How To Change Your Hulu Location in 2024 (Step-by-Step Guide)

Hulu uses your location to determine Live TV programming and more. Here’s how to change it.
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You can update your Hulu location by going into your Hulu privacy settings or using a virtual private network (VPN). Hulu allows you to update your home network up to four times in a 12-month period. By changing your Hulu location, you can view content that may be blocked or unavailable in your local region.

Here's how to set up your Hulu home network, plus steps for using a VPN app to watch your favorite Hulu shows.

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In this article
How to change your location on Hulu
What is a Hulu home network?
How to enable or disable location services for Hulu
Hulu home location FAQs
Bottom line

How to change your location on Hulu

If you’re a subscriber to Hulu’s live TV product, you’re likely looking for local programming such as news or sports. Thankfully, you can use a VPN to watch Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other streaming services with ease — even if you're traveling outside the U.S.

When you sign up for Live TV with Hulu, you have 30 days to set up your home network. Your home network determines what local channels you can view with your Hulu Live subscription.

If you want to change or update your location on Hulu to have access to different Live TV programming, there are several ways to do so. You can update your location on the Hulu app if you’ve moved or changed Internet service providers. However, if you're traveling or want to access local channels in a different region, you’ll need to use a VPN.

How to change your home network

If you need to change your home network, you can do so easily on the Hulu Live TV website. Remember, to update your home network, you need to be connected to an internet connection that is not shared or a mobile network. In most cases, this should be your home internet connection.

  1. Sign in to your account.
  2. Click on the profile icon.
  3. Select My account.
  4. Head to the Privacy and Settings section.
  5. Click on Set or Change Home.
  6. Save new location.

Heads up: Hulu allows you to change your home network four times every 12 months.

How to watch Hulu local channels with a VPN

In some cases, you can use a virtual private network to watch local channels on Hulu. A VPN works if you’re watching Hulu from mobile devices or a computer, and many VPNs also offer apps for Fire TV, Apple TV, and other streaming devices and smart TVs. Want to change your GPS location? All you need to do is sign up for a VPN subscription and select a U.S. server in the city where you'd like to see local channels. 

If you're traveling outside the U.S. and would like to still access your Hulu Live TV shows, a VPN can help. Hulu’s Live TV is not accessible in countries outside the U.S., but a VPN can help mask your location and give you access via a regional IP address

Remember, Hulu doesn't allow you to watch Live TV from multiple locations, so someone can't be watching Hulu from your home network while you’re outside of the country trying to access it from a VPN.

Tested and highly rated VPN providers for Hulu + Live TV

  • NordVPN: NordVPN is known for working with many streaming services; it's even on our list of best VPNs for Hulu. It has over 6,300 servers in its server network, so you have plenty of servers to choose from should you have any connection issues.

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    • Ultra-secure, high-speed VPN complete with malware protection and automatic blocking of intrusive ads and third-party trackers
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    • 3 plans to choose from for custom protection on up to 10 devices

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  • Surfshark: Another one of our recommended VPNs for Hulu, Surfshark is a great option for anyone seeking an affordable but powerful VPN. Surfshark offers fast speeds for streaming and unlimited simultaneous connections, allowing you to stream at any time or from any device.

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    • One subscription covers unlimited devices for your entire household with access to 24/7 support

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  • CyberGhost: We also recommend CyberGhost for Hulu. It's one of the most affordable VPN providers on the market, boasts over 11,700 servers in 100 countries, and features specialized servers for regional streaming. 

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    • High-speed global servers offering industry-leading 256-bit AES encryption and no data logs
    • Unlimited bandwidth, DNS and IP leak protection, and automatic kill switch available for up to 7 devices
    • Configurable with your router, smart TV, Amazon Fire TV stick, or gaming console
    • No split tunneling feature on desktop

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Top 3 VPNs for Hulu compared

Starting price Starts at $3.59/mo (billed every two years) Starts at $1.99/mo (billed every two years) Starts at $2.03/mo (billed every two years)
Number of devices 10 Unlimited 7
Server count 6,300+ in 111 countries 3,200+ in 100 countries 11,700+ in 100 countries
Streaming support
Torrenting support
Learn more See NordVPN Pricing See Surfshark Pricing See CyberGhost Pricing

Try it before you buy it
Most premium VPNs, such as NordVPN and Surfshark, offer a 30-day money-back guarantee if you're not happy. CyberGhost actually offers a whopping 45-day money-back guarantee, and Surfshark VPN provides a 7-day free trial, so you can test out the service risk-free.

Changing your location with a VPN

If you want to use a VPN to change your location to access Live TV on Hulu, you can easily change your location: It’s as simple as starting up your VPN before logging into your Hulu account.

  1. Choose a VPN that works for your needs. (We listed some of the best VPNs for streaming above.)
  2. Download the VPN and log in.
  3. Select the VPN server location you want to connect to.
  4. Enable your VPN connection to unblock Hulu’s local programming.

The Hulu homepage along with a NordVPN server connection in another window.

Although it is legal to use a VPN with Hulu, it is against its Terms and Conditions to use a VPN to change your location. If the streaming platform detects a VPN, it may give you an error screen and prevent you from streaming.

