It’s been a long time coming, but Hulu has just announced that it will be updating its support forAndroid TV devicesto put them on par with platforms like Roku and Apple TV. That means features such asHulu+Live TV, which had been absent from Android TV since launch, will now work.
The rollout is happening in early August,according to the company’s blog postand will hit most of themajor Android TV devices, including Sony’s Android TVs, Nvidia Shield TV, Xiaomi Mi Box, and Hisense Android TVs. Previously, these streaming devices were limited to Hulu’s “Classic” app, which only supported the most rudimentary Hulu functions, and offered no support for live TV streaming, access to different profiles, or the ability to watch some of the most popular Hulu add-ons, such as HBO and Cinemax. With the update, Android TV users can download and use the most up-to-date Hulu app, giving them parity (finally) with other streaming devices.
The announcement comes mere days after we published an article titled “How to watch Hulu on your Android TV device — and why it’s not so great,” which explained in detail how limited the Hulu experience on Android TV has been, and why Android TV users might want to look at alternatives, such asFuboTV,PlayStation Vue,Sling TV,Philo, andYouTube TV. Not that we’re taking credit for Hulu’s sudden change of heart, of course!
Here’s how to enjoy the full Hulu experience on Android TV once the app has been updated for your device.
Get (or update) the Hulu app
Before you’re able to watch Hulu on Android TV, you’ll need theHulu for Android TVapp. If you already have the “classic” app installed, you can check to see if it’s ready to be updated. On the Home screen menu, go toApps>Google Play Store>My Appsand check for any Hulu updates. You might need the latest Android TV system software for this to work. To ensure you’re running the most recent version, scroll down on the Home screen (or navigate to the gear icon) toSettings>Help>System Software Update>Check for a system software updateand selectUpgrade Now.
If you’ve never installed the Hulu app, open the Google Play Store and search for it. It’s a free app, so simply add it as you would any other Android TV app. If your device does not support Google Play, you can trysideloadingthe appusing the .apk file.
