The simple act of rewatching a movie on Hulu shouldn’t require a tech degree. Fortunately, restarting a movie from the beginning on Hulu is usually straightforward, involving either a quick scrub back to the beginning using the progress bar, or exiting the title and re-entering.
Understanding Hulu’s Playback Behavior
Hulu’s playback system is designed for convenience. It remembers where you left off, making it easy to resume watching later. However, this feature can be frustrating when you want to start a movie again from the start. There are a few approaches you can take to reset the movie’s progress, depending on the device you’re using and the Hulu interface.
Methods for Restarting a Hulu Movie
Here are the most effective methods to restart a movie you’re watching on Hulu, covering a variety of devices and scenarios:
1. The Progress Bar Scrub
This is often the simplest and most direct method. While a movie is playing, you can access the progress bar at the bottom of the screen. This represents the timeline of the movie.
- Navigation: Use your remote (or mouse/touchscreen if using a computer) to navigate to the progress bar.
- Rewinding: Click and drag the progress indicator (the small circle) all the way to the left, until it reaches the beginning of the timeline.
- Playback: Release the indicator and the movie should automatically restart from the beginning.
This method is quick and efficient, but can be less precise if the progress bar is difficult to manipulate with fine motor control, especially on mobile devices or certain smart TVs.
2. Exiting and Re-entering the Movie
This method works reliably across most devices, although it might require a few extra steps.
- Exit the Movie: Completely exit out of the movie you are currently watching. This usually involves pressing the back button on your remote, closing the browser window, or using the appropriate exit command on your device.
- Return to the Hulu Menu: Navigate back to the main Hulu menu where you can browse for content.
- Re-select the Movie: Find the movie you were watching and re-select it. Depending on your settings, Hulu may ask you if you want to “Resume” or “Start From Beginning”. Choose “Start From Beginning”.
- If No Prompt Appears: If you’re automatically taken back to your previous viewing point, immediately pause the movie and use the progress bar method outlined above to rewind it to the beginning.
This method is particularly useful if Hulu doesn’t immediately recognize that you want to restart the movie.
3. Using the “My Stuff” Section (Workaround)
This method can be helpful, although it’s not a direct solution.
- Add to “My Stuff”: If the movie isn’t already, add it to your “My Stuff” list.
- Remove and Re-add: Remove the movie from your “My Stuff” list, then immediately re-add it. This can sometimes reset the playback progress in Hulu’s system.
- Play from “My Stuff”: Go to your “My Stuff” section and select the movie. There’s a chance this will force Hulu to start it from the beginning, especially if the removal process cleared the playback data.
This method isn’t foolproof, but it’s a good option to try if the other methods aren’t working.
4. Clearing Hulu Cache and Data (Advanced)
This is a more advanced troubleshooting step and should be considered if the other methods consistently fail. Clearing the cache and data of the Hulu app can resolve various playback issues, including persistent progress tracking.
- Access Device Settings: Navigate to your device’s settings menu. This will vary depending on your device (e.g., smart TV, streaming stick, mobile phone).
- Find Hulu App: Locate the Hulu app in your list of installed applications.
- Clear Cache and Data: Look for options to “Clear Cache” and “Clear Data” (or “Clear Storage”). Be aware that clearing data will log you out of the app, so you’ll need to log back in.
- Restart Hulu: Restart the Hulu app and try playing the movie again. It should start from the beginning.
Warning: Clearing data will remove any downloaded content you have stored within the Hulu app.
FAQs About Restarting Movies on Hulu
Here are some frequently asked questions to address common issues and scenarios related to restarting movies on Hulu:
FAQ 1: Why does Hulu always resume where I left off?
This is a default feature designed for convenience. Hulu remembers your progress so you can easily pick up where you left off. While helpful in most cases, it becomes a nuisance when you want to restart a movie.
FAQ 2: Can I disable the “Resume Watching” feature completely?
Unfortunately, there’s no global setting to disable the “Resume Watching” feature entirely. You need to use the methods described above for each movie you want to restart.
FAQ 3: Does restarting a movie affect my watch history?
Restarting a movie multiple times doesn’t typically affect your viewing history significantly. It might show multiple entries of the same movie, but your overall viewing data should remain accurate.
FAQ 4: The progress bar is hard to control on my smart TV. Any tips?
Try using the directional pad on your remote instead of trying to click and drag directly on the progress bar. Some remotes also have a rewind button that you can press repeatedly to go back in small increments. Alternatively, consider using the Hulu app on a different device like your phone and casting it to your TV.
FAQ 5: I share my Hulu account. Will restarting a movie affect other users?
Yes, restarting a movie will affect the viewing progress for all users on that profile. If others want to continue watching from where they left off, it will be affected. Consider using separate profiles to avoid this issue.
FAQ 6: I tried exiting and re-entering, but Hulu still resumes from where I left off!
Make sure you are completely exiting the movie. Simply pausing it and going back to the menu may not reset the progress. Force-closing the Hulu app and then reopening it can sometimes help. Also, confirm that “Resume Watching” is not selected from a prompt when re-entering the movie.
FAQ 7: Is there a difference in how this works on different devices (e.g., Roku, Fire Stick, phone)?
Yes, the exact steps might vary slightly depending on the device. However, the core principles (using the progress bar or exiting and re-entering) remain the same. Some devices may have a more responsive progress bar or a quicker app restart process.
FAQ 8: What if the movie is part of a bundle (e.g., Disney+, ESPN+)?
If the movie is part of a bundle, the process is the same as with any other Hulu movie. The method for restarting doesn’t change based on whether it’s included in a bundle.
FAQ 9: Does downloading a movie affect the restart process?
Downloading a movie for offline viewing doesn’t fundamentally change the restart process. You would still use the progress bar or exit and re-enter the downloaded movie to start it from the beginning.
FAQ 10: Why does Hulu make this so complicated?
Hulu prioritizes convenience by remembering viewing progress. While intended to enhance user experience, it can be frustrating when wanting to rewatch. The lack of a simple “Restart” button is a common user complaint.
FAQ 11: Will this work the same for TV shows?
Yes, the same methods apply to restarting TV show episodes on Hulu. You can use the progress bar, exit and re-enter the episode, or clear the app’s cache and data.
FAQ 12: I keep having this problem. Is there a way to report this to Hulu?
Yes, you can report feedback directly to Hulu. Go to Hulu’s Help Center or contact customer support through their website or app. Providing feedback can help them improve the user interface and address common issues like this.
Conclusion
Restarting a movie on Hulu isn’t always as intuitive as it could be, but with these methods, you should be able to easily reset your viewing progress. Experiment with different techniques to find the one that works best for your device and preferred viewing style. While Hulu lacks a dedicated “Restart” button, these workarounds provide a practical solution until (and if) a simpler option is implemented. Remember to leverage the progress bar, exit and re-enter, and even consider clearing the app’s cache for stubborn playback issues. Happy watching!