Did you know that a VPN not only unblocks streaming services like Hulu, HBO Max, and Disney+, but it also helps prevent your internet service provider (ISP) from throttling, or slowing down, your bandwidth?

What is a Hulu home network?

Hulu requires users to designate a home network when using its Live TV product. The home network is the internet connection you’ll be using to watch Live TV. To set your home network, you must be connected to a residential, non-mobile internet connection.

Does Hulu + Live TV work on mobile internet?

Yes, you can use Hulu + Live TV with a mobile connection. However, it comes with a few stipulations beforehand. 

First, you must have already set up your residential home network. Once that's set up, you also need to check in on the mobile device you’d like to use — and continue to check in every 30 days to watch Live TV on a mobile device.

How to enable or disable location services for Hulu

Hulu may prompt you to enable location services when using the streaming platform on a computer or mobile device. If you’re unsure whether location services are enabled, you can follow these steps to check.

Google Chrome

Here’s how to enable location services on Google Chrome.

  1. Open Chrome and select the three dots on the top right.
  2. Select Settings.
  3. Navigate to Privacy and security on the left-hand side.
  4. Select Site settings.
  5. Click Location.
  6. Select Sites can ask for your location from the default behavior list.

When using Chrome, you can also use the Location Guard extension, which can help you mask your location from websites such as Hulu.

Mozilla Firefox

To update your location settings in Firefox, follow these steps.

  1. Open Chrome Click on the menu icon on the right-hand side of your screen.
  2. Click Settings.
  3. Select Privacy & Security.
  4. Scroll down to Permissions and select the settings for Location.
  5. Find Hulu in the list of websites that have requested your location.
  6. Change the status of the Hulu website to allow location sharing.

Microsoft Edge

Ready to enable location services in Microsoft Edge? Follow these steps.

  1. Open Edge and click on the three dots in the upper right-hand corner.
  2. Select Settings.
  3. Then click on Cookies and site permissions from the left-hand menu.
  4. Go to location and click the toggle for Ask before accessing.

Apple Safari

To enable location services in Apple’s Safari on a Mac or PC, follow these steps.

  1. Click the Apple symbol in the top left of your menu bar.
  2. Go to System Preferences.
  3. Select Security & Privacy.
  4. Click on the Privacy tab.
  5. Select the padlock in the bottom-left corner to allow you to make changes.
  6. Head to Location Services.
  7. Scroll to Safari and click to checkmark and enable location services.
  8. Press the padlock to save your changes.

Android devices

If you need to update the location services on an Android device, follow these steps.

Android 12 & higher

  1. Swipe down from the top of your screen.
  2. Press and hold Location.
  3. Tap Location Services, and then select Google Location Accuracy.
  4. Turn Improve Location Accuracy on or off.

Android 11 & higher

  1. Swipe down from the top of your screen.
  2. Press and hold Location.
  3. Hit Advanced and head to Google Location Accuracy.
  4. Turn Improve Location Accuracy on or off.

iPhone and iPad

Update your location services settings on your iOS device with these simple steps.

  1. Head to settings on your device.
  2. Select Privacy & Security and then Location Services.
  3. Check to see that location services are turned on.
  4. Scroll down to the Hulu app and choose the option for how you’d like to share your location.
    Never: Does not allow location services.
    While Using the App: Location is only available when you’re using the app.
    Always: The app can access your location at any time.

Hulu home location FAQs


+

Is Hulu region locked?

Yes, Hulu is only available in the U.S. To access Hulu when traveling abroad, you must use a VPN service to change your IP address location. VPNs are legal in many countries, but not all, so be sure to check local laws before launching your VPN. Also remember that Hulu may block your stream if it senses a VPN.


+

Why won’t Hulu let me change my home location?

You may not be connected to an acceptable Wi-Fi network if you can't update your home location. You cannot be connected to a mobile or shared network to set your home location. If you are connected to the right network, you may have changed your home location more than four times in the past 12 months.


+

Can I use Hulu in two different locations?

You can access your Hulu Live TV account from different locations. However, your Live TV home location can only be one place. Multiple devices can use the Hulu account for a given region.

Bottom line

There are several reasons you may need to update your location when watching Hulu. If you’re traveling outside the U.S., you can use one of the best VPNs for Hulu to change your location to still access Hulu’s programming. 

If you've moved or changed internet service providers, you may also want to update your home location with Hulu’s Live TV. If you’re subscribed to Live TV with Hulu, you’ll need to set up your home network to gain access to live programming.

Customizable Coverage That is Simple to Use
4.6
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On NordVPN's website
VPN
NordVPN
Get NordVPN for up to 74% off + 3 extra months
  • Ultra-secure, high-speed VPN complete with malware protection and automatic blocking of intrusive ads and third-party trackers
  • Other benefits include a premium password manager, dark web monitoring, and access to IP-restricted content
  • 3 plans to choose from for custom protection on up to 10 devices

Author Details
Andrew Strom Adams is a freelance writer focused on online privacy and digital security. He writes on various topics to help individuals protect themselves on the internet. Andrew has worked in legal marketing, technology, and startups. He has more than 12 years of experience in marketing and communications. He holds an M.B.A. from Westminster College and a B.A. in journalism from Oklahoma Baptist University. When he’s not writing, he’s playing with his two kids or watching reality TV.