Key Takeaways: How to Change Hulu Location
- Your Hulu home location limits which live TV channels you can enjoy via your Hulu account, so you can’t enjoy TV channels from different parts of the U.S.
- A VPN will not only change your Hulu location, but it will also encrypt your internet connection and provide improved security and privacy.
- ExpressVPN is the best VPN to change your Hulu location, but NordVPN and Surfshark are both great (and more affordable) alternatives.
Hulu is one of the most popular streaming services for people in the U.S. It offers plenty of content to enjoy, alongside Hulu + Live TV, which gives you access to local television channels from your region. If you’re looking to enjoy TV channels from a different region, however, a Hulu zip code change may help.
Hulu + Live TV allows you to watch live TV channels such as CBS, Fox, CNN, ESPN, TLC and plenty of others, with the caveat that you can only view certain channels in certain parts of the country. Due to licensing deals, geoblocking will restrict you from accessing a channel via the Hulu app if said channel is exclusively licensed to a different service in your area.
If you’re in the U.S. and have an active Hulu subscription, you can watch live TV channels from different places within the United States by changing your IP address with a VPN and your zip code with a GPS spoofer. ExpressVPN is the best tool for the job, but there are some notable alternatives too.
Hulu Zip Code Change: What Is Hulu Home Location?
Hulu uses a home location, or home network, to determine which local TV channels you’ll have access to. While the platform tries to sell this as a personalization service, it actually restricts access to channels in areas where Hulu doesn’t have the licensing rights.
You must set up your home network within 30 days of starting your Hulu subscription. Once you’ve set your home network, you will need to connect to it at least once every 30 days. If you don’t, live TV won’t work until you do. You can bypass this by using NordVPN’s Meshnet feature — more on that later.
However, you can change your Hulu location and home network up to four times in a 12-month period, in case you move, change internet service providers or spend a long time away from home.
How Does Hulu Detect My Location?
Hulu has two methods to determine your location: your device’s IP address, and your device’s GPS location. If you want to change your Hulu location, you must change both virtually.
To change your IP address, you’ll need a VPN connection. A VPN will give you a new IP address from a list of different locations where the VPN has servers. Most VPNs will also encrypt your internet connection and keep it away from the prying eyes of your internet service provider.
Changing your device’s GPS location is done via a GPS spoofer, with plenty of options depending on the device you use. A GPS spoofer will feed Hulu a fake location, which you should match with your VPN service server location. We’ll explain exactly how to do this.
Can I watch Hulu + Live TV on My Mobile Internet?
Yes, you can watch Hulu + Live TV on your mobile internet. However, you’ll need to connect your mobile device and open the Hulu app every 30 days. If you’re unable to do so, live TV will be unavailable, and you will only be able to access Hulu content from the content library until you connect to your home network.
NordVPN offers a workaround in the form of Meshnet, a tool that allows you to connect two devices through an encrypted tunnel. If one of those devices is on your home network, you can use this as a workaround to get past Hulu’s limitations. We’ll talk about Meshnet in more detail in a minute.
Why Would I Want to Change My Zip Code on Hulu?
If you’re using Hulu, you might want to enjoy live TV content from a new location, such as a different state or region. Changing your home location to a different region will let you watch live TV from the new region in the Hulu app.
How to Change My Home Network on Hulu
To change your home network on Hulu, you only need to log on to the platform and change the home location from the settings menu. Keep in mind that you can only do this four times in a 12-month period.
- Log On to Hulu
Go to the Hulu website and in the upper right corner, click “log in.”
- Go to Your Account Settings
Click your account icon in the upper-right corner and click “account settings.” From the dropdown menu, click “account.”
- Go to the Home Location Settings
In your account settings, scroll down to the privacy section and click “set or change home.”
- Set a New Home Network
In the page that opens, enter the new zip code of the location you want to change your home network to and click “confirm.”
How to Change My Location With a VPN to Watch Local Channels on Hulu
If you want to watch local channels in a different zip code via the Hulu + Live TV website, you’ll need to virtually change your location with a VPN and a GPS spoofer. Here’s how to do so, using ExpressVPN as an example.
- Sign Up for ExpressVPN
Go to the ExpressVPN website and click “get ExpressVPN” in the middle, or click “get started” in the upper-right corner. Follow the steps to choose a plan and start your subscription.
- Download and Install ExpressVPN
Once you’ve finished the signup process, download the ExpressVPN app for your device. Install the ExpressVPN app and log in.
- Connect to a VPN Server
In the ExpressVPN app, click on the country name to open the list of servers. Find a server in the U.S. state or city whose live TV you want to watch, and click on it. Then, click the “connect” button.
- Spoof your GPS
Since Hulu also monitors your device’s location services, you need to spoof your GPS location. Download a GPS spoofing app (we’ve had success with Fake GPS Go Location Spoofer, but there are plenty of options for any device). Once you’ve downloaded an app, change your location to the same location you’ve connected to in ExpressVPN.
- Log On to Hulu
Log on to Hulu on the device of your choice. You should be able to access live TV in the location you’ve selected.
How to Connect Through Your Home WiFi With Meshnet
With NordVPN Meshnet, you can access your home network remotely and connect to Hulu. This allows you to circumvent the 30-day rule for live TV — here is how to do so.
