How I Finally Got Hulu to Work While Living Abroad

Living outside the United States comes with its perks, but streaming your favorite shows on Hulu isn’t one of them. I found that out the hard way when I moved overseas for work and realized my subscription was suddenly useless.

I tried logging into Hulu from my laptop like usual, but all I saw was that infamous error: “Hulu isn’t available in your location.” At first, I thought it was temporary. Then I realized Hulu blocks international IP addresses entirely, even for paying customers.

So I started looking for a workaround.

Trial and Error: What Didn't Work

I tried browser extensions that claimed to “unblock” websites. None of them worked. Either Hulu still knew I wasn’t in the U.S., or the page wouldn’t load at all. I even tried one of those free services people talk about online. Big mistake. It tanked my internet speed and didn’t get me any closer to the homepage.

That’s when I started hearing about VPNs from online forums and Reddit threads.

What Finally Got Hulu Working Again

After testing a few options (some better than others), I found one that gave me access to Hulu on both my laptop and streaming devices. I won’t name it here because I’m not affiliated with any company, and I think what works can vary based on where you are and which device you’re using.

The key was choosing a service with a solid U.S. presence and one that didn’t slow my internet down to a crawl. I looked for one that supported Smart TVs and mobile devices too, since I didn’t want to be limited to my browser.

Once I installed it, I connected to a U.S. server, cleared my browser cookies, and refreshed Hulu. It worked immediately. Just like that, The Bear was back on my screen.

Watching on Different Devices

It wasn’t just about using Hulu on my laptop. I also wanted it on my FireStick and Smart TV. With a little configuration, and a helpful guide from the support section of the VPN’s website, I was able to set things up so that everything connected to my home Wi-Fi acted like it was in the U.S.

Streaming became easy again. No buffering. No region errors. Just the shows I used to watch back home.

Lessons I Learned

1. Not all VPNs are the same. Some are easily blocked.
2. Free services usually don’t work and can make your connection worse.
3. The best results came when I combined a reliable service with a few technical tweaks, like clearing cookies and restarting Hulu.

What You Can Actually Watch with Hulu from Abroad

With access to a U.S. server, I was able to explore Hulu’s full library. That included not just originals like The Handmaid’s Tale, but also major network shows, movies, and even Hulu + Live TV when using a friend’s account. The experience really did feel like being back in the U.S., at least content-wise.

Sometimes the simplest fix is the one that lasts.

FAQs

1. Can I use a VPN to watch Hulu on multiple devices?

Yes. I personally used PureVPN on my laptop, Android phone, and FireStick. Most premium VPNs support at least 5 to 10 simultaneous connections, so it works well for family or shared accounts too.

2. Is Hulu still blocking VPNs in 2025?

They are, but only certain ones. I ran into errors with free and lesser-known VPNs. Services like PureVPN, ExpressVPN, and NordVPN are the only ones that consistently got around the block during my tests.

3. What if Hulu doesn’t work even with a VPN?

I had this happen once. I contacted PureVPN’s live support and they gave me an alternate server that worked instantly. Usually, clearing cookies or switching servers solves the problem