Talk about a Hulu meltdown on your LG Smart TV?
However…
Don’t let this discourage you.
Because I’ve got 9 fixes for you.
And 1 secret fix that surprisingly worked.
Read on to find out:
- 9 worthwhile fixes to get Hulu to work on your LG Smart TV.
- What you can do if your LG TV isn’t compatible with the Hulu app.
- How to reset Hulu when it freezes or crashes (and how to reinstall it).
- And so much more…
Why is Hulu not working on my LG smart TV?
Hulu isn’t working on your LG Smart TV because your webOS version isn’t compatible. That said, an outdated software could be the main cause. Other causes for Hulu not working on your LG TV can be due to an app or TV glitch. Or, a weak WiFi connection can lead to your Hulu crashing or freezing.
Hulu not working on LG smart TV: 9 fixes
#1: Check LG compatibility with Hulu
Before diving into any of the fixes below, make sure your TV’s compatible.
For all LG TVs, only those with a webOS 3.5 or higher can run Hulu.
Not sure which version you have?
I got you.
Here’s how to check your current LG TV webOS:
- Tap the Settings button (gear icon) on your remote.
- Scroll down and select “All Settings.”
- Choose “General.”
- Tap the right arrow button to access the menu.
- Scroll down and select “About This TV.”
- Tap “TV Information” (located below “Allow Automatic Updates.”)
- You’ll see your webOS TV version
According to Hulu’s support page, certain LG models can still run Hulu.
Specifically, those with webOS 3.0 are compatible with the app.
However…
This is only for the classic Hulu app.
That means you still have access to Hulu’s content library, but Premium Add-ons aren’t available.
Now, this begs the question:
If your LG TV isn’t compatible, what are your options?
You have 2 solutions:
- Proceed to fix #7 of this guide.
- Get a streaming device and install Hulu.
Want options? Here are great streaming devices to get right now:
- Apple TV.
- Roku Ultra.
- Chromecast.
- Fire TV Stick.
- Fire TV Cube.
- Roku Express.
- Roku Streambar.
- Roku Streaming Stick 4K.
- Ematic 4K Android TV Box.
- NVIDIA Shield Android TV Media Player.
Of course, you’re also free to use Android tablets, iPads, and gaming consoles.
If you have either an Echo Show or Contour stream player, both work well too.
#2: Restart your TV
Sometimes, the main cause of Hulu not working on your LG TV is due to a power supply issue.
In that case, a simple restart should do the trick.
Here’s how to do it:
- Unplug your TV from its power source.
- Wait for 5 minutes.
- Plug it back in.
- Launch the Hulu app.
You might also be interested in: LG TV Not Turning On: 9 Ways To Fix It
#3: Troubleshoot your WiFi
As mentioned previously, internet connection problems are also likely causes.
However, it’s not as simple as saying your router’s broken.
First, try connecting your TV to a hotspot or mobile data.
That way, you’ll easily be able to tell if your LG TV has trouble connecting to the WiFi.
Did it work?
If not, let’s take another approach:
You can run an internet speed test.
If you notice your WiFi’s a little slower than normal, try connecting to your 5 GHz bandwidth.
What does that mean?
Put simply, your WiFi should have 2 bandwidths available: 5 GHz and 2 GHz.
Let me explain:
- As for 2 GHz, it’s slower, but it can reach farther devices.
- A 5 GHz bandwidth has faster internet; however, its range is also shorter.
Dig deeper: Should a Smart TV Be on 5G or 2G? 6 Things To Consider
With that said, 5 GHz bandwidths are perfect if your device’s closer to the router.
In contrast, connecting to a 2 GHz bandwidth’s ideal if you’re far from your WiFi.
So, first, move your router closer to your TV.
Then, connect to your 5 GHz bandwidth.
If this approach still didn’t solve Hulu not working on your LG TV, then…
You need to reset your router:
- Unplug your router.
- Wait for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Plug it back into its power source.
Now, if your WiFi doesn’t turn on, don’t worry.
This next fix just might be your answer.
Read also: 6 Things To Do if Your Smart TV Slows Down the Internet
#4: Update Hulu app
Oftentimes, the solution to your problem’s as simple as…
Updating Hulu:
- Press the Home button on your TV remote.
- Scroll right and select “LG Content Store.”
- Hit “OK” on your remote to launch it.
- Go to “My Apps.”
- Select your “Hulu” app.
- Press “Update.”
Then again, here’s one extra step you can take after updating the Hulu app:
#5: Reset Hulu
Apart from app updates, it could be that Hulu’s glitching or malfunctioning.
This can happen when you’re watching a show on Hulu, and then…
You exit the app immediately.
Because you didn’t pause or stop the show before exiting, well…
It can lead to loading problems, which in turn, becomes a glitch.
Not to mention, it slows your TV down.
Fortunately, you can quickly solve this issue.
All you have to do is close Hulu and then reopen it.
Now, take note.
This isn’t the same as exiting the app.
