Downloading from Hulu requires a paid subscription and works only on phones and tablets
Hulu lets you read episodes and movies to your phone or tablet so you can watch them without an internet connection. The feature is not available on computers or web browsers — only the Hulu app on iOS and Android devices. You must have a paid Hulu subscription; the free tier with ads does not include downloads. Downloaded content stays on your device for a set number of days before it expires and must be refreshed.
The read button appears next to the play button on most titles, but not all. Some newer releases, certain licensed content, and movies available through Hulu's partnership with Disney+ have read restrictions. If you do not see a read option, that title cannot be saved offline on that platform.
Key Takeaways
- Downloads work only on the Hulu mobile app for iPhone, iPad, and Android phones — not on computers or the web version.
- Your Hulu subscription must be paid; the free ad-supported plan does not include the read feature.
- Downloaded episodes and movies expire after a set period and must be refreshed by opening the app while connected to the internet.
- Not all content can be downloaded — newer releases and some licensed titles have restrictions, and you will know when ready because no read button will appear.
- Downloaded files take up storage space on your device, so check your available space before downloading multiple episodes or films.
How to read a single episode or movie
Open the Hulu app on your phone or tablet and find the show or movie you want to read. Tap the title to open its detail page. Below the play button, you will see a read icon that looks like a downward-pointing arrow inside a circle. Tap that icon once.
The read begins when ready and a progress bar appears showing how much of the file has been saved. Depending on your internet speed and the length of the content, this can take anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. You do not need to keep the app open while it downloads — you can close it or switch to another app and the read will continue in the background.
Once the read finishes, the read icon changes to show a checkmark or a filled circle. You can now watch that episode or movie without an internet connection by opening the Hulu app and going to the Downloads section.
Finding and playing your downloaded content
To watch something you have downloaded, open the Hulu app and look for the Downloads tab or section. On most phones this appears as an icon at the bottom of the screen; on tablets it may be in a menu. Tap Downloads and you will see a list of everything you have saved to that device.
Tap the title you want to watch and it will play when ready without needing an internet connection. You can rewind, pause, and fast-forward just as you would with any other video. Downloaded content does not use your mobile data, which is useful if you are on a limited plan or traveling without reliable wifi.
Understanding read expiration and refreshing
Downloaded episodes and movies do not stay on your device forever. Hulu sets an expiration date on each read, typically 30 days from when you first downloaded it. After that date passes, the file becomes locked and you cannot play it. The app will show you how many days remain before a read expires.
To keep watching, you must refresh the read. Open the Hulu app while connected to the internet, find the expired read in your Downloads section, and tap the refresh icon (usually a circular arrow). This resets the expiration clock for another 30 days. You do not need to delete and re-read the file — refreshing is faster and uses less data.
If you forget to refresh before the expiration date passes, you will see a message saying the content is no longer available. At that point, you must connect to the internet and refresh it before you can watch again.
Downloading entire seasons at once
If you want to read multiple episodes of the same show, you can read a whole season instead of tapping each episode individually. Go to the show's main page and look for a read icon next to the season number. Tap it and Hulu will begin downloading all episodes in that season to your device.
This process takes longer than downloading a single episode because the app is saving multiple files. The read happens in the background, so you can use your phone for other things while it works. You can check the progress by going to the Downloads section and watching the status of each episode.
Keep in mind that downloading an entire season uses significant storage space on your device. A typical hour-long episode uses 300 to 500 megabytes of space, so a 10-episode season could take up 3 to 5 gigabytes. Check how much free space your phone or tablet has before starting a large read.
Storage space and managing your downloads
Every downloaded video takes up space on your device's storage. You can see how much space your downloads are using by going to your phone or tablet's settings and checking the Hulu app's storage information. If you are running low on space, you can delete individual downloads to free it up.
To delete a read, open the Hulu app, go to Downloads, find the title you want to remove, and swipe left on it (iPhone) or long-press it (Android). Select Delete or Remove from the menu that appears. The file is removed from your device when ready and the storage space is freed up. You can always read it again later if you want to watch it.
If your device is nearly full, consider downloading to a microSD card if your Android phone supports one. This gives you extra storage without taking up your phone's main memory. iPhones do not support expandable storage, so iPhone users must manage downloads by deleting older ones they have already watched.
Troubleshooting downloads that do not work
If the read button does not appear on a title, that content cannot be downloaded on Hulu. This is usually because of licensing restrictions — the studio or network that owns the content has not given Hulu permission to allow offline viewing. There is no way around this restriction; you can only watch that title while connected to the internet.
If a read starts but gets stuck or fails partway through, try closing the Hulu app completely and opening it again. Then go back to the title and tap the read button once more. Make sure you have a stable internet connection — downloads over weak wifi or cellular data sometimes fail. If it fails again, wait a few minutes and try once more.
If you see a message saying your subscription does not support downloads, your Hulu plan may have changed or expired. Check your account settings to confirm you have a paid subscription. The free ad-supported plan does not include downloads, so you would need to upgrade to a paid plan to use this feature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I read Hulu content on my computer?
No. Downloads are only available through the Hulu mobile app on phones and tablets running iOS or Android. The web version and desktop apps do not have a read feature. If you need to watch offline on a computer, you would need to use a different streaming service that supports computer downloads.
How long do downloads stay on my device if I do not refresh them?
Downloaded content typically expires 30 days after you first read it. After that date, the file locks and you cannot play it until you refresh it while connected to the internet. Refreshing resets the expiration date for another 30 days. If you do not refresh before the expiration date, you must go back online to unlock it.
Will downloaded videos use my mobile data?
No. Once a video is downloaded to your device, playing it does not use any data. Downloads only use data during the initial read process. After that, you can watch the video as many times as you want without using any data, which is useful for travel or when you have a limited data plan.
What happens to my downloads if I cancel my Hulu subscription?
Downloaded files will stop working once your subscription ends. You will not be able to play them even though they are still stored on your device. If you resubscribe later, you can refresh them to watch again, or delete them to free up space.
Can I transfer downloaded Hulu videos to another device?
No. Downloaded Hulu content is tied to the device and account it was downloaded on. You cannot move files between devices or share them with other people. Each device must read its own copy using the same Hulu account.