Apple released iOS 16 update a few months ago, users found that they could not play DRM-restricted content on older Apple TV models through AirPlay. And in the recent past, some users have given feedback that they were unable to play DRM content via the HDMI adapter.
According to multiple posts on Apple Discussion Forums, iPhone and iPad users can no longer use the HDMI adapter to watch videos from streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and HBO Max on their TVs. Users say the adapter still supports screen casting, but when they try to play any DRM-restricted video, the screen goes black.
A Reddit user posted earlier today that Netflix support confirmed to him that it’s no longer possible to watch movies and shows from the platform using the HDMI adapter on devices running iOS 16, and that’s not going to change.
The post reads:
"I just spoke to Netflix support about HDMI not working after iOS 16. They stated that they have decided not to support HDMI anymore. For those of us who live in remote areas, or even 12 miles from the city without internet access, my phone is my primary viewing method."
But as mentioned earlier, this issue doesn’t seem to be specific to Netflix. In fact, it may be related to what caused AirPlay, which restricts content to DRM, to stop working on older models of Apple TVs. Once iOS 16 was released to the public, users noticed that they could no longer cast content from Netflix and other streaming apps to Apple TVs running older software via AirPlay.
It’s unclear exactly what has changed, as Apple has never said anything about it. However, it appears that iOS 16 uses a new version of DRM that is not compatible with older devices.
DRM, the full English name Digital Rights Management, can be translated as: Digital Rights Management. Digital rights management refers to the digital content, such as audio and video program content, documents, electronic books, etc. in the production, distribution, sales, use of the process of rights protection, use control and management of technology. There are two main models of digital rights management: “flexible digital rights management” and “rigid digital rights management”.
