You've probably seen the headlines or maybe a weird pop-up while trying to watch The Bear that made you double-check your bank account. The short answer is that the Hulu you know—the standalone green app on your home screen—is effectively on its way out.
It’s not a rumor. Disney is officially folding the service into Disney+, and the timeline for when the standalone Hulu app will stop working is closer than many people realize.
Actually, for some users, it’s already happening. If you use a Nintendo Switch to stream, you’ve likely seen the notification that the Hulu app will be discontinued on that platform on February 5, 2026. That’s the first major domino to fall in a year that will see the Hulu icon vanish from millions of smart TVs and streaming sticks.
The 2026 Shutdown: What’s Actually Happening?
Honestly, the "death" of Hulu is more of a metamorphosis. Disney spent over $9 billion to buy out Comcast’s remaining stake in the company back in 2025, and they didn't do that just to keep running two separate, expensive apps. They want one giant "super-app" that can take on Netflix.
Here is the breakdown of the transition timeline:
- Now through early 2026: Hulu content is being mirrored inside the Disney+ app for anyone with a bundle. You can already see the "Hulu" tile sitting right next to Marvel and Star Wars.
- February 5, 2026: The standalone Hulu app officially shuts down on Nintendo Switch.
- Mid-2026: This is the "danger zone" for the standalone app on other devices. While Disney hasn't given a hard "kill date" for every single Roku or Fire Stick yet, industry insiders and Disney’s own earnings reports suggest the standalone app will be phased out across most major platforms by the summer of 2026.
Why is Disney doing this now?
Basically, it's about money and "churn." In the streaming world, churn is when you subscribe for one month to watch Only Murders in the Building and then immediately cancel.
Disney found that when people have both Disney+ and Hulu in the same app, they stay subscribed longer. It’s harder to cancel "The Disney Bundle" when it’s your source for both Bluey and Shōgun. CEO Bob Iger has been pretty blunt about this: running two separate technical infrastructures is a waste of resources. By merging them, they save billions on backend costs and advertising tech.
Will I lose my Hulu shows?
No. This is the biggest misconception. Your shows aren't going into a vault.
If you are a standalone Hulu subscriber, your login will eventually just work on the Disney+ app. You’ll open Disney+, and instead of seeing Mickey Mouse, you’ll see your regular Hulu dashboard. The content—the movies, the FX series, the trashy reality TV we all love—is staying. Only the "entry point" is changing.
The Hulu + Live TV Problem
This is where things get kinda messy. Disney+ was built as a "Video on Demand" (VOD) platform. It wasn't originally designed to handle a live TV grid, local news, or DVR recording.
Because of that, the Hulu + Live TV experience is the most complicated piece of this puzzle. Recent reports suggest that Disney is working on a partnership with Fubo to handle the live infrastructure, or they might keep a "Live Hub" separate for a longer period. If you pay $80+ a month for the live TV package, you’ll likely be the last ones forced to switch apps, simply because the Disney+ interface still hasn't perfectly mastered the "channel surfing" vibe.
Pricing Hikes and the "Unified" App
Let’s be real: this merger is also an excuse to raise prices. In late 2025, we already saw the ad-supported tiers jump significantly. By the time the standalone app fully disappears in mid-2026, expect the "Standard" way to get Hulu to be through a unified Disney+ subscription that likely costs more than the old standalone version did.
What you should do right now
You don't need to panic and cancel anything today, but you should prepare for the "Great Migration."
First, check your hardware. If you are using an older smart TV (think 2017 or earlier) that barely runs the current Hulu app, it might not support the new, heavier "unified" Disney+ app. You might need a $30 Chromecast or Roku stick to keep watching by the end of the year.
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Second, start getting used to the Disney+ interface. If you have the bundle, try watching your Hulu shows through the Disney+ "tile" for a week. It’s a bit different—the search function is a little more aggressive and the parental controls are stricter—but that is the future of the service.
The "green app" had a great run since 2007, but by the end of 2026, it’ll likely be a digital ghost.
Next Steps for Subscribers:
- Verify your login: Ensure your Hulu and Disney+ accounts use the same email address to make the automated migration smoother.
- Check your device compatibility: If you stream on a gaming console or an older TV, look for the "update available" notifications in early February.
- Audit your bundle: Look at your billing through the Disney+ account portal rather than the Hulu site, as that’s where all management is moving.