10 Hulu Life Hacks Every Hulu User Should Know
When it comes to streaming platforms, Hulu offers a lot: carefully curated TV shows and movies, as well as live streams. Hulu is also flexible enough to create separate profiles, watch on multiple devices, and access content while traveling. If you’re a Hulu subscriber, here are the best tips to help you maximize your viewing experience.
Customize your Hulu viewing history to avoid cluttering your recommendations list.
If you don’t like the content Hulu offers, you have several options to filter the recommendations. Disliking a show or movie removes it from the main menu and the “You May Also Like” section, so you’ll only see it if you search for it. You can Dislike it on the Details page if you’re watching on TV, or use the Like button on mobile or the web. (The Like button will obviously influence the algorithm in the opposite direction.) If your “Continue Watching” queue is cluttered with shows you started watching but didn’t enjoy enough to finish, you can remove them from your viewing history and from your “My Stuff” list. This will also allow the content to remain searchable but not suggested in other sections of the app.
Add a PIN to your profile to prevent other users from influencing the display algorithm.
With PIN protection enabled, users are required to enter a four-digit PIN when switching between profiles within the same account. This is a parental control feature, as it’s available for profiles other than “Kids” and can prevent children from accessing adult content on an adult profile. However, you can also enable this feature to prevent others from seeing your viewing history and preferences and influencing your algorithm by viewing their content on your profile (accidentally or intentionally). To set a PIN, log in to your account on the Hulu website, select your profile, and go to “Manage Profiles” > “Parental Controls.” You’ll need to select a PIN and enter your password to confirm the change.
Create a separate profile for guest or shared viewing to keep your profile private.
Another way to protect your profile and algorithm is to create separate profiles for specific use cases, such as when you have guests or host group viewings of certain shows. This will prevent content from influencing your recommendations and prevent other viewers from seeing your viewing history or saved content (especially if there are things you want to keep private).
Change subtitle settings to control which subtitles appear on your screen.
If you find that subtitles and captions are too bold or not visible enough, you can change the default font, color, size, and style to enhance your viewing experience rather than hinder it. Hulu allows you to adjust the color and opacity of the font, background, and window to achieve the desired contrast, as well as select a specific font and font scale. On your streaming device, go to Settings > Subtitles & Captions , then press the back button on your remote to save your settings. You can also update these settings on mobile devices and computers.
Instead of canceling your subscription, pause it while you travel or wait for new content.
If you don’t plan to use your Hulu account for a few weeks or months but don’t want to cancel your subscription entirely, you can pause your payments to avoid paying for time you’re not watching. This is a good option if you’re planning long trips or waiting for new seasons of certain shows. For monthly subscribers, pauses can last up to 12 weeks. Note that if you cancel your Hulu subscription, you can simply resubscribe to regain access to your profile. You can request a pause and set its duration in Account > Your Subscription > Pause Subscription .
Use the “content expires” icon to prioritize content in your watchlist.
If you have a long list of TV shows and movies you want to watch but can’t decide where to start, check the “Expiring Soon” icon to see which movies and TV shows will be removed from the service within the next two weeks. The icons show the number of days remaining, so you can prioritize which ones to watch based on how much time you have left before the expiration date. Go to the “My Movies and TV Shows” section to track saved movies and TV shows that are about to expire.
Transfer your profile to keep all your selections when you switch to a new account.
If you’ve been using Hulu through an account shared with family or friends and need to switch to your own subscription, you can transfer your profile while preserving your viewing history and settings, rather than starting from scratch. You can initiate the profile transfer on the device connected to your TV. Please note that account holders must approve transfer requests within seven days, and after this period, transfer requests cannot be resubmitted—so be sure to notify the primary user of your request.
Use Manage Devices to remove your account from TVs at hotels, Airbnb properties, or friends’ homes.
If you’ve shared your Hulu login information with friends or activated your account on devices you don’t own, you should regularly review where your account is being used and remove any devices that don’t need access. This includes TVs in Airbnb apartments and hotels. If you remain an authorized user, unauthorized users can access your Hulu account and personal data. You can see activated devices (and their activation date) under “Your Account” > “Watch Hulu on Your Devices” > “Manage Devices.” Click “Remove” next to old or unidentified devices.
Adjust download resolution for offline viewing to save space on your device.
Hulu has an offline mode that lets you download TV shows and movies to watch without a network connection. This is useful when traveling or when you know your Wi-Fi or cellular data will be limited. Downloading is only available on supported iOS and Android devices, so you may need to consider the amount of storage the content takes up. You can select High video quality if you want the maximum resolution, but if you’re short on space, Standard is better. This option is available under Downloads > Settings > Video Quality on iOS and under Account > Settings > Downloads > Video Quality on Android. Please note that after you tap Play on downloaded content, you have 48 hours to watch it before it expires—so don’t start watching unless you’re ready.
To stay connected to live TV while you’re on the go, connect to Hulu through your home Wi-Fi network.
If you have a Hulu + Live TV subscription, you need to specify a “home” network, which determines the local channels included in your plan. You can change your location up to four times within 12 months, but this restriction is intended to prevent people outside your household from using your subscription. Hulu allows you to watch live TV on mobile devices while outside your home network (within the US), as long as you sign in to your account on that network every 30 days. If you travel frequently, check your mobile device regularly to avoid being blocked while traveling. Please note that you can still stream content without restrictions.