How to Bypass Hulu’s DRM Safely for Offline Viewing
Are you looking to save some Hulu shows for offline viewing? Or maybe you’re curious how to bypass Hulu’s DRM to watch videos on unsupported devices? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Hulu has digital rights management, or DRM, technology that makes it more difficult for viewers to save videos using screen recorders or other third-party tools. In this guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about how to bypass Hulu’s DRM to download videos for offline use.
What is Hulu DRM?
As noted above, DRM stands for Digital Rights Management. In general, it refers to the various access control technologies that streaming sites and services apply to their content to protect it against piracy or any other illegal distribution.
Hulu’s DRM prevents users from screen-recording their website with third-party tools. Hulu DRM also makes it harder for you to remove or bypass the DRM of Hulu’s videos to download them and play them on unsupported devices (or play downloaded videos without an internet connection).
Why Do Users Want to Bypass Hulu’s DRM?
DRM is there for a good reason, but users will still want to bypass Hulu’s DRM for several reasons, some of which are:
- Ability to play video without an internet connection, e.g., when travelling.
- The ability to play downloaded video on a device that is not officially supported by Hulu.
- The ability to save and re-watch your favourite episodes or movies before they expire or are removed from Hulu.
- Ability to avoid buffering or playback problems due to slow or unstable internet.
Is it Legal to Bypass Hulu’s DRM?
It is technically illegal to bypass DRM protection built into Hulu (or any other streaming service for that matter). This is against almost all of these platforms’ terms of service, and is likely to break local laws like the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) in the US, for example. Even if your intention is personal and non-commercial, there are still several reasons why you should think twice before removing Hulu’s DRM:
- In some countries, you can even face fines and jail time for circumventing DRM.
- Hulu may suspend or terminate your account if it detects you using tools that can remove DRM.
- Many DRM removal tools are provided by untrusted third parties and may contain malware or other security risks.
- If you run into any problems while using third-party tools, you will not be able to get help from Hulu’s customer support.
In short, while bypassing Hulu’s DRM may seem like an easy and tempting option, there are a variety of significant risks involved, both legal and otherwise. For this reason, it’s usually best to look for an alternative that is completely legal and safe, even if it’s a bit more of a hassle.
Best Way to Remove Hulu DRM with No Risk
While it’s possible to try to bypass Hulu’s DRM manually, it can be both risky and technically complicated. However, there’s a much easier and safer way to access your favourite shows and movies from Hulu (or other similar streaming services) without any of the streaming limits or device restrictions, and that’s with OneConv Video Converter. This is the most reliable tool for downloading and converting videos from Hulu or other streaming platforms in a format that works on all devices without compromising on quality or security.
Key Features
- Converts Hulu videos to MP4, MP3, and more for easy offline playback.
- Maintains original video quality, even for 4K or 8K content.
- Supports batch downloads so you can save entire seasons in one go.
- Allows you to download content from more than 1000 sites, including Hulu, Netflix, and more.
Step 1 Download and install OneConv on your computer.
Step 2 Launch OneConv, switch to the Download tab, and select your output format (e.g. MP4).
Step 3 Go to the Premium Video tab and open the Hulu Converter. Log in to your Hulu account to access the content you want to save.
Step 4 Find the Hulu movies and shows you want to save, then hit the ‘Download’ button. OneConv will automatically start downloading the videos.
Step 5 Wait a few seconds, the downloaded Hulu videos will be ready at your local folder.
How to Bypass Hulu’s DRM with Screen Recorder?
If you just want to save some Hulu content for offline viewing for personal use, another easy way to do so is to use a screen recorder like Bandicam. This is possible because while Hulu has DRM to prevent its content from being downloaded or screen recorded, Bandicam will allow you to bypass the black screen issue and save a recording of the video you play without interrupting playback.
- Step 1: Install and open Bandicam first before launching Hulu. By doing this, you can prevent Hulu from detecting and blocking the screen recorder.
- Step 2: Disable hardware acceleration in your browser settings. This will prevent Hulu from triggering the black screen or blank recording.
- Step 3: Choose the Screen Recording Mode in Bandicam and set the recording window to the size of the Hulu video player.
- Step 4: Click the REC button, launch Hulu, and start the video that you want to record. When it finishes, stop the recording and save it to your Bandicam output folder.
Safe Alternative to Hulu DRM Removal
If you want to safely watch Hulu content offline without DRM bypassing, the best and easiest option is to use Hulu’s own built-in downloads. Hulu offers offline viewing to users with eligible subscription plans, such as the No Ads or No Ads + Live TV plans. You can download shows and movies using the Hulu app on supported mobile devices and watch them offline at any time. Here’s how to download Hulu shows and movies using Hulu’s official download feature. First, let me show you how much Hulu’s each plan costs;
| Plan | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Hulu (With Ads) | $9.99/month or $99.99/year | Full streaming library with ads at a lower cost. |
| Hulu (No Ads) | $18.99/month | Ad-free viewing on most titles (some shows may still have ads). |
| Student Plan | $1.99/month | Discounted Hulu (With Ads) plan for eligible college students. |
So, if you are subscribed to the Hulu plan, then here is how you can download Hulu shows for offline viewing
Step 1: Open the Hulu app on your device. Tap on the Search icon in the bottom bar, then select the Downloadable section to view shows and movies that are available for download and offline viewing.
Step 2: Tap the Download icon next to the movie or episode that you want. You can also change the video quality from the settings if needed before downloading.
Step 3: Once the download starts, you can monitor its progress from the Downloads tab. Once it’s finished, it will be available here and you can watch it offline, at any time.
FAQs
- Q. What happens if Hulu detects DRM removal activity on my account?
- If Hulu detects any DRM removal attempts on your account, they may flag it or even suspend your account for terms of service violation. This could lead to restrictions on your access or even permanent account termination.
- Q. Do Hulu’s official downloads have DRM?
- Yes, Hulu’s official downloads are protected by DRM. This means you can only view them within the app and under certain conditions (like having a valid subscription).
- Q. Can removing DRM improve video quality or accessibility?
- No, removing DRM won’t improve video quality. However, it could give you more flexibility in terms of accessibility and playback on unsupported devices (though it does come with legal and security risks).
Wrapping Up
If you’ve been searching for how to bypass Hulu’s DRM, this guide has shown both the legal and risky paths. While some may try screen recorders or third-party tools, the safest and most effective method is using official downloads or a tool like OneConv Video Converter. With its fast speed, wide format support, and easy interface, OneConv is perfect for saving and converting videos for offline viewing without the risks.
