Q: iTunes movie purchases will not play on external display - HDCP auth error

I am experiencing this for the first time, although I have used apple TV and store since introduction. I can't play HD content on my desktop OR on my laptop. Despite 802.11n (apple flavor) I cannot stream it fast enough to watch on TV, the only "allowed" device. It is infuriating to not be able to watch what I have paid for and it will surely drive me to another vendor.

Hi I am expericing samr thing and at least before charging have the DECENCY to let people know that I will not be able to watch on my laptop....by APPLE HELLO ANDROID!

You get two versions of the show/movie from itunes. Open the mp4 version in the finder, put it on the desktop, open in quicktime. Maybe not as sharp as the HD but looks great on my external monitor (macbook with ViewSonic)

Just happened to me on a rental and I'm infuriated. I am contacting Apple about a refund, though I doubt I'll get anywhere with that and I'll no longer buy movies from iTunes.

I buy all of my movies and T.V. from Itunes. It clearly says that for all HD content that you must have a device that is HDCP enabled. There is even a link to help you learn more. This is not Apple's fault. As long as you are using a device that support HDCP then there isn't a problem. I have never experienced an issue because I have made sure that all of my devices are approved. Android is no different, and they don't have half the choices that Itunes does. Just be sure and educate yourself before investing in HD these days. Almost all new T.V.s and monitors support HDCP now though.

It is Apple's fault. It's not ONLY Apple's fault, the movie industry bears much of the blame. It's a matter of principle for me. I do not support the continued erosion of consumer rights. I did not buy music from iTunes until they provided a DRM free option. I will not buy movies or TV from them until they offer the same. It's not HDCP, it's the consequences of supporting HDCP. It's what happens when HDCP is revised and my media becomes unusable until I buy a new device.

I had largely rationalized the DRM on SD video in iTunes as everything I purchased worked on all of my devices, but this incident largely just woke me up. I love the iTunes ecosystem, and I hope they push for a rational distribution of digital content, as they have done in the music medium. Until then I'll get my content elsewhere.

I'm thinking about buying a used, cheap flat screen monitor to use with my Macbook Air, mostly to watch movies and TV shows because I don't own a TV and don't have cable.  All of my purchases from iTunes are in SD (can't seem to justify the extra $1 for HD, especially on my small MBA monitor).  Am I to understand that all of my SD content will display on any external monitor, the problems only occur with HD content?  I'd like to get this sorted out before going out to buy an external monitor.  Thanks.

Your SD content should play without issue. HDCP is only present on HD content. Hope this helps.

Thanks!  Guess I'll stick to SD for the foreseeable future!

I have had issues with SD content.  I purchased the movie 1984 to show in my English class on my iPad 2 via my SMART board and dongle. It gave me the errors message that it could not be connected.  Same with just a regular projector.

I don't know if this is specific to the iPad or because of the SMART board though. Either way I looked like an idiot in front of my class and had to implement a Plan B activity.

The fix is very simple. Sign out of your Itunes account and quit Itunes. Then update to the newest version of Moution Lion and restart your computer.

Can anyone confirm this fix?

This is amazing. I have tested out previous iTunes purchases in HD like Lost season finale and inglorious basterds on my Mac Pro and 23" apple Cinema Display. I have the latest version of mountain lion and iTunes 11. And it WORKS! am I delusional? First time this worked in years since this issue was noticed. Amazing Apple, I knew you'd fix what wasn't right!

I don't think this fix works for projectors though. I have latest Os and iTunes and rented movies won't play through my living room projection system. It's a dealbreaker for iTunes for me sadly.

I'm downloading an illegal version to watch now even though I have paid for and rented the movie I wanted to see from iTunes...quite happy to buy it but only if I can actually watch it afterwards.

Same with iPad rented movies, won't play through projector either.

This system is just driving people back to the illegal downloads, what difference does it make what you watch the film on once you've paid for it?

Nothing really worked for me... And yes, it is REALLY FRUSTRATING.

All I wanted was to watch a movie I bought LEGALLY in HD on my HD projector, instead of a small MacBook pro screen.  And I couldn't.

This is the stupidest thing entertainment industry can do right now - is to alienate people who want to purchase their products legally and push them into illegal downloads, just so the content can be viewed in home theater systems.  So ugly.