Level 1

4 points

AppleTV and HDCP error

I must say that I am very disappointed in how Apple is handling this. The company released a software update a while ago that included the HDCP or High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection to block the copying of audio and video content as it travels through the net. Due to this update, some of us AppleTV owners may have been experiencing errors while renting, buying or home sharing content through the device. The error is as follows: "This content requires HDCP for playback. HDCP isn't supported by your HDMI connection." Thinking to resolve the problem, I went and bought so far 4 different sets of HDMI cables to include an Apple branded HDMI cable and it did not work. Well, I thought it was going to be the TV since my TV's HDMI ports could not be updated, I went and bought a brand new TV which I did make sure that the ports were HDCP compatible and to my surprise it did not worked either. I reset the device to reinstall the software and nothing happened. This past weekend, I went to the Apple Store and they said, well lets erase and reinstall everything and it should work. The guy comes back and plugged it to a Sony TV where they have their demo AppleTV and it gave him the same error again. He said lets try it one more time and when he cam back the device would not even connect to the HDMI port. I am standing there asking for a replacement, which is fare enough due to the circumstances, and let me remind you that the circumstance is that my AppleTV as well as many others got damaged due to the software update not just normal usage and even though it was out of warranty by 80 days it was not my fault that the software update damaged it. Apple all they said was you either pay for the replacement or buy a new one. I was so angry that all I wanted to do was to throw the darn thing in the trash can in front of people in the mall so they know what's going on. I have always been a firm believer of apple but some times I question their way of doing business with the customers. Now I have a damaged AppleTV at home that I cant use not because of my own fault but because of a malfunction on the update and they make it seem as my fault. So if you are having this same problem, you can try anything, you can go to the Apple store and all I have to say is good luck. Thanks Apple....

AppleTV 2, Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Jan 1, 2012 11:16 AM

110 replies

SeanOg72

Level 1

0 points

Jan 13, 2013 3:07 AM in response to IsraelJM

I have been getting the same error since the last update. I have found that if I go to Gerneral - Restart. This cures it every time. A pain but at least a temp cure until an update is available. Hope this helps others.

Jan 27, 2013 11:14 PM in response to SeanOg72

Guys I have been following this thread in Australia for the past six months while my Apple TV lay dormant and unresponsive to all of your suggestions.

Then suddenly, after a three week interlude (christmas holidays) I plugged it back in and a message about an Apple update appears on my screen.

I run the update (on Friday evening) and viola, my Apple TV works again. No more HDCP error.

Try it. I suspect Apple may have done its usual...not communicate and then slip in a fix when they finally work it out.

dchao99

Level 4

2,092 points

Jan 28, 2013 2:57 AM in response to RationalOptimist

Yep, I can also confirmed that 5.1.1 has fixed this problem

Jan 28, 2013 10:05 AM in response to IsraelJM

Still didn't fix the problem on my Toshiba TV. You got my hopes up though.

Jan 28, 2013 10:03 PM in response to IsraelJM

I have an Apple TV 2, and the software update that rolled out today started giving me this HDCP error for the first time. I swapped out with a new HDMI cable I had on hand, and that didn't do anything. This is an extremely frustrating issue.

ameba

Level 1

0 points

Feb 2, 2013 8:07 AM in response to IsraelJM

I got the HDCP error. It is somehow random. It is clear to me that is a hardware issue that can´t be solve with a new firmware. This is as simple as this, Won´t buy any Apple product again. We should have some rights as consumers, but if you keep buying they have no reason to change policies.

An unsatisfied customer.

kokoro20

Level 1

0 points

Feb 3, 2013 6:53 AM in response to IsraelJM

I was having the very same HDCP error message problem. Simple solution for me and my Apple TV is working just fine.

I went to my local Apple Store and bought a Belkin High speed HDMI Video Cable that is HDCP compliant and is recommended to work with Apple TV. PROBLEM SOLVED! END OF DRAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!

dchao99

Level 4

2,092 points

Feb 3, 2013 7:24 AM in response to kokoro20

kokoro20 wrote:

I went to my local Apple Store and bought a Belkin High speed HDMI Video Cable that is HDCP compliant and is recommended to work with Apple TV. PROBLEM SOLVED!

I agree with Kokoro. This maybe related. Recently, I had a problem using the Apple HDMI cable to connect from a Samsung notebook to my Sony 3D HDTV. Samsung notebook would not reconignise my TV and could not connect until I swapped it for a "thicker" HDMI cable.

