As far as I know, the Hulu app not working on Vizio Smart TV is quite common. I have been using Vizio TV for several years and have faced this issue on numerous occasions, ranging from minor to major problems. Every time I am in such a situation, I always resort to basic troubleshooting techniques.
The techniques I employ are easy, which even a nonprofessional can understand. It involves tweaking your Vizio TV performance, such as restarting, clearing cache, updating TV OS, etc.
If you are a Vizio TV user and are facing this issue for the first time, then follow this article. Here, I’ve explained all the possible causes along with ways to fix them easily.
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Reasons Why Hulu Stops Working on Vizio Smart TVs
Some of the reasons for Hulu not working on Vizio TV are given below.
- Compatibility Issues: Hulu won’t work with older Vizio TV models like VIA and VIA Plus. This causes compatibility issues in your TV.
- Network Issues: With a poor or unstable internet connection, Hulu won’t be able to load its content without any buffering.
- Technical Errors: Hulu won’t work in case of minor technical errors. These errors are not specific and can be rectified by basic troubleshooting techniques like resetting, updating, or clearing its cache.
- Hulu Account Issues: You won’t be able to view Hulu without any subscription or if you are trying to play Hulu on more than 2 devices.
Troubleshooting Hulu Not Working on Vizio Smart TV
Some of the basic troubleshooting methods to fix Hulu not working on Vizio Smart TV are explained below. Follow the methods in the same order so as not to any drastic methods in the beginning itself.
Device Incompatibility
If you are using an old model Vizio TV like Vizio Internet Apps (VIA) or Vizio Internet Apps Plus (VIA Plus), there’s a high chance that Hulu won’t work. The reason why it happens is that Hulu has stopped providing updates for end-of-life models. In such a case, you can do nothing except hooking up a streaming device like Roku or Firestick.
NOTE: Hulu is still supporting Vizio TV platforms like SmartCast to stream your favorite movies and shows online.
Power Cycle Vizio TV
Power cycling is a simple but effective solution to fix Hulu not working on your Vizio Smart TVs. Here, we’ll disconnect the power supply to your TV and get rid of residual charges. Here’s how we do it.
1. Turn off your Vizio Smart TV and disconnect it from the power source.
2. Press and hold the Power button on your Vizio TV for at least 20 seconds.
3. Then, wait for a few more seconds; connect the TV back to the power socket and turn on the power supply.
4. Now, turn on Vizio TV and launch the Hulu app.
If the Hulu app works, fine. But if the app doesn’t, proceed to the next set of solutions.
TIP! You can also try restarting your Vizio TV before attempting a power cycle.
Check Internet Connection
The Hulu app won’t be able to load its contents with a poor or unstable internet connection. You might face buffering issues, too. In this situation, try rebooting/power cycling your router as a first step. If it doesn’t work, then do the 30-30-30 hard reset rule. Here’s how we do it.
1. Hold the Reset button on your WIFI router for 30 seconds while it is powered on.
2. Now, unplug the router from its power source whilst holding its Reset button. Wait for another 30 seconds after this.
3. After this, turn on the Power supply to the router and hold the Reset button for 30 more seconds.
Now, release the Reset button and completely reset your WIFI router. After this, re-enter your WIFI credentials and connect your Vizio TV back to it. Most WIFI issues get solved after this, and you can play Hulu.
TIP! Most WiFi routers have the reset button provided on the back.
Unblock Geo-Restriction
As Hulu is a geo-restricted app, you can only stream content inside the United States. If you are a Vizio TV owner trying to stream Hulu from elsewhere, you can’t. In such cases, you can purchase and use premium VPN services like ExpressVPN and NordVPN to bypass those restrictions and stream Hulu content from anywhere.
On the contrary, those who are residing in the United States can watch Hulu without a VPN network. Sometimes, enabled VPN service can also cause issues with streaming Hulu content. So, disable the VPN and continue watching your all-time favorite shows without interruptions.
Check Hulu Server
Hulu server blackout is not a usual occurrence, but if it happens, you can do nothing till their servers get back to normalcy. You can check the Hulu server’s status via the Downdetector website.
In case the server status shows no current problems, but if you still face Hulu not working on Vizio smar TV, then try the upcoming troubleshooting techniques.
Update Hulu App
Running an outdated Hulu app makes it incompatible with the TV OS, and Hulu won’t be able to function normally as intended. To rectify this, you need to update apps on Vizio TV as and when released. After updating Hulu, you can launch the app and play its content without trouble.
Even upon updating the app, if you are still unable to play any content, then check if you have a valid Hulu subscription or not.
TIP! In addition to updating, you can try uninstalling the app and reinstalling it.
Check Hulu Subscription
Hulu is a subscription-based service, and you need to have an active subscription to be able to watch its TV Shows and Movies. Therefore, check your Hulu Subscription status. To do this,
1. VIsit the Hulu official website from a browser and sign in to your account. You can also access your Hulu account from its Smartphone app.
