Hulu DVR Not Recording? Here’s What Worked For Me

I have been using Hulu for over a year now and recently upgraded to Live TV to catch the latest NFL action.

However, due to a busy work schedule, I end up missing some games.

Fortunately, I can record and watch them later at leisure using Hulu DVR.

That was until last week when I was out of town and had set up Hulu to record the ongoing games.

But once I returned, I was annoyed to see that the DVR did not record anything.

I went through Hulu and tried to record a video on the go to check what was wrong, but I failed.

I searched for help on Google and found that ‘Hulu DVR not recording’ was a common problem.

Going through the various solutions, I came across a Reddit thread where some people had reported their experiences with Hulu DVR. 

If Hulu DVR is not recording your scheduled shows or streams, you can resolve it by setting them up to record via the Hulu website. To do so, log into your Hulu account, select the show you want to record, click on the three vertical dots, and choose ‘Record’. 

Why is Hulu DVR Not Recording?

Hulu DVR lets you record your favorite shows or anticipated live streams when you are away from the screen with just a button click.

But sometimes, it may end up not recording the shows or movies of your choice.

Hulu gives several reasons for such a problem; the most prominent ones are: 

  • Channel Unavailability in your area.
  • Incorrect record settings.
  • Device malfunction.
  • Cache and cookies.
  • Buggy app.
  • Problems on Hulu’s end. 

Check Shows/Event Availability

This should be your first step in figuring out what’s wrong with Hulu DVR and how to get it working again.

Some Hulu shows and live events only air in specific areas around the States.

If you are trying to record a show or event that’s unavailable in your location, Hulu DVR won’t work.

You should visit Hulu Live TV Channels and enter your ZIP code to get a list of all channels and live events that will air where you live. 

Program Your Recordings From the Hulu Website

If the show (or event) you are trying to record is available in your locality, but Hulu DVR won’t let you do so, you should visit the Hulu website and set it to record from there.

This is the solution that worked for me.

Follow these steps to program shows to record via the Hulu website: 

  1. Go to Hulu.
  2. Log into your account.
  3. Select the show you want to record from the homepage or search for it.
  4. Click on the ‘Context menu’ (indicated by three vertical dots) to go to the details page.
  5. Choose ‘Record’.
  6. Also, make sure to enable ‘New & Reruns’ to record new episodes automatically. 

You can find your recorded shows or events in the ‘Recordings’ section of the ‘My Stuff’ tab. 

If you get the Unsupported browser error on Hulu, update your browser to the latest version.

Power Cycle Your Devices

One of the major reasons for Hulu DVR not recording is directly linked to your streaming device or Wi-Fi router malfunction.

You can resolve this by power cycling them.

Doing so will clear their memory, eliminate bugs and glitches, and drain any residual power from them so that they start working properly again. 

  1. Turn off your streaming device and Wi-Fi router.
  2. Unplug them from the power supply.
  3. Wait for 60 seconds before plugging them back.
  4. Turn both devices on and check if Hulu DVR works fine. 

Power cycling also helps with Hulu no sound.

Clear the Hulu App Cache

Clearing the Hulu app cache is another possible solution for getting Hulu DVR to record the intended way.

Browsing through the Hulu app and watching its content builds a heap of cache files on your streaming device’s storage.

These files help in fast and smooth app reloading, but they can also create problems if they take up too much space or get corrupted.

Follow these steps to clear your Hulu app cache: 

  1. Go to ‘Home’ on your streaming device.
  2. Click on ‘Settings’.
  3. Choose ‘Apps’.
  4. Tap on ‘Hulu’.
  5. Go to ‘Storage’.
  6. Select ‘Clear Cache’ and confirm. 

If your Hulu app skips episodes, display its AutoPlay feature.

Reinstall Hulu

In case none of the above-detailed solutions help you get Hulu DVR to record again, the app could be facing serious issues ranging from corrupt data files to missing directories.

You can solve this problem by removing the app from your streaming device and reinstalling it. 

  1. Go to the ‘Home’ screen of your streaming device.
  2. Open ‘Settings’.
  3. Click on ‘Apps’.
  4. Select ‘Hulu’.
  5. Choose ‘Delete’ or ‘Uninstall’ and confirm.
  6. Restart your device.
  7. Go back to ‘Home’ and open the App Store or Play Store.
  8. Search for ‘Hulu’ and install it.
  9. Once done, open the app and log into your account. 

Note: This process may vary slightly depending on your streaming device. 

Does Hulu DVR Have a Storage Limit?

Hulu DVR will be available to you only if you subscribe to Hulu + Live TV.

That said, Hulu initially provided only 50 hours of DVR storage, with an option to increase the limit to 200 hours for $9.99 per month.

But, on April 13, 2022, Hulu introduced unlimited DVR storage for all Hulu + Live TV users at no extra cost. 

Contact Support

If you have tried all of the methods covered in this article, but Hulu DVR still won’t record, it may be a fault on Hulu’s end.

You should visit Hulu Help Center and get in touch with their customer support team to enquire about the problem at hand. 

Hulu DVR – Ups and Downs

While Hulu DVR is a great feature for recording content and watching it at a later date, it can be quite annoying if it does not work the intended way.

Many Hulu users have dealt with the DVR problem over the years, and my situation was no different.

Fortunately, I got Hulu DVR working again by logging into my account via the Hulu website and setting up my favorite shows to record from there.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Hulu + Live TV cost?

Hulu + Live TV comes in two plans; the one with ads costs $69.99 monthly, and the ad-free one is priced at $82.99 per month. 

How can I access my Hulu DVR recordings?

You can access Hulu DVR recordings in the ‘My Stuff’ tab of your Hulu account. 

Can I skip ad breaks on Hulu DVR?

You can fast-forward through ads on Hulu DVR if you are a Hulu + Live TV subscriber. 

About the author

Maria Chan, or MC, as we call her, is the genius girl-boss who gave up on her cushy silicon-valley job to grind it out with us. Her undying pursuit of wanting Zeebox to the best makes it very clear that she has no interest in running a generic tech-site.