- Create a NordVPN Account
Head to the NordVPN website and click “log in” in the top-right corner. If you have an account already, enter your username and password. If not, click “sign up” and create a new account. You don’t need a paid subscription, but you do need to have an account.
- Download NordVPN on Your Devices
Once you’ve logged in to the NordVPN website, click “downloads” in the top menu bar and download the app for your device. For mobile devices, you can download the app from the device’s respective app store. Do this on your home device, connected to your home network, as well as on any other device you want to watch Hulu on.
- Enable Meshnet in the NordVPN app
You need to enable Meshnet on all devices you’ll be using. On desktop, you will find Meshnet by clicking the diamond-shaped button in the left sidebar. Toggle Meshnet on to make your home device available for other devices to connect. On mobile, this is done by clicking on the four connected circles symbol at the bottom of the screen and following the prompts.
- Connect to Your Home Device
From the device you want to watch Hulu on, open the Meshnet tab and click your home device. Wait for NordVPN to establish the connection, and you should be able to log on to Hulu and watch live TV.
Best 3 VPNs for Watching Hulu + Live TV
There are three VPNs that can give you an IP address to watch Hulu with — we’ll start with our top choice, ExpressVPN.
1. ExpressVPN
Pros:
- Apps for almost any device
- Plenty of servers in the U.S.
- Excellent security & speed
Cons:
- Expensive
If you want to watch live TV channels in a different region via Hulu on your living room device — whether that’s a smart TV, mobile device or laptop — ExpressVPN is the best way to do so. It has easy-to-use apps for all devices, which is why we crowned it the best VPN for beginners. You can find out more about it in our ExpressVPN review.
ExpressVPN has servers in plenty of locations in the U.S., allowing you to choose which regional TV channels you want to enjoy via Hulu. Pair that with excellent performance and security, and you get an excellent VPN for Hulu. The only downside is pricing, but if you want the best out there, the price is well worth it.
- Unlimited GB
- 5
- Yes
2. NordVPN
Pros:
- Servers in multiple U.S. cities
- Easy-to-use apps
- Strong security
Cons:
- No split tunneling on macOS
NordVPN came in a close second in our best VPN roundup, and for users who don’t want to pay ExpressVPN’s high subscription prices, it offers a great alternative. It has servers in multiple U.S. locations, making it easy to pick a new Hulu Live TV location. The server list isn’t as widespread as ExpressVPN’s, though, which is why it comes in second.
NordVPN’s speed and security are both excellent, with NordLynx providing a lightweight protocol that doesn’t compromise on encryption. NordVPN has apps for almost any device, including most mobile options, as well as living room device options like smart TVs and home theater PCs (HTPCs). To find out more, read our NordVPN review.
- Unlimited GB
- 6
- Yes
3. Surfshark
Pros:
- Great U.S. server distribution
- Affordable pricing plans
- Unlimited device connections
Cons:
- Inconsistent latency
Surfshark’s forte is the unlimited simultaneous connections, allowing you to enjoy Hulu content from as many devices as you’d like on a single subscription. It also has an excellent selection of servers in the U.S., making it easy to watch Hulu in different locations. We talk about it in more detail in our Surfshark review.
Surfshark’s Achilles heel is latency. The connection latency varies quite a bit depending on which server you’re tunneling through, though that shouldn’t impact streaming too much. It might, however, cause buffering issues when watching live TV. If you’re willing to look past that, Surfshark is still a solid choice.
- Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
Can I Use a Free VPN to Change My Hulu + Live TV Location?
Yes, technically, you can change your location and get a new IP address with a free VPN, provided you exercise caution. Many of the free VPNs out there don’t offer sufficient protection. Some gather and sell your user data, and some even go as far as to bundle malware with their apps.
On the other hand, there are free VPNs that let you bypass Hulu location restrictions. First up is Proton VPN, a VPN app with no data limits and three free locations to choose from. They’re often under high load, so speeds may vary, but it’s worth giving a look. You can find out more in our Proton VPN review.
Windscribe is our next recommendation, with a free server available in Atlanta, but only 10GB of data per month (plus 5GB if you tweet about the service). You can find out more about it in our Windscribe review if you think you can manage with 15GB of data. Last but not least, Tunnelbear might be an option, but you only get 2GB of data per month. We cover this in more detail in our Tunnelbear review.
Final Thoughts
Hulu has gone a long way to make sure users outside the U.S. can’t watch its content, but even if you’re in the U.S. and paying for a Hulu + Live TV account, you still may not be able to watch all the live content you want. To do that, you need to play with your location services and change Hulu location, and that’s best done with a VPN app.
A VPN not only lets you change location and gives you a new IP address, but it also encrypts your connection, keeping your real location and internet activity away from prying eyes.
The best VPN to change Hulu location with is ExpressVPN, thanks to a large server list in the U.S. and excellent performance. That being said, NordVPN and Surfshark are both solid, more affordable alternatives. What’s your favorite VPN to change your Hulu location with? Let us know in the comments and, as always, thank you for reading.
FAQ: Change Hulu Location
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Yes, you can change your Hulu location if you want to watch live TV channels from a different region by using a VPN to spoof your exact location.
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You can change your Hulu home network and zip code up to four times within a 12-month period.
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No, unfortunately the Hulu + Live TV plans are meant to be used in a single home. If you want to use it at two houses, you will need a second subscription.
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