2. Click on your Profile provided at the top-right.
3. Select Account from the drop-down and go to the Manage Your Account screen.
4. In that, you can see your subscription plans and add-ons along with your account information.
5. If you wish to resubscribe to the same plan or are looking to switch plans, then click on Manage Plan.
6. In the following screen, navigate to the plan you want; switch on the toggle provided beside it and click on Review Changes.
7. After a successful payment, your Hulu account gets activated, and you can start watching your favorite content on your Vizio TV.
Check Simultaneous Streams
Regardless of the number of devices you are signed into, you can stream Hulu only on 2 devices simultaneously. If you try to play on more than 2 devices, you’ll receive an error code. To solve this, just stop playing from any unnecessary devices or remove your account from the device that you seldom use. Here’s how we do it.
1. Sign in to your Hulu account on a browser and click on the Profile icon at the top-right.
2. Tap on Account from the drop-down. You’ll be taken to your account section.
3. In that, click on the Manage Devices option. You’ll be shown all the devices that have your Hulu account.
4. Navigate to the device that you want to sign out from and click on the Remove option provided beside.
5. Now, your Hulu account will be removed from your device.
Check if Hulu not working on Vizio smart TV is resolved. If not, proceed with clearing cache data.
Excessive Cache Data
Cache files facilitate faster functioning of your Vizio TVs. These are a kind of data stored in your TV’s RAM, which acts like a temporary memory. But, too much accumulation of these files slows down your Vizio TV and causes app-based issues. To solve this, you need to clear the cache files on your Vizio TV.
1. Go to the Home Screen of your Vizio TV.
2. Click the Menu button on your Vizio TV remote.
3. In the following screen, scroll down and select System.
4. In that, click on the Reset & Admin option provided at the bottom.
5. Now, select Reboot TV/Soft Power Cycle.
After a restart, the cache data stored on your TV’s RAM will be removed, and the Hulu app will function normally as intended.
NOTE: On some Vizio TV models, click on Restart TV provided under the Admin & Privacy section in TV Settings.
Update Vizio TV
Updating your Vizio TV OS can solve any firmware issues that your TV has been facing. Running an old OS might not comply with new versions of the Hulu app. Therefore, you need to update your Vizio TV, which can be done by following the steps provided below.
- All Vizio TV models can be set to update their OS Automatically. Upon connecting Vizio TV to WIFI, it will check for any updated files and install that on your TV.
- You can also update your Vizio TV manually, which can be done either from TV Settings or via a USB Flash drive. To do this,
- Update via TV Settings: Press the V button on your remote and open Settings → Select System → Click Check for Updates → Click Install to update your Vizio TV OS.
- Update via USB: Download the update file from Vizio’s official website → Copy the files to a USB drive → Insert the drive into Vizio TV → Install and update the file.
After updating your Vizio TV to its latest version, reopen the Hulu app and check if you can play any of its content. If you are still unable to play, then try resetting your Vizio TV to factory settings.
NOTE: Manual updating is available only on the latest Vizio SmartCast TVs.
Factory Reset Vizio TV
This method removes all the data stored on your Vizio TV. It could even flush out all the minor bugs and errors that have been causing Hulu to not work properly. Though this method is not advisable, there’s still a high risk-reward ratio.
The steps to factory reset Vizio TV differ between older and newer models. The methods for both devices are elaborated below.
- For Vizio SmartCast TVs: Go to Settings → Select System → Tap on Reset & Admin → Choose Reset TV to Factory Defaults → Enter PIN → Click Reset.
- For Older models: Go to TV Menu/Settings → Help → Click on Clear Memory(Factory Default) → Enter PIN → Select Yes to factory reset.
After factory resetting the Vizio TV, reinstall the Hulu application, sign in to your account, and start playing any of its content. If you still face Hulu not working on Vizio Smart TV, contact customer support for further assistance.
Contact Customer Support
Depending upon the problem, you can call either Vizio Customer Support or Hulu. To identify the problem, try playing similar streaming apps on your Vizio TV. If you are unable to play any apps, then the problem has to be with Vizio TV. Therefore, contact Vizio’s Customer Support through their website and solve the issue.
Conversely, if you can play all apps except Hulu, you must contact Hulu Customer Support through their website and find a solution.
Alternatives for Hulu
Meanwhile, if the issue hasn’t been solved even after consulting customer support, then it’s time to switch to another streaming service that is similar to Hulu. Here, I’ve listed a few alternatives to Hulu based on my personal experience with streaming TV shows and movies.
HULU ALTERNATIVES | PRICING | WEBSITE |
---|---|---|
Disney Plus | $7.99/month | disneyplus.com |
Max (HBO Max) | $9.99/month | max.com |
YouTube TV | $72.99/month | tv.youtube.com |
DirecTV Stream | $64.99/month | streamtv.directv.com |
FAQ
Hulu has stopped its app support for several older Vizio TV VIA models. Check Vizio’s website and find out if your TV is Hulu-compatible or not.
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