HDCP Errors on Internal MacBook Pro Display

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Level 1

21 points

HDCP Errors on Internal MacBook Pro Display

I'm going to attempt to keep this as pithy as possible, But I have had a 2016 and now a 2018 MacBook Pro 13 inch give me problems playing iTunes movies and with Netflix and Hulu playing from within Safari. I would eventually get an HDCP error with iTunes and other "cannot play" messages from within Safari. There has never been an external display plugged into these laptops or any third party Display mirroring software installed.

I could literally format the drive and do an Internet Recovery install...not install or bring over ANY personal data or software and it would fail just the same.

What seems to trigger this is resetting the PRAM. After doing some testing and even installing Mojave Beta...it seemed to correct it....until I reset the PRAM. I know "Don't reset the PRAM then?!"...lol....well...sometimes this is a requirement.

Other things worth noting. Chrome is unaffected by this bug. I wouldn't bother me if not for the fact that iTunes movies will NOT play. Youtube content in Safari work fine...I believe that is due to the lack of HDCP protections. AND I installed Windows 10 via BootCamp and everything works exactly as expected.

This would lead me to believe that software is the main culprit...but there is something also wrong with the firmware of the MacBook causing this as well.

I searched everywhere to see if I am alone in this. Everything related to HDCP is with the struggles with lack of HDCP support on external monitors about 6 years ago.

I have an open support request open with Apple and they are hopefully getting to the bottom of this. I have been fighting with these issues for over a month now.

I mainly want to know if there is anything you know of I can try in order to resolve this...or at least if I seem to be the only one bitten by this horrible bug.

Posted on Jul 24, 2018 11:08 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

elyman5

Level 1

8 points

Aug 22, 2018 5:13 AM in response to mattrogers

I too am experiencing exactly the same issue with a HDCP iTunes video playback issue. I am running High Sierra on a 2017 MBPro w TouchBar. After complete frustration with Apple Support and getting no where, I performed a bootdisk format, clean install of High Sierra OS, brought no files, settings or applications from the pervious install and same result, unable to play any iTunes videos either downloaded or streamed from their servers. An additional note, all other Apple devices, multiple iPhones and Apple TV all perform fine when downloading and viewing the same iTunes content that failed on the MBPro while the devices were on Wi-Fi or using the Verizon data network. While at the Apple store waiting for the non-genius bar tech, I was able to view the iTunes video content using their network, while back home the error returns. This seems to be the same issue others are facing here. Next step is to replace my at home wireless router. Update to follow if router swap resolves the issue, perhaps it’s bandwith related? Good luck guys

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Answer 2

mattrogers Author

Level 1

21 points

Aug 23, 2018 11:57 AM in response to mattrogers

**HDCP Errors iTunes\Safari fix**

Symptoms:

*You had to reset the PRAM on your Mac for whatever reason

*iTunes movies won't play. You either get a black playback window or an error related to HDCP.

*Hulu and Netflix movies won't play within the Safari browser.

*YouTube is unaffected by this.

*Hulu and Netflix still play within Chrome web browser.

*Windows 10 (VM nor Bootcamp) are unaffected by this bug

Fix (workaround):

*Boot into Recovery Mode on your Mac (command+R)

*Open terminal and type in the command EXACTLY as written:

nvram 8be4df61-93ca-11d2-aa0d-00e098032b8c:epid_provisioned=%01%00%00%00

and then press RETURN

It will go back to the prompt. Type reboot and RETURN.

Use this information at your own risk. If this sort of thing makes you uncomfortable, perhaps you should contact Apple support directly and have them walk you through this.

If you have to reset your PRAM again for any reason, this will have to be done again in order to restore functionality. Apple is aware of this and will likely provide some sort of update to perminantly fix this.

This is truly a workaround, not a fix. But it should provide you a fully functional Mac in the mean time

If this does not work for you. Please try this again and triple check what you have typed. This command is case sensitive and it will NOT throw up an error or success message to let you know the result.

Good luck and good day.

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Answer 3

elyman5

Level 1

8 points

Aug 24, 2018 2:33 PM in response to JuanmiDuran

Thank you all for the wonderful feedback and support in attempt to resolve this HDCP issue. After several hours with Apple phone support, which reached the engineer level on Tuesday of this week at that time scheduled a in person Genius Bar appointment for me today to further trouble shoot this issue at the store purchase at Westfarms Mall. After the Genius Bar meeting and reaching the end of Apple Engineering tech support they were very sympathetic of this issue and for no charge replaced my 2017 MacBook Pro with a 2018 model. The technician Raymond was amazing, explained to me that this was the 2nd issue of the same kind then ended in the same replacement resolution for the other user. To date there is no proper, permanent solution to this problem. I wish you all the best with trying to resolve this problem on your own devices.

