
If you’ve been using ExpressVPN to watch Hulu and it’s no longer working, Hulu has likely managed to identify and block the IP address ExpressVPN has given you.
You’ll know this is the case if you encounter an error saying, “It looks like you’re using an anonymous proxy or VPN.”
While this can be frustrating, there’s no need to panic. To fix ExpressVPN not working with Hulu, there are a number of fixes you can try.
This article will explain how you can fix ExpressVPN not working with Hulu, and if you read to the end of the article, you can find out how to prevent these sorts of errors from happening again in the future.
The best VPNs for Hulu
Our Pick 🥇
Private Internet Access

- Install on an unlimited amount of devices
- Independently audited no-logs policy
- A bundle of features for an affordable price
Runner-up
NordVPN

- Incredibly reliable servers
- Proprietary NordLynx protocol
- Available on most devices
Budget Option
Ivacy

- One of the most affordable VPNs
- Advanced features like port forwarding
- Option for a personal dedicated IP address
Budget Option
CyberGhost

- Reliable NoSpy servers
- Servers in over 90 countries worldwide
- Kill Switch and Split Tunneling support
ExpressVPN not working with Hulu: Quick Fixes
Total Time: 5 minutes
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Change to a different US server on ExpressVPN
Hulu may have stopped working because the IP address ExpressVPN has given you has been identified and blacklisted by Hulu.
Hulu doesn’t have the capacity to block ExpressVPN outright; however it can block the IP addresses it provides. And just because Hulu has been able to block this IP address, it doesn’t mean it has blocked all of them.
Changing to a different US server will provide you with a different IP, and if that IP hasn’t been blacklisted, by Hulu, then ExpressVPN will work again.
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Upgrade to a more reliable VPN
Hulu constantly monitors for VPN connections and tries to block them. The best way to get around this is to use a VPN that has measures in place to get around these blocks.
Uusally, ExpressVPN works very well when Hulu not working with VPN. However, if changing to a different US server doesn’t fix ExpressVPN not working with Hulu, Hulu has managed to block all the IP addresses ExpressVPN can currently provide.
From here you can wait for ExpressVPN to fix the issue, however there’s no telling how long that will take. We recommend using a VPN that’s still compatible with Hulu. One of the best VPNs for Hulu is NordVPN ($3.19/month).
NordVPN ($3.19/month) is a very fast, incredibly secure VPN that has numerous servers in the US for connecting to Hulu. It also has measures in place to help ensure it always has IP addresses that work with Hulu.
Disclaimer: ExpressVPN usually works very well with Hulu, however on occasion it can fall victim to Hulu’s increasingly stringent VPN blocking techniques. To ensure you can watch Hulu reliably with a VPN at all times, we recommend subscribing to multiple VPNs. If one isn’t working, try the other one. It’s highly unlikely both VPNs will have all their IP addresses blocked at the same time.
Why is ExpressVPN not working with Hulu?
The reason ExpressVPN is no longer working with Hulu is because all of its current IP addresses have been blacklisted by the streaming service.
This has happened because ExpressVPN’s measures to prevent Hulu from identifying all of its IP addresses are no longer working.
Hulu only has the rights to broadcast its content in the US. And because a VPN can potentially allow you to watch it outside the US, it tries to block IP addresses provided by VPNs.
If it didn’t do this, it could be found guilty of broadcasting its content in locations where it doesn’t have the rights to. And the punishment for this is often massive financial repercussions.
Obviously, Hulu doesn’t want to get fined, so it tried to identify and block VPNs from accessing its platform. If you’re coming across ExpressVPN not working with Hulu issues, chances are the IP address you’ve been given has been blocked by Hulu.
Does ExpressVPN work with Hulu?
From our tests, we’ve found ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs for Hulu.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean it’s completely immune to Hulu’s VPN-blocking techniques.
In order for a VPN to work reliably with Hulu, it needs to stay ahead of Hulu’s VPN blocking techniques. To do that, it needs to be able to prevent Hulu from identifying all of its IP addresses. If the VPN can do this, all you’ll need to do is change to a different US server to fix ExpressVPN not working with Hulu.
But if that doesn’t work, then the measures ExpressVPN has in place to stay ahead of Hulu’s VPN blocks are no longer working.
To get around this we recommend subscribing to a VPN that has a good track record with Hulu. When ExpressVPN isn’t working, we recommend NordVPN ($3.19/month).
With two VPNs, if one isn’t working with Hulu, you can switch to the other one. It’s highly unlikely Hulu will block all the IP addresses provided by two VPNs at the same time.
With NordVPN ($3.19/month), you’ll be able to continue watching Hulu if you’re coming across Hulu not working with VPN or ExpressVPN not working with Hulu, problems.

Does Hulu still work with VPNs?
Yes, Hulu will still work with a VPN, but you need to use a VPN that has IP addresses that are still compatible with the service. Compatible means you need a VPN that hasn’t had all of its IP addresses blocked by Hulu.
You can either wait for ExpressVPN to release more IP addresses that haven’t been blocked by Hulu however, you may run into this error again. Or to fix the problem, you could upgrade to a VPN that plays a game of cat and mouse with Hulu. To properly fix the issue we recommend a VPN like Private Internet Access ($2.03/month)
When Hulu identifies and blocks an IP provided by Private Internet Access ($2.03/month) this VPN will close that IP and open a new one. This new IP address will be completely fresh, meaning Hulu won’t have managed to block it.
This simple measure will allow you to watch Hulu from anywhere in the world reliably, and it will help to prevent the errors you’ve run into with ExpressVPN not working with Hulu.
The best VPN services (2023)
1. NordVPN $3.79/month
An incredibly fast and trustworthy VPN
- ✔Over 5,000 servers worldwide
- ✔6 simultaneous devices
- ✔Reliable customer service
- ✔Fast NordLynx protocol
- ✔Cybersec ad and tracker blocker
- ✔Easy to use interface

