Requires HDCP...My Apple TV 2 is about to get used as a Hockey Puck

This is definitely a software issue. I've been streaming Netflix successfully for a couple months, now suddenly I'm getting the same error message as everyone else in this string. This appears to be limited to Netflix as I can stream content from my computer. Has anyone called tech support to see what they say?

cliffvk wrote:

Do you have an HDMI cable that supports HDCP?

Some support it, some don't. Make sure yours does.

Sorry, that's absolute rubbish. All HDMI cables support HDCP. All HDMI cables support all HDMI protocols. What differs is the devices.

This problem (I've experienced it too a few times) is a software BUG in the Apple TV2. It can pretty much always be resolved by disconnecting the cable (from both ATV2 and TV), powering off both ATV2 and TV, then reconnect cable and power everything back up again, forcing the HDCP handshake to happen again.

I've got the same problem. I have rented a HD movie. At first I got the HDCP error message, a while later it did play with the current Apple TV software version. Now I've rented another movie and got the error message again. It seems completely random.

All my devices support HDCP (TV, Receiver and Windows Vista despite what was written somewhere only Windows 7 would support HDCP).

Movie did play once through Apple TV, it does play directly on my laptop and it plays when I connect my laptop directly to my receiver and TV (getting Apple TV out of the chain). So the problem must be with Apple TV.

Unfortunately my devices and cables are worked away, so disconnecting cables and reconnecting them in a specific order isn't an option. Are there any other option? (e.g. downgrading the software, a patch I can download, ....)

Thanks, Erik

You may want to try the following method of correcting this that has worked for a lot of people, as well as check out a similar discussion at https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2655620?start=45&tstart=0.

Mine worked fine one minute then gave me errors the next. I did these things

1. Unplug the hdmi cables. First tv then apple tv

2. Unplug the TV power and the AppleTV power, let them sit 30-60 seconds,

3. Plug in hdmi cables while power is off 4. plug the tv power in first, then the ATV power. This worked for me! (I was told it's an HDCP Handshake error, and the handshake is forced to be done again by unplugging power, but make sure you unplug both devices and plug them in the order above).

It worked for me. Good luck! (Yes, it's a PITA, but if the goal is to get your ATV2 working again, first do this, then complain to Apple about how lame it is that this problem even exists!)

I did try this. Several times even. Today I tried again and it seemed to work. Started everything, browsed on my TV to my library, rented movies and it played.

Later today I wanted to see if this really was the solution, so I turned all my devices on again. Opened itunes and went to my rented movies. It played on my computer, so I switched it to Apple TV. The first seconds played and then.....the same HDCP error message again. iTunes completely froze after that.

So it might be a solution, but I don't intend to unplug and replug all the cables every time I want to rent a movie.

Secondly, I bought an Apple product because Apple has a name about quality products which work without any problems. At this moment the only link in the chain of devices which causes problems is Apple TV. So I think it's very normal to turn to Apple for a proper solution.

(most people here are trying to figure out the cause of the problem and try to find the solution and not just 'telling how lame it is' so please refrain from such comments)

I'm interested in buying an ATV, but wondering if my TV will support it.

I have a Sony KLV-S26A10 TV, it's an older model, but does have HDMI cable input, only one port.

I currently have the HDMI cable plugged into the DVR box from cable company.

Question is:

Does this older TV support HDCP?

Do I need another HDMI cable port to plug in?

No a tech savy person, so thank you for the help!

A small addition to my last post:

After the whole unplugging and replugging I could play movies again by browsing to rented movies on Apple TV and play them. Every time I tried to play the rented movie in Apple TV and stream it to Apple TV, I've got the HDCP error message and had to unplug and replug everything again.

So pulling the content from Apple TV works, but pushing it to Apple TV not. Hopefully this helps Apple a bit further in tackeling the problem.

:-s Apparently I can't edit my messages. What I actually tried to say is:

- The HDCP error appears when I play a movie in iTunes and stream it to Apple TV

- Everythiong works fine when I play a movie initiated in Aplle TV

So I'm starting to think the problem lies in pushing the movie from iTunes towards Apple TV.

My Apple TV Gen 3 had no problem, my Apple TV's Gen 2 had the Requires HDCP error..

I used the command to reset Apple TV (Hold down Menu and Down), and instantly got Apple TV functioning correctly.

Hope this helps!

I have 2 of the gen 3's, one of them has this problem, I swap to the other one, on the same TV and it works fine so has nothing to do with the content, the cable or the TV set, it can only be the Apple box it'self.

I spoke to the local Apple store but because it is China and they don't sell it here they said they can not do anything, anyone any ideas besides throwing it in the rubbish can??

Did you, by chance, read the post before yours?

Duuuuuu, yes of course I did, your point being???