iTunes has copy protection on their movies called HDCP which will not allow you to play iTunes rentals or purchases on some older data projectors. Thankfully there is a simple solution. You just need to watch an SD version of the movie and it does not have the HDCP protection. This is not mentioned on Apple’s support webpage but I was able to find out about it when I rang Apple iTunes support. Read on for how to do this step-by-step.
If you try to play an iTunes rental or purchased movie on an older style data projector you will see an error like this:
This happened to me. The suggestions in the window are not helpful. Sure, you can move the movie to your laptop window but then you can’t watch it on the data projector! Turning mirroring on or off does not help either. I rang Apple iTunes support, and thankfully there is a simple way around the problem. You just need to download the movie in a standard definition (SD) version. SD iTunes movies do not have HDCP.
To do this, open up the iTunes application on your computer, select the’ iTunes Store’ tab, click on ‘Purchased’, select ‘Movies’ up the top, and down the bottom right underneath all your movies there should be a little checkbox that says ‘ Download HD When Available’.
Un-check this box and your videos will download in SD.
SD versions of iTunes movies do not cause the HDCP error. You can watch them on a projector no worries.
Where to find the ‘Download HD checkbox
Some people in the comments below are saying that it is hard to find the checkbox. I agree!
Here’s how to find the checkbox.
- Firstly select ‘Movies’ in the drop-down box on the left hand side of your iTunes window just under the play button, then select the tab called ‘Store’ which is over the right under the Apple logo.
2. Now go over to the right hand of the store screen and under ‘Movies’ there will be a little place where you can select ‘Purchased’.
3. After you click ‘Purchased’ then this option should appear on the bottom right hand side of your iTunes window:
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