Best Regards,

Charlie

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Answer 4

Kappy

Level 10

361,843 points

Jul 24, 2018 1:50 PM in response to mattrogers

Make an appointment at the Apple Genius Bar for service. If you need to find an Apple Store - Find a Store - Apple. If you did not purchase it from Apple then you will need to look to the vendor for service.

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Answer 5

Aug 20, 2018 8:13 AM in response to mattrogers

Hello, is happening to me also. MacBook Pro 2016 Touchbar. I opened a ticket and they told me that probably is hardware issue. The ticket is escalated to iTunes people and they will give me feedback next week. It is weird is happening to you also on 2018. In the tests the technical did, we were not able to reproduce at any way.

I will write with more news. Please keep me updated if you get more news.

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Answer 6

mattrogers Author

Level 1

21 points

Aug 18, 2018 7:56 AM in response to JuanmiDuran

After very little troubleshooting after my own, Apple Engineering decided to capture my laptop and give me another brand new one. I wish I knew if and when this was actually fixed...but I will likely never know. They are certainly not going to call me.

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Answer 7

Aug 19, 2018 2:47 PM in response to mattrogers

Unbelievable.

Now it looks more like a Firmware problem. For any reason HDCP is disabled at low level and no way to enable it again.

I will give this info to my technician when he will come back to me. Definitely the ticket is on the wrong department (iTunes)...

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Answer 8

mattrogers Author

Level 1

21 points

Aug 19, 2018 3:15 PM in response to JuanmiDuran

There is literally nothing you or I would be able to do to fix this. It’s a combination of firmware and software and it’s a bug neither of us could possibly fix. Engineering has my last laptop. No idea if or when there will be an upd

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Answer 9

mattrogers Author

Level 1

21 points

Aug 22, 2018 5:47 PM in response to elyman5

Yes I can follow your story. I’m telling you, that at least in my case, it is not a router issue. I have exactly the same symptoms on downloaded and streamed. On three different networks with 4 different laptops.

I would keep the receipt for your router. I hope it works for you, but I seriously doubt it will. Please update us either way. Thank you.

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Answer 10

elyman5

Level 1

8 points

Sep 4, 2018 2:30 PM in response to mattrogers

No resooltion to HDCP iTunes video playback error in replacing the wireless router. I also purchases a Thunderbolt 3 to Ethernet adapter, attempted a direct connection into our cable modem, download speeds pushing 190 MB’s and still no iTunes video playback. All attempts failed to resolve this issue.
[Edited by Host]

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Answer 11

Aug 23, 2018 12:03 PM in response to mattrogers

Good news. Thank you for the feedback. I won’t test it on mine as I don’t have same hardware. I will wait for my technician’s feedback. They should make you a gift for your patience and your perseverance to want the things solved. Congrats and thank you.

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Answer 12

Aug 23, 2018 12:04 PM in response to mattrogers

Good news. Thank you for the feedback. I won’t test it on mine as I don’t have same hardware. I will wait for my technician’s feedback. They should make you a gift for your patience and your perseverance to want the things solved. Congrats and thank you.

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Answer 13

mattrogers Author

Level 1

21 points

Aug 23, 2018 1:06 PM in response to JuanmiDuran

It has so far worked on a 2017 and 2018 13' Touch Bar MacBook Pro, for what it's worth. I understand and respect your reservations with trying it. But hopefully this information should be found useful for the technician assigned to your case.

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Answer 14

mattrogers Author

Level 1

21 points

Aug 24, 2018 2:52 PM in response to elyman5

Charlie,

I'm glad to see that you were taken care of. I went through 2 brand new laptops (after they swapped out my original) with the HDCP problems before finding the workaround I posted before. Hopefully you never have to worry about it again, but I would suggest bookmarking this page if you ever need it.

Matt

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Answer 15

mattrogers Author

Level 1

21 points

Aug 19, 2018 2:06 PM in response to JuanmiDuran

....and my sound card suddenly stopped working. After trying a number of things, I literally had no choice but to reset the PRAM on the laptop. And now I am getting the HDCP errors....AGAIN!!!

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HDCP Errors on Internal MacBook Pro Display

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