Can’t Download on Hulu? Troubleshooting Hulu Download Problems

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Grace
December 20, 2024

While Hulu’s download feature allows for convenient offline viewing, download errors can be frustrating. To help you troubleshoot these issues, we’ve compiled a list of common Hulu download problems and their corresponding solutions, so you can continue watching your favorite titles, even without an internet connection.

Related: Why Is Hulu Not Working

Hulu Download Problems & Solutions

  1. Movie/Episode Not Available for Download
  2. Hulu Downloads Disappeared
  3. Hulu Downloads Never Finish
  4.  “Too Many Downloads” Error
  5. Can’t Access Hulu Downloads

1. Movie/Episode Not Available for Download

If you don’t see a download option for a specific movie or episode, it’s possible that the title isn’t available for offline viewing. Hulu’s download feature has some important restrictions:

  • Subscription Requirement: You must be a Hulu (No Ads) subscriber to download content.
  • Supported Devices: Downloads are currently only available on supported mobile devices, not on living room devices or Hulu.com.
  • Content Availability: Not all content on Hulu is downloadable due to licensing agreements.

Solution 1. Upgrade to Hulu (No Ads)

Subscribers with one of Hulu’s (No Ads) plans can download numerous shows and movies from the Hulu streaming library. To upgrade your Hulu subscription, go to the Hulu Account page and log in to your account. Then select MANAGE PLAN under Your Subscription section to change your plan to one without ads.

manage hulu plan

Related: How to Upgrade Your Hulu Subscription

Solution 2. Check Device Compatibility

Verify that your device is supported for downloading Hulu videos. Hulu No Ads subscribers can only download movies and TV shows on supported mobile devices. Check whether your device is on the list below if you encounter a Hulu downloading issue.

  • iOS: iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch with iOS 15.3 and later
  • Android:
    • With Android 7.1 (Nougat) and later
    • Screen size of at least 800×480 pixels
  • Amazon Fire Tablets: Running Fire OS 6 and later
    • Fire 7 (9th gen+)
    • Fire HD 8 (8th gen+)
    • Fire HD 10 (9th gen+)
    • Fire Max 11 (13th gen+)

Solution 3. Is the Title Downloadable?

You can identify if a title is downloadable by looking for the Download icon next to the video. Please note that shows and movies from Premium Add-ons are not downloadable, and the additional on-demand content that comes with a Live TV subscription is also not available for download. As a reminder, those shows and movies are not part of the Hulu streaming library.

hulu download icon

2. Hulu Downloads Disappeared

If you’ve noticed that some or all of your downloads have disappeared, this could be due to two common reasons: logging out of Hulu on your device or the downloads reaching their expiration date.

Solution 1. Redownload the Video

If you’ve noticed that all your downloads are missing, it’s possible that you were logged out of Hulu on your device. Logging out of Hulu automatically removes all downloaded videos from that device. When you log out, you should receive a notification informing you of this. To recover your downloads, simply redownload the videos the next time you log in.

Solution 2. Watch before Expiration

Another possibility is that your downloads have reached their expiration date. Downloads have a limited lifespan. Be mindful of the following expiration time to enjoy your content without interruptions.

  • Unwatched downloads remain accessible for 30 days unless the episode or movie is removed from the streaming library before that time.
  • Once you start watching a show or movie by pressing play, you have 48 hours from that moment to complete watching before the download expires.

3. Hulu Downloads Never Finish

If your Hulu downloads never seem to complete, this issue could arise if your device loses internet access or if your connection is weak. Low download speeds or an inconsistent wireless connection can sometimes disrupt the Hulu app or website.

Solution: Improve Network Connection

  • Check your Wi-Fi or data connection to make sure it is stable and strong.
  • Restart your router or modem to refresh the connection.
  • Power off all other devices connected to your home network that might be consuming bandwidth.
  • Close any other applications or programs your device may be running in the background.
  • Move your device closer to your Wi-Fi router to boost your signal strength.
  • Use an ethernet cable to connect your device directly to the route if possible.

4. “Too Many Downloads” Error

You can store up to 25 downloads on five supported mobile devices simultaneously. These limits apply at the account level, not per profile or device. If you surpass any of these limits, you’ll receive a popup alert from Hulu.

Solution: Delete Watched Downloads

If you’re running into a “too many downloads” alert, you can create space for new downloads by deleting videos you’ve already watched.

To delete downloads:

  1. Navigate to the Downloads section by selecting the Downloads icon from the navigation bar.
  2. Tap Edit at the top of the screen.
  3. Select videos you’d like to delete.
  4. Tap the Trash icon.
  5. Confirm your decision by pressing Delete
delete hulu downloads

5. Can’t Access Hulu Downloads

You may lose access to your downloads for various reasons, including traveling abroad, changing devices, switching to a plan that doesn’t support downloads, or canceling your account.

Please note that downloads are only available for viewing within the U.S. (including Puerto Rico and U.S. military bases). A Hulu subscription is intended for use by members of a single U.S. household, so you’ll be required to have a U.S.-issued form of payment when signing up.

It’s essential to be aware that you can only watch downloads on the device used to download them. If you wish to view a particular video that you downloaded on a different phone or tablet, you’ll need to switch to that specific device.

If you switch your plan to Hulu With Ads or cancel your subscription, you will no longer have access to the downloaded content.

Solution: Use a Hulu Video Downloader

Luckily, with a professional video downloader such as Pazu Hulu Video Downloader, you have the capability to download any Hulu movies and TV shows for offline playback on both Windows and Mac, regardless of whether you have a Hulu (With Ads) or Hulu (No Ads) plan. Additionally, the downloaded videos are saved in MP4 format, allowing you to continue watching them even after canceling your subscription. You can also play these videos on any MP4-supported device using various media players, all without encountering any ads.

Pazu Hulu Video Downloader includes a built-in Hulu web player, eliminating the need for the Hulu app. Follow the steps below to learn how to download Hulu titles as MP4 files and enjoy them on any supported device:

Step 1. Run Pazu Hulu Video Downloader on your Mac or Windows.

Download, install and launch Pazu Hulu Video Downloader on your Mac or Windows. Log in your Hulu account and choose hulu.com, hulu.jp or hulu.jp/store.

Hulu Downloader

Select a profile.

choose Hulu profile

Step 2. Search Hulu movies/TV shows to download.

Enter the movie/TV show title in the search field.

search Hulu videos

Or copy and paste the link of the movie/TV show from the Hulu website. Then click the Search icon.

copy and paste the link

Step 3. Choose video format/quality

Click the Settings icon to change:

  • Video format: MP4 or MKV
  • Video codec: H264 or H265
  • Audio language: English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Chinese
  • Subtitle language: English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Chinese
  • Subtitle type: Embedded subtitles, Independent subtitles, Hardcoded subtitles
  • Interface languages: English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Chinese
Hulu to MP4

Step 4. Start to download Hulu videos

Click the Download icon next to Modern Family to choose the season and episodes you want to download.

download Hulu TV show

Then click the Download button in the bottom right corner to start downloading Modern Family to your computer.

download Hulu TV show to MP4

Click the History menu to view all downloaded videos. Click the folder icon to quickly locate the Hulu videos in MP4 or MKV format, then you can play them anywhere you want even without Hulu.

find hulu downloads