Many of you have seen it on your Roku, the dreaded purple screen that says, “HDCP unauthorised. Content disabled”. You may be wondering what exactly does this mean and how do I fix it?
Well first off we’ll explain HDCP. HDCP is High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection, it is a copy protection designed to eliminate the possibility of intercepting digital data midstream between the source to the display. Basically trying to keep pirates from ripping high quality copies of films and tv shows between the streaming device and the TV.
So we have the what, but the important part is how do I fix it so I can watch stuff on my Roku? Netflix actually offers the best advice in their FAQ, so we will just pass it along below:
The first and easiest thing to do is restart your Roku.
Restart your Roku and your TV by unplugging them both from power for at least 10 seconds, then plug them back in and turn them on with the power button. Restarting your device is often enough to restore your ability to connect to our service.
Once the devices have been restarted, wait 1 full minute before attempting to access Netflix. Your Roku will need time to reconnect to your home network before you will be able to access Netflix.
- If that doesn’t work check out your hardware connections.
- Ensure that you are using an HDMI cable.
- Bypass any receivers or stereo equipment by connecting your device directly to your TV.
- Try reversing the ends or try a new HDMI cable.
- Try another HDMI port on your TV.
- If available, try an HDMI port on another TV.
If none of the above solutions work contact Roku support directly at this link.
Have you had this issue? Comment below.
I used an HDMI splitter to solve this problem at outlined in a howtogeek.com article titled “HTG Explains: How HDCP Breaks Your HDTV and How to Fix It” – link below.
http://www.howtogeek.com/208917/htg-explains-how-hdcp-breaks-your-hdtv-and-how-to-fix-it/
Initially the Roku 3600R was powered from a “usb wall charger”.
And turning off the TV and back on would error with “HDCP: Unauthorized Content” problem.
Changed to have the Roku usb power come from the TV. And when TV turns on – also boots the Roku.
Takes about 20 seconds more . But no more errors/problem. 🙂
Thanks for the tip!
GOING to TV usb power fixed hdcp error, also bonus that Roku shuts completely off when TV is turned off to get a break vs sleep mode with wall power, thank you very much for the tip Eddie been trying to plug in and out and power on and off everything I could think, couldn’t change cable cause it’s Roku stick, also total boot time is like 20 for the stick(on TV power), and very acceptable …anyways thanks again
Chris, Thanks! Sometimes you just have to reboot your system by turning off the UPS for a few minutes and then back on. Just like brand new!!!
Thanks for your solution.
After installing Sling TV to grab ESPN and some other channels for $20 a month and accessing it through my Roku 3, I got the purple screen “hdcp unauthorized” when I tried to access Netflix or Amazon Prime. Unplugging the power and HDMI cables from ROKU for a minute and then plugging them back in, the problem was fixed.
So every time I want to watch something from my Roku you’re saying I need to unplug my tv and my Roku.
Ok sure. That’s no inconvenient at all :/ when I literally get this message 2/3 of the time.
How about a better solution that doesn’t entail the user having to contort themselves every time they would like watch Amazon Prime offerings? Is Roku aware that tv plugs aren’t the easiest things to get to if you have a wall unit?
I believe the recommendations Roku gave are for one time occurrences. If yours is doing that every time you use it I would recommend contacting Roku support at https://support.roku.com/en-us.
I got the HDCP unauthorized content message while trying to access 4k HDR via youtube.
I unplugged the TV and Roku for 10 seconds.
AFter the reboot I watched ONE youtube HDR clip and then when trying to watch another I got the purple screen of death again.
I am returning my Roku Ultra today. What a complete joke
I have this problem and nothing seems to work.
Is you device purchase recent? If so I would suggest exchanging it. If not contact Roku support directly and perhaps they can offer more assistance https://support.roku.com/en-us.
I recently added an Amazon fire stick with KODI into the LG smart TV. Previously there was only Roku plugged in. The Roku suddenly started displaying the purple screen blocking any content. When I took the fire stick out of the system and rebooted the Roku, it was no longer blocked. Is this an incompatibility with firestick? or with KODI? Is there a work around? As it stands now, I can only have one device plugged in at a time. (The fire stick will work with Roku plugged in, but not vice versa.)
I was having the same problem. I switched out an hdmi cable and it worked fine. Hope this helps someone.
For my Roku3 a higher quality HDMI cable fixed this very issue. I used this one http://amzn.to/2lShocU.
Installed new HDMI cable. Did the trick.
Reseated my hdmi cable. All was good again.
And what should one do when they are not using an HDMI cable but the composite AV cable on the Roku Express Plus and they get this error message?
So far it’s only happened on Amazon Prime and after restarting the video it does not reappear until a wifi connection loss, perhaps if noone has any specific answers to the Roku system it may be an inexplicably stupid problem on Amazon’s end…
I’m wondering the same thing- I don’t have a tv with HDMI or USB which is why I bought the Roku Express+ for the composite cable, not so easy to switch out and the other suggestion Roku has is to try a different tv? Thanks we’re a one tv home have always used the Wii for Amazon and YouTube but apparently we won’t be getting Youtube shortly so thought this would be a good alternative. Not.
I got the recommended cable and it fixed my issue with the Roku.