In some cases, Hulu provides you with an error code that can help you pin down the problem. When that doesn’t happen, and all you see is the playback failure message, you need to start with the basics, like checking your internet connection and move on from there.
What Causes Hulu Playback Errors?
Hulu playback errors are caused when the app on your device is unable to communicate with the Hulu servers, or the Hulu servers are unable to provide a video stream. Hulu playback errors are usually caused by issues with your device, software, or home network, and you can fix them by following the instructions provided below. Issues including Hulu’s audio being out of sync, buffering video, or no playback at all. In other cases, Hulu playback errors are caused by issues on Hulu’s end. What that means is that when if you see a playback error when trying to watch a Hulu video, and everything checks out fine on your end, Hulu itself may be experiencing a problem. When a playback error is caused by a problem with Hulu itself, all you can do is let them know about the issue and then wait for them to fix the problem. If you want to rule out problems that you can actually fix yourself, here are the things that you can do when you experience a Hulu playback error on your streaming device: If you still have a Hulu playback error after trying all of these fixes, then deleting or resetting the Hulu app on your device may help. In some cases, your device may also have an option to check or test its internet connection.
Hulu videos may stutter, buffer, or not play at all if your internet speed drops too low. Slow internet can also cause Hulu’s audio to be out of sync. Regular Hulu videos require 3.0Mbps. Hulu With Live TV requires 8.0Mbps. If you are unsure how fast your internet is, check out our guide to testing your internet speed.
Fully shut down, power off, and unplug your streaming device and network equipment.Leave your equipment unplugged for about one minute.Plug your equipment back in, turn it on, and check to see if the Hulu playback error persists.
Try connecting your streaming device to your router or modem with an ethernet cable. If the playback error goes away, either use a wired connection to stream or relocate your wireless router to be closer to the device you use to watch Hulu. If you relocating the router isn’t practical, consider switching to a mesh network, which provides wider coverage.
If you have a lot of computers, smartphones, game consoles, and other devices connected to your network, the issue could be limited bandwidth. Disconnect any devices you’re not using. Secure your network, and make sure nobody is connected to it without your knowledge. If the playback error goes away, you may want to purchase a multi-band router or a router that allows you to prioritize streaming traffic.
If your router allows you to prioritize certain types of traffic or devices, set it to give priority to the device you are trying to watch Hulu on. Try changing the domain name server (DNS) settings in your router. If you are unsure what DNS is, or how to change it, check out our full guide to changing DNS on the most popular routers.
Fixing Hulu Playback Errors on PlayStation 4
If you’re trying to watch Hulu on your PS4, and you get a playback error, you need to check the status of your internet connection: If that checks out fine, then try resetting your system date and time: If the playback error persists, the next step is to remove the Hulu app and re-download it: If that still doesn’t work, then try clearing your system cache:
Fixing Hulu Playback Errors on PlayStation 3
If you’re experiencing Hulu playback errors on your PS3, the first thing to do is check the status of your internet connection: If there are no problems with the internet connection, then try resetting your PS3 system time: If that doesn’t work either, try removing and reinstalling the Hulu app:
Fixing Hulu Playback Errors on Xbox One
If you’re experiencing playback errors on your Xbox One, the first thing to do is test the internet connection on your console: If your connection is solid, then try deleting and reinstalling Hulu: The next thing that you can try is to clear the system cache on your console:
Fixing Hulu Playback Errors on Xbox 360
Before you try anything else, you may solve a playback error by simply logging out of the Hulu app on your console. Here’s how to do it: The next step is to completely delete the Hulu app and re-download it:
Fixing Hulu Playback Errors on Wii U
The first thing to try on the Wii U is to remove the Hulu channel from your console and then reinstall it: If that doesn’t work, make sure that your Wii U has the latest system update installed: The last thing you can try, if you still have a playback error, is to reset the date and time on your console:
Fixing Hulu Playback Errors on Nintendo Switch
The first thing to do if you’re seeing Hulu playback errors on your Switch is to run the internet connection test: If your internet connection is fine, try closing and restarting the Hulu app: The next step is to check for updates to the Hulu app: If you still experience playback errors, make sure your Switch itself is up to date: The last thing you can try is to uninstall the Hulu app and re-download it: For more information about fixing issues with your Switch, check out our full guide to solving common Nintendo Switch problems.
Fixing Hulu Playback Errors on Roku
If Hulu is not working on your Roku, you can remove the Hulu channel and then add it back via the Channel Store. If that doesn’t work, make sure that your Roku has the latest firmware installed: The first thing to try when you experience playback errors on your Fire TV or Fire Stick is to clear the temporary files that Hulu has stored on your device. If that doesn’t work, you can try to uninstall and re-download the app:
Fixing Hulu Playback Errors on Apple TV
If you’re getting Hulu playback errors on your Apple TV, there are a few things that you can try: For more in-depth information about Apple TV issues, check out our full guide to solving Apple TV problems.
Fixing Hulu Playback Errors on Vizio TVs
If you have a Vizio TV that has the Hulu app, and you’re experiencing playback errors, you can delete the app and re-download it:
Fixing Hulu Playback Errors on LG Televisions and Blu-Ray Players
Your device-specific options for tackling Hulu playback errors on LG devices are limited. If you are able to start videos, but they stutter, buffer, or stop playing, try lowering the video quality: If you still experience playback errors, try updating your LG firmware:
