Apple adds restrictions to iOS 16: After AirPlay, it no longer supports casting DRM content through HDMI adapters

IT House reported on January 5 that after Apple released the iOS 16 update a few months ago, users found that they could not play DRM-restricted content on older Apple TV models through AirPlay. Recently, some users have reported that DRM content cannot be played through the HDMI adapter.

According to multiple posts on the Apple Discussion Forums, iPhone and iPad users can no longer use HDMI adapters to watch streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max on their TVs. Users report that the adapter still supports screencasting, but when they try to play any DRM-restricted video, the screen goes black.

A Reddit user posted earlier today that Netflix support staff confirmed to him that it is no longer possible to watch movies and shows on the platform using an HDMI adapter on a device running iOS 16, and this situation will not 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, even 12 miles out of town, without internet access, mobile is my primary viewing method.

But as mentioned, this problem doesn’t appear to be specific to Netflix. In fact, it may have something to do with what’s causing AirPlay, which stops DRM-restricted content, from working on older Apple TV models. Once iOS 16 was released to the public, users noticed that they could no longer AirPlay content from Netflix and other streaming apps to Apple TVs running older software.

It’s unclear exactly what changed, as Apple never said anything about it. However, it appears that iOS 16 has adopted a new version of DRM that is not compatible with older devices.

IT Home Section: DRM, English full name Digital Rights Management, can be translated as: digital rights management. Digital rights management refers to the technology of rights protection, use control and management of digital content, such as audio and video program content, documents, e-books, etc., in the process of production, dissemination, sales and use. The digital rights management mode is mainly divided into two modes: “flexible digital rights management” and “rigid digital rights management”.