What Is an HDCP Error and How Can You Get Around It? (2024)

If you're seeing an HDCP error message on your television or monitor, it can completely prevent you from viewing content. But this issue can be overcome via a few different methods, so read on to learn what HDCP errors mean and how you can fix an HDCP error on your device.

What Is HDCP?

Before discussing HDCP errors, it's worth knowing what HDCP is. High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) is a protocol used to prevent people from watching pirated content on HDTVs and display monitors. Released by Intel at the turn of the century, HDCP comes to the aid of content producers when they release content that is supposed to be behind some kind of paywall or authorization layer. It is also a form of digital rights management (DRM), which focuses on regulating access to content.

Piracy is fairly popular nowadays, especially among those who don't want to pay a monthly fee for streaming or TV services. While one can watch pirated content on illegal websites, it's also possible to record content on a device and then view it later at their convenience while not paying to do so.

HDCP-compliant devices block this by discerning whether the display device being used has the correct authorization to view the content it's trying to stream. This technology encrypts the signal of a piece of content to prevent it from being recorded onto another device. This won't always happen, as creators don't always employ HDCP after releasing content. Consider YouTube, for example. The vast majority of videos on this platform are free to view for everyone, so HDCP isn't required.

However, most big production companies use HDCP to protect their content, including Sony, Warner Bros, and Disney, so it's far from irrelevant.

Because a hardwired connection is needed to record content from one device onto another, HDCP comes into play in media cables. HDMI cables commonly use HDCP, but things don't stop there. DVI and DisplayPort connections also use this anti-piracy protocol to protect content.

The latest HDCP version was released in 2018, and is known as version 2.3.

What Is an HDCP Error?

HDCP errors can pop up on platforms and devices, including RokuTV, AppleTV, Chromecast, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Fire TV, and Prime Video. Getting an HDCP error doesn't necessarily mean you're watching pirated content. In fact, HDCP errors commonly occur when you're harmlessly watching content you're authorized to view.

An HDCP error can often appear as one of the following messages:

• "HDCP Error Detected"
• "HDCP ERROR"
• "ERROR: NON-HDCP OUTPUT"

If you receive one of these messages on your display, there could be multiple causes.

1. Using a Non-HDCP Compliant Cable

While most HDMI cables are certified as HDCP-compliant, this isn't the case across the board. If you buy an off-brand HDMI cable, it may not come with HDCP compliance, which can easily lead to an HDCP error on your HDTV or monitor. The same goes for DVI and DisplayPort cables that aren't compatible with HDCP; if this accreditation isn't in place, you'll likely run into HDCP issues.

2. Using an Outdated Television or Monitor

The two latest versions of HDCP were released in 2018. If you're using an HDTV that was released prior to 2018, you may regularly run into HDCP errors simply due to incompatibility. Remember, just because your display device has an HDMI, DisplayPort, or DVI port doesn't mean it's compatible with the newer versions of HDCP.

3. HDMI Handshaking Issues

An HDMI handshake occurs when your HDMI cable connects to and recognizes another device. If the handshaking process goes wrong, you can receive an HDCP error. This often occurs if your HDMI cable or port is damaged. If this is the case, you'll need to replace your HDMI cable or see to it that your damaged port is fixed.

How to Overcome an HDCP Error

There are a few things you can try to fix an HDCP error.

1. Check Your Cable Connection or Switch Ports

Sometimes, an HDCP error occurs due to a simple loose cable connection. Before doing anything else, make sure your HDMI, DVI, or DisplayPort cable is securely connected on either end.

If your display device has more than one port for your chosen media cable, consider switching from one port to another. One of your ports may be damaged, which could be causing the HDCP error you're receiving.

2. Restart Your Devices

A quick off-and-on is often the fix for a lot of technical issues, and may help overcome an HDCP error. Quickly restart your TV or monitor and you could get rid of that frustrating HDCP error for good.

3. Buy a New Media Cable

If your media cable is damaged or isn't HDCP-compliant, it's best to buy a new cable, be it HDMI, DVI, or DisplayPort. New media cables often aren't very expensive, even if you're buying a popular brand. Just make sure the cable you're purchasing is compatible with the ports on your display device, and, above all, is HDCP-compliant.

We have a guide on the best HDMI cables if you'd like some help finding a replacement.

4. Use an HDMI Splitter

An HDMI splitter (not to be confused with an HDMI switch) is used to feed a single HDMI source into two or more output displays.

What's great about these nifty devices is that many of them can bypass the HDCP layer, meaning no signal encryption occurs and blocks content.

HDMI splitters are very affordable, and could provide a cheaper way of fixing your HDCP error instead of outright buying a new display device. However, it's important to check whether the splitter you're thinking of buying can ignore HDCP requests so you don't get stuck with the same issue after connecting it to your device.

5. Buy a New HDTV or Monitor

Unfortunately, your HDCP error may come down to an outdated display device. If you've exhausted all other options and have confirmed your monitor or HDTV was produced prior to the release of the new HDCP version, replacing your hardware is probably the last solution. But if you're still unsure, you may want to head to your local tech support store to talk to a professional.

HDCP Errors Don't Have to Be a Permanent Issue

HDCP errors are undeniably frustrating and stop you from viewing the content you enjoy, but they can be overcome. With one or more of the methods listed above, you may be able to get rid of that HDCP error quickly and easily.