8 Useful Hulu Tricks You’re Probably Not Using

Hulu has a solid place among streaming giants like Netflix, HBO Max and Disney Plus. And it comes with benefits.

You can stream live news on any plan or organize a remote viewing party with a built-in platform. You can also upgrade your subscription to the next level: In addition Hulu’s $8 base tieryou can pay more to remove ads or step up Hulu Plus TV Livewhich comes with unlimited DVR and access Disney Plus and ESPN Plus.

But what about Hulu’s features? Although the platform is not as intuitive to use as I would like, I have found many ways to improve the viewing experience. I’m sorry to say that Hulu is lacking secret codes which unlock genre menus and other categories of content such as Netflix. But with these tricks, you can still add some dazzle to your stream.

One thing before we dive in: I learned the hard way that Hulu’s features don’t work the same on all devices. That inconsistency can be frustrating, but you can check which supported devices work best with these tips by visiting Hulu’s help center.

Read more: The best movies to watch on Hulu

Use widgets for your mobile phone

Are you used to watching the Hulu app on your phone? Android and iPhone users can switch to a custom Hulu widget that offers a one-click ride to content you’ve already watched or suggestions for new titles.

iOS users can tap and hold an empty space on their screens and when the plus sign appears, type Hulu. You will be asked to select one of two widgets: “Jump back” or “Discover”.

If you have an Android phone, tap an empty spot on the screen, then click the widget icon. Search for Hulu in the search bar, then click which widget you want to use. You will have the option to select “Continue watching” or new content.

Add and remove channels in your lineup

This advice applies to Live TV and Hulu Basic subscribers. Do you know how you choose your favorite networks when you first set up your Hulu profile? Well, it doesn’t have to be set in stone. If you want to add a channel to your watch group, you will need to store your preferred networks in the “My stuff” tab in Hulu.

On the main screen, find the TV tab and scroll down to find the “All TV networks” row. Click on the channel that has a constant stream of content you want to watch. For example, if you like ABC’s shows, select its icon and in the upper corner click “Add to My Stuff.” Now you’ll see ABC content in rotation on your Hulu main page. Repeat the process for other networks. When you go to the My Stuff tab and tap Networks, you’ll see a list of all the channels you’ve added . Speed ​​up to your favorite shows or movies by clicking the channel icon .

Live TV subscribers follow a different set of steps. Open the Hulu app and click on Hubs. Scroll down to the AZ section to select the network channels you want, then tap Add to My Stuffor choose them from one of the other rows for entertainment, sports, etc. To check if they are part of your channel, press Live tab and click on My channels.

To remove any of these networks from your main Hulu page, simply find the network icon there My stuff and click remove.

Customize your subtitles

Like Netflix, Hulu gives you the ability to customize the subtitles on your screen. You can change the font, background and layout of your programming window. Open the app on your TV and go to your profile icon. Click Settings and open subtitles and subtitles menu. You can change the font color, opacity, and shading, and make the same adjustments to your background and window.

This formatting process will only work on supported devices running the latest version of Hulu. Certain models for Roku, Android TV, Samsung TVs and Apple TVs (prior to the fourth generation) may not have this feature.

However, if you are viewing from a web browser, you can change the subtitle font settings. While the video is streaming, click the gear icon. Choose Subtitles. In the subtitles menu, tap Settings, and a box will open allowing you to select the font type, color, size, and opacity. Click Done after you have made your selections.

Save your eyes with night mode

For those watching Hulu late at night on a laptop, there’s a feature that will make your eye doctor happy: Night Mode. It changes your screen from a bright, white background to a dark one to reduce blue light strain on your eyes.

To enable it, hover over your profile until you see the drop-down menu. Switch Night mode to the on or off position. Although this option is only available on PCs, you can use the Cast feature to cast Hulu from your laptop to your Chromecast or smart TV.

Pause your subscription

Going on a trip? Need a break from one of your monthly bills? You can temporarily put hula on ice for up to 12 weeks. Go to your account page and find your subscription column. Click Pause on Pause your subscription bar and choose how long you want to stop Hulu.

You will not be billed during this period, but please note that the freeze begins on the first day of your next billing cycle. Additionally, be aware that if you bundle Disney Plus and/or ESPN Plus with your Hulu subscription, access to those apps will also be paused.

Unless you manually restart your subscription, your account will be automatically reactivated on the end date of the pause. This will become your new billing date.

Disable autoplay

If you use Netflix regularly, you’re probably used to its autoplay feature that turns on the next episode or preview. Hulu does the same thing, and you can turn it on or off.

For TV and mobile devices, click your profile icon, then select Settings. Switch Autoplay to turn off for videos or previews. If you’re streaming Hulu in a web browser, click the gear icon during playback to open it Settings. Switch Autoplay it off.

Clear your viewing history

Are you done binge watching through every season of several shows? What about those horror movies from last Halloween? If you want to re-watch a piece of content from the beginning or have a desire to clear your viewing history, there is a way to remove what you’ve already seen.

On TV, go to the show or movie details page. Click on the gear icon that says Manage Series. You will be asked to confirm whether you want to remove the title from your viewing history. Dialing Remove not only will it delete it from your history and Keep Watching list, but it will also delete your progress of watching an entire series or movie. This is handy if you want to watch something over and over again.

Mobile and web users should start at the home page and find Keep watching section about Hulu. Find the title thumbnail to open the menu options. Click the X or Remove from viewing history and confirm your selection.

Lost your remote? Let your phone guide you

If a gremlin has hidden your TV remote, fear not, you can still watch Hulu on the big screen with your phone. How? If you have Chromecast or Airplay on your TV, install the Hulu app on your phone (or other mobile device) and cast it.

Make sure your phone and TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi, then open the app on your phone. Select the content you want to watch and tap on any Airplay or Cast icon. Select Chromecast or your smart TV from the menu and enjoy streaming. You can control playback functions with your phone.

For more, check out CNET’s Hulu review and Hulu Plus TV Live. You can also check out our list the best streaming services for 2022. Plus, here’s how Compare Netflix and Hulu.