Trying to catch the latest episodes of The Handmaid’s Tales or Castle Rock on Hulu? You probably know by now that the streaming service is only available in the US.
But don’t worry. Using Surfshark, you can access Hulu from outside the US. And in this guide, I’ll show you how.
I’ll also highlight some of the issues I’ve encountered over the last few weeks when streaming Hulu with Surfshark and show you how to fix them.
In a Hurry? Watch Hulu With Surfshark in 5 Easy Steps!
Surfshark unblocks Hulu reliably. Simply follow the steps below, and you’ll be good to go:
- Subscribe to Surfshark (Get an exclusive deal).
- Download and install the VPN app.
- Launch Surfshark and log in with your credentials.
- Next, connect to a US server.
- Open Hulu and start watching.
Stream Hulu With Surfshark in Minutes
Using Hulu with Surfshark is straightforward, and the setup process won’t take much of your time. Here is a quick walkthrough:
- Click here to sign up to Surfshark (if you have an account, skip to step 4).
- Press “Buy” to choose your preferred plan.
Note: I recommend the 24-month plan since it offers the biggest savings and is fully refundable after 30-days. - Select your payment method to complete the signup process.
- Next, download the VPN application.
- Launch the app and log in with your username and password.
- Go to the “Locations” tab and connect to a US server.
- Open Hulu and start streaming your favorite shows.
Which Is the Best Surfshark Server for Streaming Hulu?
Overall, the “United States – Latham” and “United States – Detroit” servers are the best for Hulu. Both servers unblocked Hulu easily, and I was pleased by their download speeds and ping.
Below are the speed test results I got when connected to the Latham and Detroit servers.
Note: When conducting the speed tests, I was using a 100 Mbps internet connection.
| Ping | Download Speed | Upload Speed | |
| Latham | 187 ms | 83.72 Mbps | 58.41 Mbps |
| Detroit | 201 ms | 81.05 Mbps | 60.97 Mbps |
Surfshark Is Not Working With Hulu
Although Surfshark works reliably, sometimes you can run into a snag when using it to access Hulu. That’s because the streaming service employs a variety of tactics to crack down on unblockers.
If Hulu detects that you’re using a VPN IP address, it will immediately block access. When that happens, you’ll see a proxy error message that reads:
“You appear to be using an anonymous proxy tool. You’ll need to disable it to access Hulu. If you think you’re receiving this message in error, please contact our customer support…”
Or
“Based on your IP-address, we noticed you are trying to access Hulu through an anonymous proxy tool. Hulu is not currently available outside the U.S If you’re in the U.S, you’ll need to disable your anonymizer to access videos on Hulu.”
If you find yourself in this situation, here are 4 tested solutions you can use:
1. Switch to Another Server
Switching to another server solves the proxy error most of the time. Hulu maintains a database of known VPN IPs and blocks all matching IPs.
The streaming service might also pull the plug if they detect many requests coming from a single address. Therefore, switching to a different server can help you beat the VPN block.
2. Clear Your Browser Cache
3. Enable Internet Kill Switch
Your VPN could be leaking your real IP. If your connection is unstable, it can cause your Surfshark connection to drop. In between the disconnecting and reconnecting loop, Hulu can decipher that you’re using a VPN.
To prevent that, make sure the internet kill switch is turned on. Should your Surfshark VPN connection drop, it will block your internet access and prevent an IP leak.
Read Also: Top VPNs for Hulu Reviewed
4. Flush your DNS
Flushing your local DNS cache not only makes surfing faster but can also help get past a Hulu VPN block. System cache files contain information about all visited websites, including IP addresses, and can trigger connectivity problems.
To flush your DNS on Windows PC, open the command prompt with administrator privileges and enter the following commands:
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /registerdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
netsh winsock reset
Exit command prompt, restart your PC and try to access Hulu again.
5. Switch to Cloudflare DNS
It may be a bit complicated compared to the other solutions, but this could be what gets you past the Hulu VPN block. Besides IPs, Hulu also targets DNS addresses.
Some users have been able to get Hulu back up by simply switching to Cloudflare DNS. On your device, go to “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) settings and under “Preferred DNS Address,” enter 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1.
An even better solution is to set up the Cloudflare DNS directly on your router. This might come in handy, especially if you stream Hulu on your smart TV.
To do so, you just need to locate your router’s DNS settings. Here is the path to get to DNS setting for some of the common brands:
- Linksys: Setup > Basic Setup.
- Netgear: Internet.
- ASUS: WAN > Internet Connection.
- D-Link: Manual Internet Connection Setup.
- Google Wifi: Settings > Networking & General > Advanced Network > DNS.
If none of the above solutions work, then I recommend you contact Surfshark customer support. Alternatively, you can opt for a different VPN to see if you’ll have much better luck.
Although few VPNs can compete with Surfshark, I’ve found NordVPN to be a worthwhile choice for Hulu.
FAQ
Does Hulu Block Surshark VPN?
No, Hulu does not block Surfshark. The VPN works with the streaming service and at great speeds too.
Can You Watch Hulu on Your smart TV With Surfshark?
Yes, Surshark is compatible with smart TVs, including Amazon Fire TV and Android TV. The VPN also offers a Smart DNS service that works with gaming consoles as well as Samsung and LG TVs.
Final Words
Surfshark is an excellent VPN for Hulu. It breezes past geo-blocks, and as you can see, it’s relatively easy to use with Hulu.
I hope this guide has been helpful to you, and you can now use the VPN with Hulu.
If you want to try Surfshark, you can save some bucks with the limited deal below.
