Skip to main content

"This content requires HDCP for playback" Apple TV fix


Perhaps you are having issues viewing Netflix, iTunes or any other streaming content via your Apple TV device?


First, the short answer regarding the fix (in most cases)...

1). Leave your Apple TV device ON.
2). Turn OFF your TV for 10 seconds.
3). Turn ON your TV.
4). Now attempt to view the content on your Apple TV (hopefully without error).
Behind the answer...

Depending on the content being streamed, there is an authentication process that takes place when you request content. The user is usually oblivious of the this, that is until something goes wrong.

HDCP stands for (H)igh bandwidth (D)igital (C)ontent (P)rotection. Even if you are only mildly interested in the 'what' of HDCP, I highly recommend checking out this simple yet concise and exhaustive explanation on Wikipedia, which can be found here...


More specific information regarding the HDCP issue and Apple TV can be found here...



Comments

  1. finnbearMay 5, 2013 at 9:33 PM

    Received the above error message for the first time in over a year of use of Apple TV. I followed the above instructions and it worked!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. R. Charles CarrAugust 4, 2017 at 7:18 PM

      Awesome, it's been 2 months hopefully you have not encountered the problem again. Thanks for commenting.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousMay 30, 2013 at 11:48 PM

    Thank you -- that worked for me.!

    ReplyDelete
  3. FrankSeptember 16, 2014 at 5:46 AM

    Thanks so much... I have had my apple tv for upwards of a year or more and this is the first time I saw this message. I went on a bunch of sites who gave all of this extraneous and wrong advice; tried yours and it worked right away. Thanks so much!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. onesontwocatsOctober 29, 2014 at 3:56 PM

    OMG, I think I'm in love. Thank you for curing the bane of my Apple TV. I can't wait to read the rest of your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  5. JenniferJanuary 9, 2015 at 1:29 AM

    It worked! Thank you so much!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. JimboSeptember 18, 2015 at 10:40 PM

    It the above solution does not work for you, as it did for me, try this, it worked for me: unplug your apple tv including hdmi cable. Go to your TV and reset it to its original factory settings, hook back your apple tv, open your TV, and voilà! it works!

    ReplyDelete
  7. B.G. BrybryDecember 8, 2015 at 1:29 AM

    Wow, thought it would be too simple to work but worked for me also

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousJanuary 11, 2016 at 8:11 PM

    Rebooted the cable router and everything worked again

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousApril 8, 2017 at 10:18 PM

    I've been trying for an hour to fix this issue or find an answer, and this fix worked immediately. Thank you very much! Brilliant!

    ReplyDelete
  10. UnknownOctober 4, 2017 at 12:30 AM

    Thank you!!!!!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Get Free Internet - Home and MiFi

First I'll discuss an option which I currently use, then I'll list some of the uses I have gotten from the service... Free reliable national Internet service is offered by the company FreedomPop You pay for the device, then are allotted 500MB of bandwidth per month at no cost. FreedomPop offers both home and MiFi hotspot devices starting around $40.00 dollars.  National coverage is offered via FreedomPop's partnership with Sprint. If you need more bandwidth per month, they offer various options which range from earning extra bandwidth by way of signing up to partner promotions such as Netflix, to trading data via social networking.  You can also purchase more bandwidth by selecting any of their affordable monthly plans. They even offer rollover. I was able to ditch my monthly iPhone service plan once it was out of contract. I now pay nothing for mobile phone usage. I transferred my cell number to Google Voice, installed an app called Talkatone and wireless connect my
2 comments
Read more

Cable to Convert VGA to HDMI, or Analog to Digital

The Answer : Even though they can be purchased online, the claim that an analog (VGA) to digital (HDMI or DVI) cable in and of itself performing such a conversion simply is not true. For example,  people run into this issue when they want to connect a laptop/desktop without an HDMI port to a digital monitor port with only a DVI port or a TV screen with an HDMI port. VGA to HDMI Cable I personally have had people not heed this advice, only to be seriously disappointed after having spent the money. There are instances where this cable will work... The VGA card in the device you are using (laptop/desktop) must be able to output a digital signal. This simply is not the case for most devices. When people are selling these cables from places like eBay, at times they may state this important piece of information in  very small print. So how do you get that device connected to your new digital TV or Monitor?  You have some options... 1). You can purchase a VGA
2 comments
Read more