The fastest way to watch Hulu on your TV

To cast Hulu to a Chromecast device, open the Hulu app on your phone or tablet, find the show or movie you want to watch, tap the cast icon (it looks like a rectangle with curved lines in the corner), select your Chromecast device from the list, and press play. The video will stream to your TV while you control it from your phone. The whole process takes about 10 seconds once you're in the app.

You need three things: the Hulu app installed on a phone or tablet, a Chromecast device plugged into your TV, and both devices on the same Wi-Fi network. Hulu works with all Chromecast models, including Chromecast with Google TV, older Chromecast dongles, and Google TV built into some Samsung and other brand televisions.

Key Takeaways

  • The cast icon appears on the player screen once you start playing a show or movie in the Hulu app.
  • Your phone and Chromecast must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network for casting to work.
  • You control playback from your phone while the video plays on your TV — your phone acts as a remote.
  • If the cast icon does not appear, restart both your phone and Chromecast device, then try again.

Setting up before you cast

Make sure your Chromecast device is plugged in, powered on, and connected to your Wi-Fi network. You can check this by opening the Google Home app on your phone — your Chromecast should appear in the list of devices. If it does not, go to the Wi-Fi settings on your Chromecast and connect it to the same network your phone uses.

Install the Hulu app from the Google Play Store (Android) or the App Store (iPhone and iPad). Open it and sign in with your Hulu account. You do not need to set up anything special in the Hulu app itself — casting is built in and ready to use.

Step-by-step casting from your phone

Open the Hulu app and browse to any show or movie. Tap the title to open its details page, then tap the play button to start watching. Once the video begins playing, look for the cast icon on the player controls — it is in the top right corner of the screen and looks like a small rectangle with three curved lines.

Tap the cast icon. A list of available devices will appear. Select your Chromecast from the list. The video will pause for a moment, then start playing on your TV. Your phone screen will show a smaller player with playback controls, and you can now use your phone to pause, rewind, fast-forward, or adjust the volume.

To stop casting, tap the cast icon again and select "Disconnect" or straightforward close the Hulu app. The video will stop on your TV, and you can resume watching on your phone later from where you left off.

What to do if the cast icon does not appear

If you do not see the cast icon on the player screen, the most common reason is that your phone and Chromecast are not on the same Wi-Fi network. Check your phone's Wi-Fi settings and make sure it is connected to the same network as your Chromecast. You can verify your Chromecast's network in the Google Home app by tapping the device and looking at the Wi-Fi name listed.

If both devices are on the same network and the cast icon still does not appear, restart your phone and your Chromecast. Unplug the Chromecast for 10 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for it to fully boot up — the light on the device will stop blinking. Then restart your phone and open Hulu again. The cast icon should now be visible.

If you are still having trouble, make sure you have the latest version of the Hulu app installed. Open the Google Play Store or App Store, search for Hulu, and tap "Update" if an update is available. Outdated versions of the app sometimes have casting issues.

Casting from a computer or web browser

You can also cast Hulu from a computer using Google Chrome. Open Chrome, go to hulu.com, sign in, and start playing a show or movie. Click the three-dot menu in the top right corner of Chrome, select "Cast", choose your Chromecast device, and the video will stream to your TV. Your computer becomes the control device, similar to using your phone.

Casting from a computer works the same way as casting from a phone — both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network, and the cast icon or menu option will only appear once video is playing. You can minimize the Chrome window or even close it on your computer while the video continues to play on your TV, though some users find the connection more stable if they keep the browser window open.

Controlling playback while casting

Once casting starts, your phone or computer becomes the remote control. You can pause, play, rewind, and fast-forward using the controls on your device's screen. Volume can be adjusted using your phone's physical volume buttons or the volume slider in the Hulu player. If you want to adjust the TV's volume, use your TV remote — the Chromecast does not control TV volume.

You can also lock your phone's screen or switch to another app while casting continues. The video will keep playing on your TV even if your phone goes to sleep, though waking your phone will let you access the controls again. If you need to pause or stop the video, just unlock your phone and tap the Hulu app to bring the player back up.

Casting Hulu with a live TV subscription

If you have a Hulu + Live TV subscription, casting works exactly the same way. Open the app, select a live channel or on-demand show, tap the cast icon, and select your Chromecast. Live TV streams to your TV just like recorded shows do, and you can pause, rewind, or fast-forward using your phone's controls (depending on your subscription tier and the network's rules).

Some live channels have restrictions on rewinding or pausing, which is set by the network, not by Hulu or Chromecast. If you find that a particular channel will not let you pause, that is a limitation of the broadcast, not a problem with your setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cast Hulu from my iPad?

Yes. The Hulu app on iPad works exactly like the phone version. Open the app, start playing a show, tap the cast icon, select your Chromecast, and the video streams to your TV. iPad casting is just as reliable as phone casting.

What happens to my phone while I am casting?

Your phone acts as a remote control. You can use it to pause, play, rewind, and adjust volume. You can also lock the screen, switch to other apps, or put the phone down — the video will keep playing on your TV. Tap the Hulu app again to bring up the controls whenever you need them.

Do I need a paid Hulu subscription to cast?

Yes. Casting requires an active Hulu subscription. You must be signed into the Hulu app with an account that has an active subscription. Free trial accounts can cast just like paid accounts.

Why does casting keep disconnecting?

Disconnections usually happen when your phone and Chromecast lose connection to the same Wi-Fi network. Move closer to your router, check that both devices are on the same network, and restart your Chromecast if the problem continues. Weak Wi-Fi is the most common cause.

Can I cast Hulu to multiple TVs at the same time?

No. One Hulu account can only cast to one Chromecast device at a time. If you want to watch on multiple TVs, you need multiple Hulu accounts or you need to stop casting on one device before starting on another.