Do you get the Hulu we’ve hit an unexpected snag error message? You’re not alone.
Many Hulu users have encountered this problem at some point, ruining their streaming experience. The error message often indicates a Hulu service issue requiring further investigation or troubleshooting.
To fix the Hulu hit an unexpected snag issue, lower your streaming quality settings to improve performance. Changing the DNS settings also helps in resolving this error.
Okay, let’s dive deeper into the specifics of the solutions!
Tested Solutions to Hulu We’ve Hit an Unexpected Snag Error
When you’ve hit an unexpected snag error, don’t worry! We listed some simple troubleshooting methods for you!
#1: Verify if Hulu’s Service is Down
If you’re having trouble with Hulu, the first thing to do is check for a server outage.
The issue is not always on your end but with Hulu’s. Check their website or social media accounts for updates.
On Twitter or X:
- Open the Twitter or X app on your device.
- Search for @hulu to visit their profile.
- Scroll down and look for tweets in the past 24 hours that mentions outages.
- Check the location if it’s in your area.
On Facebook:
- Go to the Facebook app on your device.
- Search for Hulu to go to their profile.
- Check for their recent posts that mention any outages.
- Confirm that the location of the outages is in your area.
Pro Tip: Always pay attention to the time of the posts to ensure that those are recent.
It helps to retweet or share the posts indicating that the service is down to spread the word and let others know that Hulu is indeed down.
#2: Force Close the Hulu App
If Hulu’s service is up and running, you’ll need to force close the Hulu app on your device and restart it.
This will help clear any glitches or bugs causing the error as you reopen the app fresh.
Here’s how to force close the Hulu app on different devices:
iPhone
- Double-click the Home button.
- Swipe up on the Hulu app preview to force close it.
Android
- Go to Settings.
- Select Apps & Notifications.
- Tap See all apps.
- Tap on Hulu.
- Hit Force Stop.
Firestick
- Select Settings from the Home Screen.
- Tap on Applications.
- Hit Manage Installed Applications.
- Select Hulu.
- Tap Force Stop.
Pro Tip: If you’re having trouble force closing the Hulu app, restart your device or uninstall and reinstall the app.
#3: Lower Your Streaming Quality Settings
Another reason you’re experiencing some issues with your Hulu streaming is your internet connection.
It can lead to several issues if it’s not fast and reliable enough to support high-quality streaming. You can expect buffering, lagging, and the error message “We’ve hit an unexpected snag”.
To resolve this, here’s how to lower your streaming quality settings on Hulu:
Web
- Go to hulu.com.
- Sign in to your account.
- Click the Account icon in the top right corner.
- Click Settings.
- Scroll down to Video Quality.
- Choose Low or Medium.
- Click Save.
App
- Open the Hulu app on your device.
- Tap the Account icon in the top right corner.
- Tap Settings.
- Scroll down to Video Quality.
- Choose Low or Medium.
- Tap Save.
Note: The lower the quality, the more pixelated the image appears. If you prefer a high-quality viewing experience, get a higher internet or data plan.
#4: Remove Temporary Files from the Hulu App
Another way to fix the Hulu unexpected snag error is to remove any corrupted or outdated temporary files stored in the app’s cache or data. These files can impact your app’s performance.
Offloading the Hulu app on iPhone
- Go to Settings.
- Tap General.
- Select iPhone Storage.
- Scroll down and tap Hulu.
- Hit Offload App.
Note: The app will be removed from your iPhone, but the data and settings will remain intact. Reinstall the app anytime by going to the App Store.
Clearing Cache and Data on Android
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Apps.
- Select Hulu.
- Tap Storage.
- Hit Clear Cache.
- Tap on Clear Data.
Note: All temporary files and data associated with the Hulu app will be removed.
#5: Log Out Hulu on All Devices
If your Hulu account is logged in on multiple devices simultaneously, you will exceed the maximum number of streams allowed, resulting in errors.
A simple solution is to log out of your Hulu account on all other devices except the one you currently use.
- Go to hulu.com and sign in to your account.
- Click the Account icon in the top right corner.
- Click Manage Devices.
- Select Log Out of All Devices.
- Click Log Out to confirm.
You will be logged out of all devices currently logged into your Hulu account. Log in again on each device if you want to continue watching Hulu.
If this method does not resolve the issue, you want to look into your device’s network settings. Proceed to the steps below to resolve this error.
#6: Change Your DNS Settings
One of the possible reasons for the unexpected snag error is issues with the DNS settings. DNS, or Domain Name System, is a service that converts websites into IP addresses.
Sometimes, Hulu’s servers are blocked, or your DNS settings are slow or outdated, leading to errors and preventing you from accessing their service. To fix this, you need to change your DNS settings.
Changing DNS Settings on iPhone
- Go to Settings.
- Select WiFi.
- Tap the i icon next to your WiFi network.
- Scroll down to DNS and tap Configure DNS.
- Tap Manual.
- Enter the DNS servers you want to use.
- Tap Save.
Changing DNS Settings on Android
- Go to Settings.
- Select Network & Internet.
- Tap on WiFi.
- Tap the gear icon next to your WiFi network.
- Scroll down to Advanced and tap Private DNS.
- Enter the DNS servers you want to use.
- Tap Save.
Info: Here are some popular DNS servers for you to use.
- Google DNS: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
- Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1
- OpenDNS: 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220
After changing your DNS settings, restart your device and see if this solves the issue.
#7: Use a VPN to Improve Your Connection
Hulu blocking your location or IP address due to geo-restrictions or licensing problems is another possible cause of the error.
A potential solution is to use a VPN to circumvent these blocks and improve your connection.
To use a VPN, follow these steps:
- Download and install the VPN app on your device.
- Launch the app and sign in to your account.
- Select a server in the US.
- Connect to the VPN Server.
- Open the Hulu app and see if you can stream a show or movie.
Pro Tip: Use a different VPN server if you still have problems with the Hulu unexpected snag error. Then, restart your device.
If you’re looking for a fast and reliable VPN that works with Hulu, we recommend AtlasVPN.
It has multiple servers that allow you to bypass Hulu restrictions and stream without issues.
#8: Reset Your Device’s Network Settings
As a last resort, reset your device’s network settings to fix network-related issues causing the error.
However, this will erase any saved WiFi passwords, VPN configurations, and other network preferences.
Resetting Network Settings on iPhone
- Go to Settings.
- Tap on General.
- Select Reset.
- Tap Reset Network Settings.
- Enter your passcode if prompted.
- Tap Reset Network Settings again to confirm.
Resetting Network Settings on Android
- Go to Settings.
- Tap on System.
- Tap Advanced.
- Tap Reset Options.
- Select Reset WiFi, Mobile & Bluetooth.
- Enter your PIN or password if prompted.
- Tap Reset WiFi, Mobile & Bluetooth again to confirm.
Pro Tip: Make sure you back up your network preferences before you reset your network settings.
Recap
If you’re a Hulu user, you may have seen the Hulu we’ve hit an unexpected snag error while trying to stream your favorite shows.
To fix this, change your streaming quality settings to a lower level or use a VPN to improve your internet connection.
For more Hulu troubleshooting guides, visit our blog!
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Kevin has over five years of experience working in various Tech startups and providing Technical solutions. He has contributed to many Tech publications and websites. Check out more about him here.