HDCP error and netflix apple tv 2

I have a samsung tv. This is what I did to get the appletv to work on my tv. I had to get a different hdmi cable and really push in the cable into the port on the tv and the appletv. I also had to position the appletv so that the cable did not come loose from the weight of the cable. The hdmi is so heavy, I noticed that the cable would get loose just a little.

I have had the same problem for about a week now. I have had the AppleTV for about a month and up to last week it was fine.

Now it is embarrassing - my family is doubting the wisdom of having purchased it.

I have read a bunch about this. It does seem that if you unplug your TV and the AppleTV for perhaps 30 seconds and then plug back it, it is OK ... for a while and sometimes unplugging and replugging doesn't work either.

Another thing that many have had success with is getting a known working compatible HDMI 1.3 cable (1.3 very important). I when to a local discount store and found a belkin version 1.3 HDMI cable for $10. I tried it, it worked and then didn't work. Some say some 1.3 cables work and some don't.

The other thing is, is your TV HDCP version 1.3 compatible? I checked on my 42-inch Philips HDTV and the specs say it is version 1.3 HDMI compatible (it was built in 2008 and I bought it in January, 2009 - so even some of these 'old' TVs are compatible, I think.)

So last night I watched a Netflix TV show. This morning I can't.

I will be stopping at Radio Shack today to see what they have in 3-foot HDMI version 1.3 cables - and try again.

So I don't have an answer just keep trying things.

Could it be the cable box? It is HDMI BUT my AppleTV does NOT connect to it. I connect directly to the TV. Could the AppleTV be sensing that something else is connected that is not HDCP compatible? I don't know if the cable box is or is not but it is something to check out too.

good luck to all and keep posting.

I started having the problem when I upgraded to 4.2.1
Only way to fix was going back to apple store to get an atv with 4.1 since you cannot downgrade to 4.1 after updating to 4.2.1

Ther is definitely something wrong with the latest FIrmware update for AppleTV 2. I have been watching Netflix movies on it without issue for 4 months. Now all of a sudden after updating to the latest Firmware I get HDCP errors saying my HDMI connection is not compatible? SInce the only thing in m set up that has changes is the firmware update, obviously there is a serious issue with this update.

Just had this same thing happen. Downloaded the latest update to Apple tv this morning and couldn't watch the Apple tv movie we started last night (which was working just fine last night). We tried turning everything off and on with no luck. Called Apple tech support to help. Here's what ended up working....good luck!

On Apple tv go to:
Settings
General
Reset
Reset all Settings (make sure you don't click Restore as it automatically updates the latest firmware which, I think, messed us up in the first place).

It's a pain because you have to re-enter all your login/password/wireless info but it totally worked! Finished watching movie with no issues. The Apple tech guy also supported us doing this, saying it wouldn't update the firmware (where 'Restore' does) which seemed to be causing the problem.
Good luck!

I resolved this issue by changing my hdmi cable. I had an Amazon Basics cable that is supposed to support hdcp however it was the problem.

I bought a hdmi 1.4 cable and my Apple TV works fine now.

I am very disappointed in Apple with this issue. If the device is this picky, Apple should either supply the necessary cable or clearly state the requirement.

This is a very poor customer experience

same experience as described. after updating to 4.2.1, i was in the middle of watching a netflix movie, stopped it part way, came back the next morning and the error showed up. did all the resets, changed cables, all of that with no luck.

called up apple care, and they were willing to replace it. i guess everyone just needs to call this problem in so apple has it in their call logs. hopefully a fix will be on its way shortly...

I have the HDMI 1.3 Amazon Basics cable, and I had this problem tonight for the first time since the 4.2.1 update. I simply unplugged my ATV2 (and not the TV) for a few seconds and the problem cleared up.

HTH.

My ATV2 worked great for several weeks, until an Apple firmware upgrade, now I have an issue. Usually turning my TV off/on works, but today I needed to unplug/re-boot the ATV 2x to get Netflix streaming to work.

It's not my TV, it's not my HDMI cable, it's not my network connection. My Blueray player works great, as does Vieracast (with video streaming from Amazon). This problem is unique to the ATV2.

I think most people with this issue would agree the HDMI/HDCP handshake is flaky. Each 'fix' is only temporary though, and the HDCP error can return at any time. The bottom line is, the ATV2 worked great until the firmware/software was updated. APPLE - FIX YOUR FIRMWARE

Doubtful I can find a new Apple TV with the original firmware since the one I bought was the only one in stock and came with the updated firmware.

I have the original firmware to restore, but as you said, it won't verify with Apple through iTunes. Does anyone know of any work-around to restore to an earlier firmware without verifying?

I just want to be able to use this device that I bought 2 days ago, and is now essentially a brick. 😟

Unfortunately there is no way to restore to the previous firmware after apple stops verifying it. Even is you try the jailbreaking tools.

I agree with everyone, I'm having the same issue. I called Apple, the Tech said he has had a few calls from people with the same problem, I needed to unplug the at2. This is ridiculous, I shouldn't have to do this every time my son wants to watch Netflix. It doesn't affect Youtube or me streaming from my mac. So I believe its something to do with the way Netflix and AT2 work together in reading info for the movies.

I had this same problem upgrading firmware to the new iOS 4.3 beta for apple TV. Now I cannot downgrade. Stay away from this beta firmware

i too get HDCP errors. i have just re-booted my ATV by unplugging it. latest firmware

I had the same problems. "Had" being the key word. Couldn't play one episode of "Weeds" ( HDCP error ), but the other episodes played. Other streaming shows sat and loaded forever. Felt like I was getting hypnotized watching that stupid little circular spiraling thing while loading. Took 9 1/2 hrs. to download an Apple pay movie. Netflix streaming shows always froze about 10 seconds in for about 10 seconds, then the show resumed no problem.

I tried the unplug, plug back in routine, removed the surge protector power strip from the equation, used an Apple HDMI cable. My TV is a Sony Grand Wega with one HDMI input and that's the input I used with the Apple HDMI cable.

The fix (for me, anyway) was to upgrade my internet speed. I was using the slowest speed (for cost reasons) which was 1.5 Mbps. I upgraded to 7 Mbps and the improvement is incredible. No more freeze at the beginning of streaming Netflix, no more HDCP errors, downloads extremely fast compared to before.
Your results may vary as I'm sure this won't be a fix for everyone, but this was the fix for me and I am finally happy with the Apple TV2.
I feel Apple should post a minimum internet download speed as a requirement for the Apple TV2, but that would probably lower some of their sales numbers.