After a tiring day at work, I like to spend some time watching TV.
Recently, I started streaming ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ on Hulu on my Samsung Smart TV.
I have been enjoying the show so far, but yesterday while watching a fresh episode, Hulu froze.
At first, I didn’t think much of it, but it kept happening.
I relaunched the app and even rebooted my TV, but no luck.
Finally, after several hours of Googling and back and forth with Hulu support, I found a working solution.
If Hulu keeps freezing on your streaming device, power cycle your Wi-Fi router and streaming device by disconnecting them from the power supply and waiting for 60 seconds before plugging them back in. Once done, clear the Hulu app (or web browser) cache.
Why Does Hulu Keep Freezing?
Whether you are streaming Hulu via the app or a web browser, it may freeze up or get stuck on buffering for several reasons.
These reasons range from server issues to outdated software, irrespective of the streaming device.
Here are the most common causes for Hulu to freeze:
- Slow Internet.
- App malfunction.
- Software glitches.
- Outdated app/browser.
- Outdated streaming device OS.
- Server downtime.
Ensure You Have a Stable and Fast Internet Connection
Hulu needs stable and fast Internet to work in the best possible way without giving you any ups and downs.
A slow Internet connection or buggy Wi-Fi router may cause Hulu to freeze now and then.
Here’s a table about Hulu-recommended Internet speed to watch their content minus any freezing and buffering:
| Content-Type | Minimum Internet Speed |
| Hulu Library | 3 Mbps |
| Live Streaming | 8 Mbps |
| 4K Videos | 16 Mbps |
An Internet speed of 1.5 Mbps can also let you watch Hulu content, albeit lower-quality.
You can check your Internet speed by visiting Speedtest by Ookla.
If your Internet is slow or fluctuating, you can fix it by power cycling your Wi-Fi router.
- Power off the router.
- Disconnect it from the power supply and wait for a minute or two.
- Reconnect the router and wait until all panel lights are green.
If you continue getting low Internet speed, connect your streaming device to your Wi-Fi router using an Ethernet cable.
In case Hulu freezes and skips episodes, disable Autoplay and relaunch Hulu.
Power Cycle Your Streaming Device
If your Internet speed passes the minimum requirements and Hulu continues to freeze, power cycling your streaming device should be your next course of action.
Power cycling a device clears its memory and drains out its remaining power to make it function without any hiccups.
To power cycle your streaming device:
- Turn off the device.
- Unplug it from the power source.
- Wait for 60 seconds before plugging it back and powering it on.
Clear Cache and Cookies
Browsing through Hulu or watching its content stores cache and cookies in your streaming device’s storage/memory.
Even though these files help you reload the Hulu website/app without much delay, they can accumulate over a period of time and create various bugs and glitches.
These files can also be a reason why Hulu keeps freezing.
You can eliminate the freezing problem by clearing the cache and cookies.
Clear the Hulu App Cache
- Go to the ‘Home’ screen of your streaming device.
- Launch ‘Settings’.
- Select ‘Apps’.
- Click on ‘Hulu’.
- Tap on the ‘Storage’ option.
- Choose ‘Clear Cache’.
Note: The steps may vary here and there based on your streaming device.
Clear Your Web Browser Cache and Cookies
If you use a web browser to stream Hulu content and it keeps freezing, follow these steps to clear its cache and cookies.
Google Chrome
- Open the browser.
- Tap on the three vertical dots in the upper-right corner.
- Move to ‘More Tools’ and click on ‘Clear Browsing Data’.
- Select a ‘Time Range’.
- Ensure that ‘Cookies and Other Site Data’ and ‘Cached Images and Files’ are checked.
- Choose ‘Clear Data’.
Microsoft Edge
- Launch the browser.
- Tap on the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner.
- Choose ‘History’ from the panel.
- Select ‘Clear History’.
- Check the boxes for ‘Cookies and Saved Website Data’ and ‘Cached Data and Files’.
- Click on ‘Clear now’.
Mozilla Firefox
- Open the browser.
- Tap on the three horizontal lines in the upper-right corner.
- Choose ‘Privacy and Security’.
- Select ‘Clear Data’ under ‘Cookies and Site Data.
- Be sure to check the box for ‘Cache’.
- Click on ‘Clear’ to confirm your choice.
Safari
- Tap on ‘Safari’ in the menu.
- Select ‘Preferences’.
- Click on ‘Privacy’.
- Choose ‘Manage Website Data’.
- Tap on ‘Remove All’.
- Click on ‘Remove Now’ to confirm your choice.
Update the Hulu App
An outdated Hulu app can create various hindrances to a smooth watching experience, freezing and constant buffering being a couple of them.
This can be due to the app requiring a necessary patch that makes it work properly.
Updating the app to the latest version can help you solve these problems.
- Go to the ‘Home’ screen of your streaming device.
- Open Play Store or App Store.
- Use the search bar to look for ‘Hulu’.
- Click on ‘Hulu’ from the search results and check if an update is available.
- Select ‘Update’ and wait for it to complete.
Updating the Hulu app can also help in resolving Hulu error code Metadata-2.
Update Your Streaming Device
Another reason for Hulu constantly freezing is linked to your streaming device.
If your streaming device’s firmware is outdated, Hulu may face various bugs and glitches, leading it not to work properly.
You can rectify this problem by checking your device’s firmware version and upgrading it to the latest version if available.
Delete and Reinstall the Hulu App
If none of the above solutions help you eliminate Hulu’s freezing problem, the Hulu app may be corrupt or missing a necessary directory.
You can resolve this by deleting the app and reinstalling it.
Here are the steps to do so:
- Go to the ‘Home’ screen of your streaming device.
- Launch ‘Settings’.
- Select ‘Apps’.
- Click on the ‘Hulu’ app.
- Tap on the ‘Delete’ or ‘Uninstall’ option and confirm.
- Reboot your device.
- Go back to ‘Home’ and open the App Store or Play Store.
- Look for ‘Hulu’ using the search bar and install it.
- Once completed, launch the app and sign into your account.
Note: The process may vary based on your device.
If you face Hulu error code P-ts207 on your TV, install the Hulu app on your smartphone and screencast the content onto the TV.
What Should I Do if Hulu Continues to Freeze?
If you have followed through with all the fixes covered in this article, but Hulu still keeps freezing, you should check the current status of Hulu servers.
Hulu servers sometimes face an outage due to excessive traffic or maintenance, leading to various streaming problems.
Various third-party websites allow you to check if Hulu is down, DownDetector being one such website.
You can also visit Hulu Help Center and get in touch with their expert team to enquire about the constant freezing and ask for official assistance.
Freezing is Frustrating
Watching your favorite content on Hulu is a treat to relish, provided it doesn’t keep freezing or buffering.
The constant freezing can be a bitter-tasting experience, but the solutions come easy.
If Hulu keeps freezing on your streaming device, your first step should be to check your Internet connection and power cycle the router.
Clearing the cache and cookies of the Hulu app or your web browser is also an effective solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I fix a laggy Hulu app?
You can fix a laggy Hulu app by power cycling your streaming device and clearing the cache files.
Is Hulu budget-friendly?
Hulu comes with two main subscription plans:
Hulu (with ads) is priced at $7.99 monthly, and the ad-free plan costs $14.99 per month.
Which streaming devices are compatible with Hulu?
Hulu is compatible with several streaming devices, ranging from TVs to gaming consoles. Here is a complete list of devices that can run Hulu.
