AppleTV and HDCP error

This was very useful. I also changed my connection from HDMI 1 to HDMI 2 and it seemed to work as well.

As I indicated earlier, I did everything suggested by everybody. It didn't work. So I took my little Apple TV box to my neaerest Apple store and told them I did everything suggested, and they took it, came back 15 minutes later, gave me a replacement box, brought it home, and haven't had a problem since.

This error is very intermittent and doesn't seem to have any rhyme or reason. It will appear in the middle streamed Netflix shows, at the beginning....

Rebooting ATV doesn't fix it.. Often just continually trying to play show will eventually work.

I have an HDMI switch inline between the ATV and my single input 6 yr old Panasonic Plasma. It's been a problem since before the last few software updates and just happened again tonight. (v 5.3)

Don't waste your time buying expensive Videophile HDMI cables (they don't help, or improve anything). Pulling out a replugging cables doesn't fix it either.

Clearly this is an ATV problem outside of the other video equipment in the system....

I bought a Roku and filed the ATV....problem solved. Clearly Apple has no interest in helping or explaining the situation or doing anything about it. The more I deal with Apple (my husband has an iPad2 and its wifi connection keeps dropping for no apparent reason) the more I head in the other direction.

Ok: There is a sure fire solution, whether its because your TV is too old to support HDCP or if the problem shows up for another reason: Get a HDCP Stripper like HDFury4 or DrHDMI.

The first one strips the HDCP out of the signal, the second and cheaper solution Dr. HDMI is a little plug you put on before the TV HDMI plug which also bypasses HDMI.

You can google both products online, and they're a lot cheaper than getting a new HDTV.

Not "sure fire" all the time... The way these devices work is by emulating an HDCP key. Once that key is blacklisted, all bets are off. Sure, it'll work for a while, but there are no guarantees.

This is a list of things that DOESN'T work for my Apple TV 3:

- Upgrading firmware to the latest version

- Connecting directly the Apple TV to the TV

- Powering the Apple TV after the TV is turned on

- Connecting the Apple TV after the TV is turned on

- Unplugging all other HDMI cables to the TV (DVD, computer, etc.)

- Reversing the HDMI cable

- Changing the HDMI cable with a better quality one.

- Trying to play several times a video

- Connecting to a newer TV (I have tried with different devices and brands, including the same TV and HDMI cable at the Mac store, where was an Apple TV in exhibition)

- Restarting with the remote

- Restoring the Apple TV firmware from my Mac (using USB connection)

- Plugging the power cord directly to the wall

- Sleeping the Apple TV, and waiting 10 seconds

- Sleeping myself and trying again after several hours

Do I miss something?

Could it be a hardware failure?

Try setting the display properties to the properties of your tv (720&50/60 or 1080i or whatever) instead of automatic.

Solved everything for me!

Thank you MacThijs, but I have tried also setting the video properties (including lower resolutions) without success.

I am new to the forum .. I have this error also ... makes me so made i want to smash the thing. Does Apple not respond to these messages? When can we expect a fix for this?? Or is my apple tv a paper weight now? I've only had it for a few months.

If your device is still under guarantee, you shoud ask for a replacement.

I had the same problem and everything worrked perfectly for a day but it just stopped working, so it is not a hdmi or tv problem, since they are all brand new. I think this is a problem with Apple TV which apple does not spend enough time to solve or even inform its customers.

I have had this problem w/my Apple TV G3 ever since Apple started adding the new channels (i.e. Smithsonian, Weather, SkyNews, PBS, etc.). Visited this posting several months ago, tried several of the suggestions - all failed to help. Although I don't subscribe to Netflix, when I try to stream iTunes movie rentals the same issue occurs! I use a Mac and a Time Capsule at home, so all Apple products. Then, I went into the Apple Store for help, and they replaced it, calling it a "known issue." I brought my new one home - seemed to work marginally better (now I could SOMETIMES get 5-20 min. of playback), but still not able to get thru a single full-length episode without the HDCP screen. Fast forward another few months later, I'm back where I started - can't stream ANYTHING for more than 5 sec. other than YouTube and Trailers, etc. I plan to take it back to the Apple store for more help. This is by far the most problematic Apple product I have purchased (and I have several). Oh, and by the way, my father-in-law also has the Apple TV G3, and it works JUST FINE for him!! If I find anything that works, I'll post it here.

Update on my last post. I swapped my Apple TV into the setup at my father-in-law's house, and it worked. So, I knew the issue was in the cable or in my TV, not the Apple TV. I also tried my cable with my father-in-law's Apple TV, and then his stopped working - so likely it was the cable. So... I bought the Apple HDMI cable and tried it out yesterday in my own house, and ... (hold your breath) ... IT WORKED! I watched a full episode on the Smithsonian Channel without the HDCP screen! Hopefully this saga is finally drawn to a close, but if the HDCP screen comes back, I'll repost. BTW, my TV is a Panasonic Viera Plasma 42" I bought in 2008.

So, in summary, if you see the HDCP screen, call Apple or go to the Apple store to verify that your device is not under some kind of recall or eligible for replacement (like mine was, even though it was no longer under warranty). If you still have a problem, then try a different cable (i.e. the $19 Apple one). If that doesn't work, you may be out of luck (probably your TV). One other helpful suggestion is to try your Apple TV in someone else's setup if you know that theirs works. In my case, doing that helped me isolate my old HDMI cable as the likely culprit.

All the best!

To update from September post...

I too use a Panasonic Plasma (circa 2006) with a single HDMI input.

The Apple TV (2) works well but on occassion I was getting the dreaded HDCP screen.

My fix was to provide some cable tension relief. Support the HDMI cable so that it is not relying on the plug itself to stay connected. Tape/Wire Tie seem to work well. It appears that if the cable is not completely snug and stable it will result in the HDCP warning.

For further info, I am not using any Apple cables. I also have an outboard HDMI switcher between the Apple TV and the Plasma to allow for other devices that need HDMI inputs (DSS, Xbox).

Its been months since I was tempted to bash the Apple TV with a hammer.