Ultimate Guide: Solve DRM Protected Streams Are Not Supported Problem

"Why can't I play the movies I downloaded? When I attempt to open them in the native Win-10 videos app I get this error message - DRM protected streams are not supported. Is there a way to bypass the DRM protection?"

Users may feel strange that why their device fails to support these DRM-protected streaming files as others. Actually, these streaming media under the protection of DRM are only supportable on some specific devices or software with DRM authorization. Normally, common players like your system-provided Windows Media Player have not entrusted the DRM access. Pointing to the DRM-supportive problem, feasible solutions on how to play DRM protected files are given out for your convenience use.

Part 1. What Is DRM?

DRM (Digital Right Management) is a technology used to prevent any piracy and illegal circulation of digital content by limiting the playback, copy, edit and similar activities. Well-intended it is, however, it also unreasonably forbids users' fair use for their purchased items. For them, it is so strongly defensive that they can only enjoy the music or movies on some special devices. To solve it, it's evident that you have to crack the fortification of DRM. Next, you will be introduced some feasible treatments to DRM-protected WMA/WMV, M4P, M4V, AA/AAX/M4B.

Part 2. How to Check If File Is DRM-Protected

Most of the paid digital content such as Apple Music, Blu-ray DVD video, Audible audiobook, etc. are DRM-protected. If you are not sure whether the file you have is DRM-locked or not, you can follow the steps here to manually check the files.

#1. Audio & Video

Step 1. Choose the media file and right click on it to open the "Properties" menu.

Step 2. Select "Details" tab and find "Protected" among all the categories. If you see "Yes" then the file is DRM-protected.

#2. DVD Disc

Generally speaking, if you buy the DVD disc from an official shop and the disc is licensed, then the content is DRM-protected for sure. But if you get discs from other sources and want to make sure if they are DRM-protected, then check the followings:

* The inner hub of the disc has copyright inscription

* The menu of a protected DVD is usually dynamic and professionally-made

* A licensed DVD usually has a lot additional footage: backstage, trailers, etc.

* There's a copyright notice at the beginning of the movie

#3. Media Format

It's easy to find out whether the media file is DRM-protected or not if you know the media format well. Here are some of the common media format that are DRM-related.

* M4P: Apple Music

* M4V: iTunes purchased or rented video

* M4B: iTunes purchased audiobooks

* AAX/AA: Audible audiobooks

* WMA/WMV: WMA/WMV files downloaded or purchased from online store like Amazon

Part 3. Solve DRM Protected Streams Are Not Supported Problem

1. Remove DRM from M4P File

M4P is an AAC audio format protected by a proprietary DRM technology created by Apple. Currently. Encrypted M4P files refer to iTunes songs bought before 2009 and all Apple Music songs. Normally they can be supported by most iOS devices and iTunes. To remove DRM from M4P songs, you can use TuneFab Apple Music Converter which is a professional Apple Music DRM removal. You can use this program to unlock DRM and convert Apple Music to MP3, M4A, FLAC, and other formats.

2. Remove DRM from iTunes M4V Videos

All the TV episodes, full-length movies and music videos purchased and downloaded from iTunes Store are encoded in DRM-ed M4V format. You can only play the iTunes M4V videos on authorized iOS device and PC. They are not supportable on ordinary players like Android devices and VLC Media Player due to the protection of DRM. As for this, TuneFab M4V Converter is involved in this annoying issue as a professional M4V DRM removal. With a few simple steps, you can directly convert M4V to MP4 videos.

3. Remove DRM from AAX/AA/M4B Audiobooks

Audible audiobooks are in AA/AAX format while M4B is the iTunes audiobooks format. All the audiobooks purchased from iTunes or Audible.com are under DRM encryption. Here TuneFab Audiobook Converter as we mentioned above can be used to remove DRM from AA/AAX/M4B audiobooks. This program will let you keep all the chapter info in the converted audiobook files for your better reading.

4. Remove WMA/WMV DRM Protection

WMA/WMV, Windows Media Audio/ Video, are developed by Microsoft as the alternative streaming formats respectively for MP3 and MP4 on higher compression ratio, sound quality, and picture resolution. 

For those encrypted WMA/WMV streaming files, there are several accessible ways. A most common way is to re-record DRM-protected WMA/WMV files and then use an ordinary converter to process recorded files. Most DRM converters operate in this way, like Soundtaxi, Tunebite. Or you can use lossless FairUse4WM or freeme2 +drmdbg as these are free, lossless and fastest DRM removal. 

Better still, DRM Media Converter is well-recommended for Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP. This powerful Converter can not only bypass the DRM of WMA and WAV streaming media but also remove the DRM of other formats including those we have mentioned above. Of course, you can use it to convert the decrypted DRM files.

If you have already bought the streaming media, why do you need to suffer the trouble of DRM? Try to use these best DRM removal software to free DRM restriction from your favorite streaming music and videos, and then you can easily enjoy supported DRM-decrypted streams on any device.