HDCP blacking out streaming video services on dual desktop displays

Hey guys, this is a pretty big issue that doesn't seem to have a fix.


I have a MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020) running macOS Ventura version 13.3.1 (a). I've purchased 8 different dongle/hubs with duel HDMI and/or Display Port connections (I'll list them below) and at least as many HDMI/Display Port cables that are all HDCP compliant.


The problem. Streaming services black out video because of HDCP. So far as I can tell, it's because almost any dongle/hub/adapter you purchase uses software that requires screen recording in order to send video information to dual monitors.


IF I could use both of my thunderports, one for each display, I don't think this would be a problem. But I can't. If I plug one dongle/hub/adapter/Thunderbolt to HDMI/DP cable into one USB-C Thunderbolt port, that display will stream video to a single monitor.


IF I try to add another dongle/hub/adapter to my second Thunderbolt port, it will not send a signal to a second display.


IF I try to use a dual monitor dongle/hub/adapter on any of my Thunderbolt ports, then I cannot stream video.


Simplified.

-Single desktop display, not problem. HDMI/DP work great.

-Trying to use each thunderbolt port for a display (2 monitors) will not work.

-Using any dual monitor adapter on a single Thunderport - blacked out screen when streaming video (audio and subtitles still work).


I even purchased an extra 4K Apple TV (64g wifi only) to use as an AirPlay second display - no dice. No streaming video, and honestly the picture quality degraded quit a bit.


I'm considering buying a mac mini today to see if it will work. I'm an Apple guy for sure, I have over 20 apple products for my family alone, but this is a turn off. If Apple supported MST (Multi-Stream Transport) this would probably work as well, but they don't. So Microsoft get's the win here.


What I've used.


  1. Silkland USB C to DisplayPort 1.4 Cable; It will run one display on one thunderbolt port but not two on two thunderbolt ports.
  2. Plugable USB 3.0 Dual 4K Display Docking Station model: UD-6950H; best video quality but using a screen recording software so, again, no streaming video from any streaming video provider.
  3. Selore Model: SEUC0507: Two displays in mirror mode only, no extended display because it doesn't have a screen recording software.
  4. Anycast 4K m100; this is supposed to be knockoff airplay adapter. No dice.
  5. HRpart Wireless HDMI adapter; again, a knockoff airplay. Didn't work either.
  6. j5create JCA365 usb-c to dual HDMI mult-moniotr adapter; use stream-recording software so no streaming video.
  7. Belkin USB C to HDMI Adapter; sinlgle display works great. One of these on each thunderbolt port doesn't work.
  8. Hyperdrive NCT Hub for USB-c Macbook pro; supports one HDMI display, tried to use one of the above dongles on a USB-C port for dual display and notta.
  9. Vava UC017 USB-C hub; works for a single display, will not work for two displays.
  10. Apple TV 4K 64g wifi only; already talked about this. Video quality isn't great, can't stream, and if I try to play audio from my macbook pro to my paired HomePod mini's it kicks the airplay off and just goes back to AppleTV.



Note: I've tried this on two different MacBook Pro (same model as mentioned above). My wife and I have the same setup. We've tried Samsung monitors and Dell monitors. As of the writing of this post, we each have two Dell S3222DGM 32" curved 4K gaming monitors. All drivers and software have been updated to their most current version as of 13 May 2023.

MacBook Pro (M1, 2020)

Posted on May 13, 2023 10:19 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 19, 2024 11:37 AM

VanDutchman wrote:

I have a MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020)


That computer only supports a single external monitor.


I take it that you're been using "workaround" products. One characteristic of many of these workarounds is that they don't support DRM (a.k.a. intentional incompatibility). So they don't mix well with streaming movie and TV services that are infested with the stuff.


IF I could use both of my thunderports, one for each display, I don't think this would be a problem. But I can't.


You can use either USB-C (Thunderbolt) port to attach your one display, but you cannot have more than one. To attach more than one, you would need to have purchased a MacBook Pro that supported more than one – a MBP with a Pro or Max chip.


I even purchased an extra 4K Apple TV (64g wifi only) to use as an AirPlay second display - no dice. No streaming video, and honestly the picture quality degraded quit a bit.


Streaming from a Mac to an Apple TV box is not the same thing as sending first-class hardware-accelerated video over a short cable to a real monitor. I'm not surprised that picture quality would suffer.


Note that you can access some streaming video services from the Apple TV 4K set-top box. Instead of having the Mac access the services, and then treat the Apple TV as a second-class display, you have the set-top box access the services directly.


I'm considering buying a mac mini today to see if it will work. I'm an Apple guy for sure, I have over 20 apple products for my family alone, but this is a turn off. If Apple supported MST (Multi-Stream Transport) this would probably work as well, but they don't.


MST support is irrelevant here. It would only apply to Macs that supported two or more external monitors. Yours isn't one.


Note: I've tried this on two different MacBook Pro (same model as mentioned above).


Same model, same Technical Specifications.

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22 replies

Jun 19, 2024 8:47 AM in response to VanDutchman

So this is absolutely an issue with Apple, and it’s far more widespread than anyone realizes, I think. The configuration is tanking conferences all over NYC because no one can share their media. Most of it proprietary. Which begs the question, at what point is Apple in violation of HDMI license compliance since they refuse to allow transmission of media for private use by people who paid for their cables and the license to use them, along with the subscription service content. The funny thing is, pirated content doesn’t have HDCP data in it, and passes over hdmi from Mac with NO issues. But they stop me from watching through the service I subscribe to. They put in a door that only lets pirated content through 🤦‍♂️

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HDCP blacking out streaming video services on dual desktop displays

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