NordVPN is the most widely-used VPN in the world. And it’s easy to see why. It’s a polished app that delivers fast connections (more on this later) to a massive network of VPN servers.
It’s the most reliable at unblocking popular streaming services too – US Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, etc. This is because NordVPN hired a full-time technical team (that’s responsible for monitoring its servers’ connections with popular TV streaming services) and has been aggressively investing in its network of IP addresses in key locations.
Read our full NordVPN review.
Special Offer for you!
(30-day money-back guarantee)
2. Private Internet Access $2.03/month
An affordable, reliable VPN
- ✔35,000 servers worldwide
- ✔Unlimited simultaneous devices
- ✔24/7 chat support
- ✔Servers in over 80 countries
- ✔MACE ad blocker included
- ✔Supports multiple protocols

Private Internet Access is one of the leading no-log VPN services with over 1-million paying customers.
This VPN is one of the best in the industry at beating streaming sites’ VPN bans. It provides reliable connections with US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, MAX, Disney+ Amazon Prime, and many more.
Even better, it allows for an unlimited number of simultaneous devices to be connected to its servers at the same time. So you can share the account with all of your friends.
Read our full Private Internet Access review.
Special Offer for you!
(30-day money-back guarantee)
3. Ivacy $1.00/month
A trustworthy and affordable VPN
- ✔5700+ servers worldwide
- ✔10 simultaneous devices
- ✔24/7 customer support
- ✔Dedicated IP address option
- ✔Available on all major platforms
- ✔Great price

If you’re looking for an excellent VPN, with an even better price tag, Ivacy ($1.00/month) is a great option.
While it doesn’t do much more than the other VPNs on this list, the main attraction is the price. This is an affordable VPN that will allow you to stream BBC iPlayer, in HD, from any country in the world on Mac, PC, Android, iOS and FireStick. You’ll also be able to unlock other services like US Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, MAX, Amazon Prime, etc. with ease.
Read our full Ivacy review.
Special Offer for you!
(30-day money-back guarantee)
4. CyberGhost $2.19/month
A solid VPN package
- ✔Deloitte verified no logs policy
- ✔Servers in 91 countries
- ✔7 simulatenous devices
- ✔Proprietary NoSpy servers
- ✔Multiple protocol options
- ✔Split tunneling support

CyberGhost is one of the more established VPNs on the market. It has a well-established, and well-tested global network of servers that perform well.
It also offers NoSpy servers which are specially designed to provide an extra layer of security and privacy for users.
Read our full CyberGhost review.
Special Offer for you!
(30-day money-back guarantee)
Can you watch Hulu with a free VPN?
For a lot of people, a free VPN can be an enticing choice when trying to watch Hulu outside the US. But from our extensive tests, we’ve found free VPNs don’t work well with Hulu.
The reason for this is because free VPNs, are free. Because they don’t cost anything, they have a lot more customers than the best VPNs. And because of this, it makes it significantly easier for Hulu to identify and block an IP address provided by free VPNs.
Free VPNs have a lot of customers and because they don’t make much money, they don’t have the financial backing to continuously restock their IP addresses. When this happens, they force customers to share IP addresses because they don’t have enough to give each customer their own individual IP address.
When hundreds or even thousands of people connect to Hulu using the same IP address. It knows it’s an IP address provided by a free VPN and it blocks it. To get around this you need to use a VPN like NordVPN ($3.19/month) which has a large number of super-fast IP addresses for its customers to use.
ExpressVPN not working with Hulu additional fixes
If changing to a different US server doesn’t fix Hulu not working with VPN, you can try these three additional fixes.
The first is to delete your Cookies. Cookies are small files used to streamline your online experience, and most of the time they’re very helpful. However, on occasion Cookies can cause issues when trying to use a VPN with Hulu. Try deleting them to see if that fixes the issue.
IF your VPN supports multiple protocols try changing to a different one. Hulu not working with VPN might be occurring because the protocol you’re using is no longer compatible with the streaming service.
The last fix is an old favourite, try reinstalling your VPN. This will ensure you get rid of any bugs your software might be carrying that are interfering with Hulu. You’ll also get any updates and fixes that your VPN provider has released.
Is using a VPN with Hulu legal?
In most countries, using a VPN is legal. There are only a handful of countries (spot the authoritarianism link) where using a VPN is illegal; these are: China, Russia, Iran, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, North Korea, Iraq, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Egypt, Eritrea, Seychelles, Suriname, Namibia, Slovenia, Nicaragua and Tajikistan.
If you’re outside these countries and are using a VPN, you’re legally allowed to do so. However, it’s important to know that using a VPN with some streaming services may breach that service’s terms of use.
The Hulu terms of use state, “bypass, modify, defeat, tamper with or circumvent any of the functions or protections of the Services, including using any technology or technique to obscure or disguise your location when you are accessing the Services.”
This means, Hulu can stop your subscription and ban you from the streaming service if you try to access its content with a VPN turned on.
However, given the wide-spread use of VPNs, plus the many legitimate and legal use cases for VPNs, it’s fair to suggest that banning customers for using a VPN would be a heavy-handed and financially costly policy for Hulu (and other streaming services) to enforce.
If you’re trying to watch Hulu outside the US, you risk having your account banned. In theory. However, the best VPNs for Hulu use military-grade encryption it is impossible for streaming services to trace where you’re physically accessing its content from.
There’s one final thing to note on the subject: Hulu has never banned anyone for using a VPN to access its service.