Are you wondering why is my Hulu screen green? Well, you’re not alone so keep reading!
Hulu is one of the top-rated streaming services but the appearance of a green screen can be a frustrating roadblock to your entertainment.
No worries, we’ll walk you through effective fixes to help you easily resolve this issue and put an end to the green screen dilemma.
The green screen on Hulu usually appears due to different factors including software, network, or hardware issues.
The good news is that the green screen is not a fatal fault and can be resolved by performing troubleshooting on Hulu and your streaming device.
Let’s continue to unwrap!
Why is My Screen Green On Hulu?
Now that we have reviewed the underlying causes, let’s quickly start troubleshooting!
Why is My Hulu Screen Green? – 9 Proven Solutions
1. Verify Stable Internet Connection!
The Hulu service is entirely dependent on internet connectivity.
So, the first thing to check is your internet connection and of course, your WiFi on your Hulu streaming device.
Note that the internet connection and WiFi performance are two separate factors that you need to inspect.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to inspect your internet and WiFi:
- First, power cycle your WiFi router by unplugging it.
- Then disconnect unused devices from your WiFi.
- Forget and reconnect the Hulu device to the WiFi.
- Turn off the VPN or Proxy networking connections.
- Carry out a free internet speed test online anytime.
When you are sure that your internet connection is working on all devices, then open the Hulu app and try streaming content.
With a good WiFi connection, the green screen should be gone.
Note: If the green screen appears on a specific video, then the video itself has color problems!
2. Close Background Running Apps
If you have multiple apps running simultaneously, then this may be the cause of your green screen on Hulu.
The background running apps typically consume more system resources and limit the available RAM, which can cause playback issues, buffering, or color distortions.
Simply close all background apps to free up memory!
Here is how to close the background running apps:
Steps for Android & iOS Mobile:
- Press the left bottom button on the mobile screen.
- Then, look for the recent apps by moving left or right.
- Next, swipe up on all apps from the floating screen.
- OR press the “Close” or “X” button to clear the apps.
Steps for TV or Streaming Devices:
- First, navigate to your TV Settings.
- Then, simply go to the Apps section.
- Choose the apps you want to close.
- Tap on Options, Settings, or Back.
- Tap “Close” or “Exit,” to clear apps.
Reminder: When everything is sorted, then check for the green screen in Hulu on the app!
3. Restart the Hulu Playback Service
It’s common for apps to encounter issues due to file corruption, bugs with the system, or glitches with the Hulu application.
Hence, sometimes a simple restart can work like magic to potentially resolve the green screen problem with the Hulu app.
Note: Verify that your device is connected to a stable internet connection!
Here is how to restart the Hulu service:
Steps to Restart the Hulu App:
- First, force-close the Hulu application.
- Then clear all background running apps.
- Then wait for at least 2 to 3 minutes.
- Relaunch the Hulu app on your device.
Steps to Restart the Hulu on Browser:
- Click on the “X” at the top right.
- On macOS, tap the red circle.
- Then wait for several minutes.
- Open the browser and your Hulu.
Test the Hulu: Play any video or show and check for the green screen on your Hulu app!
4. Power Cycle the Playback Device
It is recommended to power cycle your streaming device as well along with Hulu because sometimes the problem lies within the device, not the app.
So, in case of a persistent Hulu green screen, don’t proceed further before applying a full playback device power circulation.
Steps to Power Cycle a TV:
- Unplug your TV from the wall outlet.
- Then, simply wait about 5 minutes.
- Plug your TV back into the power.
Note: If you are using Hulu on your PC or laptop, then make sure to restart them too!
Steps to Power Cycle Phone:
- First, hold down the phone’s power button.
- Keep holding the button for a few seconds.
- Select the “Shutdown” / “Power off” option.
- Then, press and hold the power button again.
When your device completely restarts and has a good internet connection then open the Hulu and test playing your favorite show.
In case the green screen is still there, continue reading!
5. Clear the Hulu App Cache and Data!
Apps frequently experience problems due to corrupted cache files, as we discussed earlier in the guide.
If you are still experiencing the green screen of your Hulu, then try clearing the Hulu app cache and the data as well, to get rid of this corruption and prevent the green screen.
- On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Hulu > Clear Cache!
- On iPhones, go to Settings > Hulu > “Offload App” > Confirm.
Note: For smart TVs clearing the cache data happens from the “Storage” or “Apps” section!
6. Disable Any Browser Extensions!
If you’re streaming Hulu on a web browser, then there is a possibility that the extensions or add-ons may interfere with the Hulu video playback.
Here we’ll use the Google Chrome web browser as an example, but consider that other browsers also work similarly!
Tip: Temporarily disable ALL activated extensions and add-ons!
To disable activated extensions on Google Chrome, follow the steps:
- Hover your cursor over the puzzle icon “Extensions”.
- Info: The puzzle icon is located on the top right side.
- When you click, you’ll reveal all the installed add-ons.
- On the right of each extension, there are 3 vertical dots.
- For each extension, click the dots and select “Pause”.
- Alternatively, stop each extension from its interface.
When all of the extensions are turned off, restart the browser, navigate to the Hulu website, and try playing different videos for a few minutes.
Tip: If the Hulu green screen is now gone, enable the extensions one by one to determine which one is causing all this fuss.
7. Inspect the HDMI Cable Connection!
If you have any devices connected to your TV through HDMI, and wondering why is my Hulu screen green still there, you need to check the HDMI cable.
If you’re streaming Hulu from a device, that is connected via video (HDMI) cable to your TV, the green screen might be from the connection.
The Solution?
- Disconnect the HDMI cable and reconnect it.
- Inspect whether the port has been damaged.
- Test with a proven HDMI cable connection.
Once you’ve ensured that all settings are properly configured, open the latest version of the Hulu app and play a video to verify.
If the Hulu green screen is still there, continue reading!
8. Uninstall and Reinstall the Hulu App!
It’s possible that there is a problem with the currently installed version of the Hulu app even if you have already updated it.
This is not the first time that we’ll address file corruption here, so this time we’ll ultimately delete all Hulu app files and get them back fresh.
Reinstalling the Hulu application will erase all user settings!
Step #1 Uninstall the Hulu App:
- For Mobile: Press and hold the Hulu app icon and choose Uninstall or Remove!
- For Smart TV: Go to Settings > Apps > Hulu > Choose Uninstall option.
Step #2 Reinstall the Hulu App:
- Go to the App Store on your mobile or TV.
- Then, find the Hulu app in the search bar.
- Press the Install button to download the app.
- Wait a few minutes for the installation to finish.
Reminder: Once the Hulu app completely installs, launch the Hulu app, sign in to your Hulu user account, and play any video to test for the app's green screen.
9. Test Hulu on a Different OS Platform!
If you’ve tried all other options but still encounter a green screen in your Hulu app, it’s time to test on a different operating system and device.
You can use Hulu on a smartphone, tablet, or another smart TV, by using the same Hulu account.
This step is an ideal fix when nothing works, and helps you to identify whether the problem lies with your device or with the Hulu app.
One More Thing – Factory Reset!
In case the Hulu screen goes green only on one device, then it’s likely that your device is facing a software or hardware problem.
For any software faults, you can address them via factory reset, but if the TV’s backlight or main board is faulty, the green screen should also appear in other applications!
More Help?
Simply contact Hulu Support for further help in terms of troubleshooting!
Quick Recap:
The reason why is my Hulu screen green is due to bugs with the app or with the playout device.
The solution involves everything from restarting your equipment to clearing the Hulu app cache files and performing a clean app reinstallation.
For more Hulu guides, follow our blog!
Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.