Every time you exit apps on your LG TV, you can still access them in the background.
Why?
Because the program’s still running.
As a result, what this fix does is stop the program and reset it.
Here’s how it’s done:
- Hold the Home button on your remote for about 3 seconds.
- A menu should appear at the bottom.
Note: This’ll be all the apps that are currently open and running.
- Highlight Hulu.
- Press the Up arrow button.
- Tap “OK” on your remote to close Hulu.
- Launch Hulu after a minute or so.
Related read: 15 Best Ways To Speed Up A Slow Samsung Smart TV
#6: Reinstall Hulu app
When resets fail, you take the higher road.
And in this case, you’ll have to reinstall Hulu on your LG TV.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
Deleting Hulu on your LG TV
- On your home screen, scroll all the way to the right.
- You should see a pencil icon at the end.
- Click on that.
- A message on your screen should appear saying: “Edit Mode.”
- Highlight or select the app you want to edit.
- Tap the Up arrow button on your remote.
- A ghost icon should appear on top of the Hulu app.
- Press “OK” on your remote to confirm the delete.
Reinstalling Hulu on your LG TV
- Tap the Home button on your remote.
- A menu should appear at the bottom of your screen.
- Scroll right and select “LG Content Store.”
- Press “OK” on your remote.
- In the store, scroll right and choose “Apps.”
- Search for “Hulu” using the search function (magnifying glass icon).
- Select the app then tap “OK” on your remote.
- Press “Install.”
#7: Update your TV’s software
One of the biggest reasons why Hulu doesn’t work on your LG TV is because…
You’re not running the latest webOS software.
As mentioned earlier, your TV should have the 3.5 version to be compatible with Hulu.
That said, the quickest fix is to update your software.
Here’s how:
- Hit the settings button (gear icon) on your remote.
- A drop-down menu should appear on the right part of your screen.
- Tap “All Settings.”
- Choose “General.”
- Press the right button on your remote to access your “General” menu.
- Select “About This TV.”
- Tap “Check for Updates.”
- Install the latest software.
“My LG TV isn’t updating.”
Don’t worry.
I have an alternative solution in case this happens.
And it’s to update your TV manually.
First things first.
You’ll need to download the latest software version file for your TV.
To do that, you need your TV’s model number.
Don’t know what it is?
Here’s a simple solution to that:
“Press the Mute button (speaker icon with a diagonal slash over it) on your remote 3 times.”
Then, a pop-up menu should appear displaying your TV’s model number.
Didn’t work?
An alternative is to check the back panel of your TV.
There should be a sticker displaying your model number.
From there, here’s what you should do:
Step 1: Download the software on LG’s support page.
If your model number’s 55UF8500, enter that on LG’s support page.
From there, scroll down to the “Operating Systems” section.
You should see a list of software versions available for download.
Step 2: After downloading, transfer the file to your USB.
Step 3: Plug it into your TV’s port.
Step 4: Follow the on-screen instructions to install the latest software.
Here’s an instructional video guide just in case:
Worth checking out: How Often Do Smart TVs Update Their Software? 5 Examples
#8: Perform a factory reset
A factory reset’s the best solution when nothing else seems to be working.
What this does is it:
- Clears your app data.
- Restores your TV to its default settings.
- Removes any corrupted files, bugs, or glitches in the system.
Here’s how it’s done:
- Tap the Settings button (gear icon) on your TV remote.
- Scroll down, then select “All Settings.”
- Tap “General” (located above “Network”).
- Hit the right arrow button on your remote to access the “General” menu.
- Scroll down and tap “Reset to Initial Settings.”
- Press “OK” on your remote to confirm the reset.
Did it solve your issue?
If not, allow me to introduce…
My secret fix:
#9: Create a new Hulu account
“What? This is a joke, right?”
Not at all.
In fact, at this point, it’s no longer an incompatibility problem.
Nor is it an app/TV glitch, corrupted file, malfunction, or WiFi connection issue.
It’s actually…
Your account that’s causing the problem.
Sadly, reinstalling Hulu isn’t going to fix it.
Why?
Because that fix would’ve worked if the app itself was buggy or corrupted.
But in this case, if your account has a problem, well…
The best fix is to give it a clean wipe.
And by that, I mean…
Start from scratch.
That way, creating another account in Hulu’s eyes is like:
“Oh! A brand new user. Yippee!”
Here’s how to do it:
Note: You’ll need to use a new email address for this. Also, if this fixes your problem, be sure to deactivate your old account.
Step 1: Head to Hulu’s signup page.
Step 2: Click on “Start Your Free Trial” or “Sign Up for Hulu.”
Step 3: Choose a plan.
There are several options:
Step 4: Enter all your details.
These include your email address, personal/contact info, and password.
Step 5: Set up your payment method and billing info.
Step 6: Tap “Submit” to create your account.
From here, follow the on-screen instructions.
Now, if this approach still doesn’t solve your issue, I recommend contacting Hulu.
Preferably in their Twitter account as they respond faster there.