I cut my cable subscription and switched to Hulu Live because I didn’t want to be paying for both services.
It wasn’t long before I regretted my choice because I would constantly experience the error “sorry this channel is temporarily unavailable”.
I’m talking multiple times a day.
When it happens that often, it is hardly temporary.
I was trying to watch CBS a few days ago when I got this error out of nowhere.
While looking for help online, I found dozens of users who faced the same error and shared their experiences on the Community thread of Hulu.
I tried many solutions I found online, but none of them worked.
On the verge of canceling Hulu, I finally found a workaround that allowed me to resume watching CBS.
If you’re facing the “Sorry, this channel is temporarily unavailable” error, use your Hulu credentials to log into the network app of the channel you want to watch. While logging in, select Hulu as the TV provider.
Use Hulu Credentials On Network Apps
I know this is not ideal.
But this is the only thing that worked for me.
I downloaded the CBS network app and logged in using my Hulu credentials.
This works with most other network apps, including ESPN, CNN, and NBC.
After downloading the app, log in using your Hulu credentials.
When asked to select a TV provider, you must select Hulu to log in successfully.
However, if you face this error on many channels, downloading multiple apps defeats the whole point of subscribing to Hulu.
Here are some things you should try if you face this error on multiple channels.
Restart the Hulu App
Hulu recommends restarting the application as the first step.
Restarting your Hulu app fixes internal bugs that often stop your videos from playing normally.
If you’re watching Hulu on a TV, close the app using your remote. Then you can relaunch the app by searching for the Hulu app from the main menu.
On a smartphone, remove the Hulu app from the recent apps list before restarting it.
While watching it on a PC or Mac, you need to close the tab and relaunch Hulu by clicking on a new tab.
Check Your Internet Connection
A slow internet connection can often cause errors while streaming.
You might face trouble streaming your Hulu channel if your internet speed is lower than the minimum recommendation below.
| 3 Mbps | Hulu Library |
| 8 Mbps | Live Streaming |
| 16 Mbps | 4K Videos |
The first step to fix a slow internet connection is to power cycle your router.
To do this,
- Turn off your router using the power button.
- Now unplug the router from the power source and wait for 30 seconds.
- Plug in the router again and wait until you see all the panel lights turn green.
Power cycling the Wi-Fi router also eliminates Hulu error code 301.
Another way to increase the internet speed on your device is to use an ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi.
This works if your router is installed far away from your TV.
Clear the Cache of Your Hulu App
Cache files can eat up your device storage with unwanted data.
Deleting the cache data of the Hulu app has fixed the error for several users.
To do this,
- Grab your TV remote and navigate to the settings menu.
- Scroll down to the Apps section.
- Search for the Hulu app under Manage Install Applications.
- Inside the app, click on the storage option.
- Find and delete the cache files.
Update the Hulu App
Hulu recommends updating your Hulu app to the latest firmware version to fix any streaming errors.
You could be running an older version of the Hulu app on your device. Since most users keep the auto-update feature turned off, they keep running the outdated version of apps.
To update Hulu on your TV,
- Go to the main menu on your TV.
- Navigate through the Apps section to find the Google Play Store app.
- Search for the Hulu app and check for the Update button that appears under the app name.
- Click on update and wait until your TV installs the app.
Updating the Hulu app to the latest build is also an effective solution if Hulu keeps restarting a show.
Additionally, you can also turn on the auto-update feature on your Play Store app to automatically install any future updates to your Hulu app.
To enable auto-update,
- Click on your profile icon and navigate to the Settings menu.
- Click auto-update from Network Preferences.
- Select “Over any network”.
This will automatically download updates for all apps on your device.
Power Cycle Your TV
If none of the above methods work, you can power cycle your TV to rule out any device-specific problem.
Power cycling your TV will stop and remove all background processes, including app activities.
To power cycle your TV,
- First, use the remote to turn off the TV.
- Now unplug your TV from the power output.
- After waiting for 60 seconds, plug in your TV and turn it on.
Hulu Better Fix This
While Hulu had all my favorite live channels like CBS, fixing the streaming errors was difficult.
Moreover, I was annoyed when the error appeared on other channels like FOX and CNBC.
Downloading separate apps for each channel works. Although, with limited storage space on my TV, this was not a long-term solution.
Another workaround, if your phone can still load the channel, is to cast to your TV from an Android phone.
If this error is not fixed soon, it won’t be long before I jump ship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Hulu app temporarily unavailable?
The Hulu app might be temporarily unavailable due to server downtime, a slow internet connection, or an outdated firmware version.
How to fix the Hulu app not working?
You can fix the Hulu app by relaunching the application, clearing cache data, and power cycling your device.
How to reinstall the Hulu app on my TV?
To reinstall the Hulu app on your TV, you need to delete the application. Then go to the Google Play Store app and install the app.
Does Samsung no longer support Hulu?
Hulu is supported on Samsung TVs released on or after 2016. You might face trouble streaming Hulu on older TV models.