Apple HDMI may look pretty, but it's not 100% compatible with other manufacture's products.

Feb 4, 2013 7:18 AM in response to dchao99

I own an ATV and recently updated firmware to 5.2 and like the most of you, I too started getting the infamous "HDCP error message", but I had a hunch that the solution was more software related (settings in the ATV as a result of new firmware update) as opposed to hardware related (ex. "replacing an HDMI cable",)... Reasoning based on the work I do, which is, work with HD video, multiple cameras in live shoots and use software based digital mixers and capturing equiptment. AAR... my "on the job" experience proves that all components in an HD eviroment must "match video settings" in order for them to "hand shake" with one another (example; 1080p60, 1080p50, 1080i30 ect... settings, need to be set the same to communicate... i.e. if cameras are set to shoot in 1080p60, then my software based mixer/capture input settings must be set to receive in 1080p60.)

Most LED/LCD Flat screens pre-2012 default video settings are 1080p50... ATV's new update sends video by default in 1080p60 (which is Auto), in order to view Netflix, iTunes movies or the like, you need to "match video settings" with the ATV and your HDTV, which for most, would be 1080p50.

When I changed these settings on my ATV, the "HDCP error message" issue was resolved.

How to DIY - Turn on ATV, Go to>settings>General>Audio and Video>Resolution... there you have the option to adjust from Auto to 1080p60, 1080p50, 720p30 ect... adjust those settings until you can view your movie content. (Refer to your HDTV specs to determine your HDTV Resolution info. Some older LCD and plasma screens default video "Rez" is 720p30) This should resolve the "HDCP error message." without the need to buy new HDMI cable, New Flat and such.(Unless you're looking for an excuse to upgrade to that 70" LED. Haha)

It can be so frustrating trying to resolve HD video issues... I hope this helps someone.

Mormino

Level 1

8 points

Mar 9, 2013 4:55 AM in response to RationalOptimist

I have a Samsung L650 series that is about three years old (model LN52A650A1F) into which I have plugged via HDMI cable a satellite TV receiver from DirecTV into one of the TV's four HDMI ports. The satellite receiver worked fine until last week when I plugged in via HDMI my third generation Apple TV. The first thing that went wrong is I could watch no Netflix content on my Apple TV due to the HDCP error (I could watch YouTube videos though). Next, the satellite receiver started giving the same HDCP error after all these years, and only intermittently!

My first solution was to update via iTunes the Apple TV box. Didn't help. Next I bought a new HDMI cable from Apple for the Apple TV. This fixed nothing.

Long story short, I ditched the HDMI cable for the satellite and connected it to the TV via a component cable, and I can now watch satellite. For Apple TV I tried each one of the HDMI ports and voila', HDMI port 4 on the side of the TV worked (the other three on the back of the TV gave the HDCP error).

Hope this helps someone.

Tony

JE4-76

Level 1

0 points

Mar 15, 2013 2:33 AM in response to IsraelJM

same problem...

HDCP stoping the AppleTV from working properly. Hope Apple take care of the probblem asap. It should work, its not a 3rd party produkt for.... !

Mar 23, 2013 2:21 PM in response to IsraelJM

Nothing works, tried to change the HDMI cable 3 times, changed TV 2 times, even took the apple TV to a friend's house to try on a brand new TV, and nothing works!!!!

It all started since the last update.. I can't use the apple tv to watch ANYTHING!!!

Mar 23, 2013 4:41 PM in response to FMCavalcanti

yes - I completely agree its annoying.

After the Christmas update (see my post above on 27 January) I had six peaceful uninterrupted HD weeks thinking my problem was solved.

Only for....wait for it....Apple to announce another update when I turned on my Apple TV this weekend. I innocently ran the update only to find that after it, THE F$%&^&*$%#^KING HDCP ERROR IS BACK.

Apple - you are driving me mad with this. Please get your act together and sort it out already!

drbdf

Level 1

0 points

Jun 12, 2013 9:05 PM in response to markndeb88

It worked!!! The software/resolution idea was perfect. Thanks markndeb88!

Jun 29, 2013 3:56 AM in response to IsraelJM

HDCP error after update. Worked fine before update. Tried all the above suggestions. Waste of time.

Not Happy, Apple!

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AppleTV and HDCP error