checks for updates automatically daily, but it’s still worth checking manually.
If there’s an update available, download it.
Soft Reset Your Roku Device
Before you do any formal reset, try unplugging the device from your TV completely — meaning both the HDMI port and the USB power plug-in — and waiting at least 30 seconds. Sometimes simply unplugging and letting it power off will fix any minor buggy issues.
Another way to reset your Roku device is to take a pen or paper clip and push on the reset button on the side of the Roku.
If you reset the device this way, it will log you out of any apps, so if you’re using anyone else’s Netflix account, be sure you know how to access it if you go this route to reset your Roku.
Call the Hulu Customer Support Group
If you have tried everything else on this list, the last thing you can try is to contact Hulu customer service directly.
Hulu has a help page to assist you. They can direct you to the specific department you need to contact to fix the issue of Hulu not working on your Roku device.
They also have a customer support number you can reach at 1-888-265-6650.
Before you contact customer support, be sure you’ve gone through and exhausted all other solutions previously discussed.
Conclusion
Getting Hulu to work properly on Roku devices doesn’t typically require any complicated mechanics. Most common issues can be resolved with a software or app update or resetting your device.
Diagnose the problem easily with the suggestions above and you should have Hulu working smoothly in no time.
