Why Does Hulu Keep Kicking Me Out? (Here’s the Fix!)
Just like many of you, I couldn’t help but ask myself–why does Hulu keep kicking me out every time I sit down after a long day, to relax and watch a TV show?
Yes, I tried closing the app and rebooting my device, but it doesn’t work!
So I finally managed to fix the problem, and that’s why I would like to share my experience with this problem here in ZontSound and reach as many people as I can.
Let’s get into troubleshooting!
Why Does Hulu Keep Kicking Me Out? – 8 Proven Solutions!
⚠️Important: Make sure all proxy and VPN services on your device are deactivated.
1. Verify your Connection Quality (Browser & App)
The most frequent cause for the unexpected crashing of the Hulu application or browser version is an unstable internet connection.
Well, regardless of whether you stream Hulu through a PC, laptop, mobile phone, or a TV, the internet connection status is the first thing to check.
1.1 – How to Check Connection On a PC:
If you are streaming Hulu through an online web browser version on your PC or laptop, go to the “Settings” app (identical for macOS and Windows), and check the “Wi-Fi” or “Ethernet” tab.
If using Wi-Fi, reconnect with your home Wi-Fi network, and if using Ethernet, reconnect the wire.
1.2 – How to Check Connection On a Phone:
On Android and iOS, you can check the Wi-Fi quality through the “Settings” → “Wi-Fi” tab in most cases.
Verify the pairing credentials are correct, and if your device still fails to connect, attempt to connect with the opposing Wi-Fi band–2.4 GHz to 5 GHz or the other way around.
1.3 – How to Check Connection On a TV:
On most smart TVs, you can check the Wi-Fi status through “Settings” → “Set up an internet connection”.
If you have recently switched to a wired connection, don’t forget to set up the LAN by accessing the settings and going to “Set up an internet connection” → “Wired”.
2. Update the Version of the Hulu App (App)
An outdated version of the application firmware could also be a leading cause for the crashes, especially if you are several versions behind.
So, if you stream Hulu through the mobile or TV application, the next thing you would want to do is verify that your app platform is up-to-date.
2.1 – How to Update the Hulu App On Mobile:
- Launch the Google Play or App Store on your phone.
- Next, navigate to the installed applications category.
- Locate the Hulu app and check for a newer firmware.
- (Optional) Start the update if there is a newer version.
2.2 – How to Update the Hulu App On TV:
On most TVs, you must either navigate to the “Applications” or “Storage” tab to update Hulu.
Once you are there, you can either check for updates manually or wait until the TV scans for newer firmware versions automatically.
📍Note: Your device requires a stable internet connection to conduct firmware or application updates.
3. Temporarily Disable All Extensions (Browser)
If you are getting kicked out of Hulu’s browser, then there could be an underlying interference with one of the extensions you have installed.
So, it’s recommended to temporarily disable all of your browser extensions and attempt to stream Hulu on your browser.
Let’s review how to deactivate extensions on the most popular browsers!
| Browser | How to Disable Extensions: |
| Google Chrome | 1. Click the 3-dot menu (top-right) → Extensions → Manage Extensions 2. Toggle off unwanted extensions |
| Mozilla Firefox | 1. Click the 3-line menu (top-right) → Add–ons and Themes → Extensions 2. Click Disable next to any extension |
| Microsoft Edge | 1. Click the 3-dot menu → Extensions → Manage Extensions 2. Toggle off or click Remove |
| Safari (Mac) | 1. Go to Safari (top menu) → Settings (or Preferences) → Extensions tab 2. Uncheck the box next to any extension |
| Brave | 1. Click the 3-line or 3-dot menu → Extensions → Manage Extensions 2. Toggle off or remove extensions |
| Opera | 1. Click the Opera logo (O) → Extensions → Extensions 2. Click Disable or toggle off any extension |
⚠️Important: Do not reactivate any of your browser extensions before the issue is resolved.
4. Tether Through a Mobile Hotspot (Browser & App)
I remember wondering why does my Hulu keep kicking me out, until I discovered that the issue was with the network connection.
I shared a hotspot from my phone, and Hulu stopped kicking me out, which means that my original network was problematic.
Testing Hulu on a mobile hotspot consists of two simple steps!
