HDCP Error Fix | Common Causes and Solutions

An HDCP error is a digital copyright protection failure that happens when a device can’t play protected content due to a problem with the connection, typically via an HDMI cable.

To fix it, you should check that all HDMI cables are securely connected, try a different HDMI port or cable, restart your devices, or connect directly to the TV to bypass intermediate devices like splitters. Ensure that your TV, the source device, and any intermediary hardware are HDCP compliant, as older devices may lack this feature.

🛠️ Common Fixes for HDCP Errors

Since the error is almost always in the physical connection chain, the solution usually involves resetting or replacing components.

1. Power Cycle the Entire System (The Most Effective Fix)

This forces all devices to re-initiate the HDCP “handshake.”

1. Unplug Everything: Unplug the HDMI cable from both the source device (Roku, Apple TV, PS5, etc.) and the TV/Receiver.
2. Power Down: Turn off your TV and your source device.
3. Unplug Power: Unplug the power cords from your TV and your source device (and any intermediary device like an A/V receiver or soundbar). Wait about 2 minutes.
4. Reconnect: Plug the power back into the TV and the source device.
5. Restart: Turn on the TV first, wait for it to fully boot up, and then turn on the source device.
6. Reconnect HDMI: Plug the HDMI cable back in.

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2. Check & Replace Components

• HDMI Cable: The cable is a common culprit. Try a different, high-quality HDMI cable, preferably a certified high-speed cable (or HDMI 2.0/2.1 if dealing with 4K/HDR, which requires HDCP 2.2 or higher).
• HDMI Port: Try plugging the source device into a different HDMI port on your TV, as not all ports may support the required HDCP version (especially for 4K content).

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3. Eliminate Intermediary Devices

If you are using a soundbar, A/V receiver, HDMI splitter, or HDMI switch, one of those devices may not be HDCP compliant or may be causing the handshake to fail.

• Bypass: Connect the source device directly to the TV using the HDMI cable. If the error goes away, the issue is with the intermediary device.

⚠️ Common Causes

• Loose or Faulty HDMI Cable: The most frequent cause; the connection isn’t secure enough for the HDCP handshake to complete.
• HDCP Version Mismatch: Your TV or a device in the chain (like an older A/V receiver or splitter) doesn’t support the HDCP version required by the content (e.g., trying to stream 4K content that requires HDCP 2.2 on a TV that only supports HDCP 1.4).
• Old or Non-Compliant Hardware: Using very old TVs, projectors, or cheap HDMI splitters/switches that were never built to fully support the HDCP standard.