4.1 – Setting Up the Hotspot Feature:
Well, the cellular hotspot feature on both Android and iOS can be found under “Settings” → “Cellular” or “Mobile Data”.
Once you have enabled the function, double-check the hostname and password, since you will need them to set up your device on the private connection.
4.2 – Connecting the Device to Wi-Fi:
Now, on your device, navigate to the “Wi-Fi” settings and disconnect from the current network.
If you are on Ethernet, we recommend temporarily disbanding the wired connection, so you can switch to Wi-Fi.
Select your device’s cellular hostname from the pairing menu and input the Wi-Fi password to approve the connection.
Finally, test the functionality of the Hulu app and check for crashes.
5. Change the Time Zone on your Device (Browser & App)
An abundance of users recommend temporarily setting your device to a different time zone and then testing the Hulu application.
This involves tampering with the time and date of your device, as a potential misconfiguration could lead to persistent problems with the Hulu app.
Let’s have a look at how to adjust the time zone on most devices that support Hulu!
| Platform | Steps to Change Time Zone: |
| Windows PC / Laptop | 1. Go to Settings → Time & Language → Date & Time2. Turn off Set time zone automatically3. Use the dropdown under Time zone to pick a new one |
| Mac (macOS) | 1. Open System Settings → General → Date & Time2. Turn off Set time zone automatically3. Choose a new time zone from the map or search bar |
| Android Phone | 1. Go to Settings → System → Date & time2. Disable Use network-provided time zone3. Tap Time zone and choose a region manually |
| iPhone / iPad | 1. Go to Settings → General → Date & Time2. Toggle Set Automatically off3. Tap Time Zone and search/select a new city |
| Android TV / Google TV | 1. Go to Settings → Device Preferences or System → Date & Time2. Turn off the Automatic time zone3. Select and set a new time zone manually |
| Fire TV / Firestick | 1. Go to Settings → Preferences → Time Zone2. Select a new region and time zone manually |
Now, attempt to launch the Hulu application through your browser or app and log in from your user account.
Also, check if the issue persists while attempting to stream different app content.
6. Test on a Different Device or Browser (Browser & App)
Well, there is a high chance that the issue is with your device or browser, rather than the Hulu application itself.
In that regard, the next step is to either use a different compatible device to test the application on or change your web browser if you are viewing the web version of Hulu.
6.1 – If Using the Hulu App:
If you are streaming Hulu on a TV currently, you can test it on your computer, laptop, or even your smartphone, temporarily.
If you are not getting kicked out while viewing Hulu through an alternative device, then this narrows down the issue immediately.
6.2 – If Using a Browser:
Exit the current browser you are using and download another application that’s trusted on the internet.
For example, if you are already using Google Chrome, you can test on the default Windows browser–Microsoft Edge, or test on another browser such as Opera or Brave.
📍Note: You will be prompted to relog to your user account after switching the device or browser.
7. Reinstall the Hulu Application (App)
So, if you are still dealing with the persistent disconnects, we recommend uninstalling the Hulu application if you are viewing through a TV or a mobile phone.
The procedure is simple but quite different for every device, so here are some universal steps to reinstall Hulu:
After several seconds, the app will be removed, and you can redownload it through the App Store, Google Play, or TV Store to test. Verify that you’re downloading it from an official source.
📍Note: If streaming Hulu on a TV, do not forget to regularly clear the cache to maintain performance!
8. Use a “Throwaway” Hulu User Profile (Browser & App)
Perhaps, if it is still unclear why does Hulu keep kicking me out, I found out that the problem might also be account-related, even if rarely.
Sometimes, pending account suspensions due to violation of the rules or subscription by any means could lead to a temporary account ban.
Hence, the best way to test out this theory is to create the so-called “throwaway” account, without actually activating a subscription and gaining access to a limited amount of content.
You can create a new account at the Hulu registration page, but make sure to use a different email and mobile number. Once you are registered, check if the application will kick you out.
📍Note: Consider getting in touch with Hulu customer support if you are still getting thrown out.
Finn Wheatley, a Master’s graduate in Computer Science from UCL, London, honed his skills at small data science consultancies. There, he helped large corporations enhance their data capabilities by deploying cutting-edge machine learning analytics and resolving technical hurdles.
