Your first attempt at fixing this issue should be to sign out and into your Itunes account in order to clear any temp data that might be causing the problem. If that doesn’t work, try re-configuring the app playback preferences to run at 1080p by default. Since a partially broken update might cause the ‘Movie Cannot be Played in HD‘ error, you should also take some steps to ensure that iTunes is updated to the latest version and your Windows is running on the latest build available. Note: In case you can’t afford to update your OS build for whatever reason, you’ll need to rollback on the problematic driver and block the update from installing again using the Show or Hide troubleshooter package. However, this problem can occur if you are trying to play iTunes movies and TV series on an external screen connected through DVI. In this case, moving to an HDMI connection should fix the issue for you. On Windows 10 and Windows 8.1, you might see this issue occurring due to a secondary driver of Hyper-V that ends up breaking HDCP. In this case, you’ll need to disable Hyper-V altogether in order to fix the issue. In case you’re encountering the macOS equivalent of this error (Can’t watch in HD), try resetting the power manager before re-initiating video playback.
Re-signing with your iTunes account
In some cases, the apparition of ‘Movie Cannot be Played in HD‘ might occur due to a glitch related to the account that you’re currently using with iTunes. This problem is reported to occur after a network interruption or after the user tries to play content on iTunes after waking their computer from sleep or hibernation. If this scenario is applicable, you should be able to fix the issue by re-signing with your iTunes account. To do this, simply click on Accounts from the ribbon bar at the top and click on Sign Out to remove your account. Next, return to the Account menu and click on Sign In. Next, insert your Apple ID credentials and complete the sign-in procedure. Once you have successfully signed back in, repeat the action that was previously causing the problem and see if it’s now resolved.
Changing the default resolution to 1080P
Under certain circumstances, you might end up encountering the ‘Movie Cannot be Played in HD‘ error due to the fact that your iTunes Playback preferences are not configured for 1080P playback. This can be a problem if you’re trying to play video content on a screen with a resolution larger than 720p. Several affected users have confirmed that the issue was only resolved after they modified the iTunes store preferences in order to force the Maximum Revolution. Here’s a quick guide on how to change the default iTunes resolution for video Playback to 1080p: In case you are still seeing the ‘Movie Cannot be Played in HD‘ error, move down to the next potential fix below.
Updating iTunes to the latest version
As it turns out, you might be encountering this issue due to the fact that you’re running an outdated version of iTunes. Apple is notoriously known from cutting support to older versions (especially on PC) without really announcing it. Because of this, you should start this troubleshooting guide by installing the latest version of iTunes and retying the operation. However do not rely to heavily on the auto-update function, since it’s not that reliable on the Windows Platform. You can try updating automatically by clicking on Help from the menu at the top and clicking Check for Updates from the newly appeared context menu. If that doesn’t work, you should take the time to remove ever iTunes component manually from your computer and install the latest version at the end. Here’s a quick, step-by-step guide that will show you how to do this: In case you’re still seeing the ‘Movie Cannot be Played in HD’ error, move down to the next potential fix below.
Switching Display to HDMI only
As it turns out, the Windows version of iTunes seems to trigger this particular error when it’s forced to play high-definition (HDCP) movies or TV series to a monitor connected via a DVI cable. If this scenario is applicable and you are trying to play content on an external screen connected through DVI, remove it, restart your computer and attempt to play the movie from your default screen. In case the ‘Movie Cannot be Played in HD’ issue doesn’t appear while the DVI screen is not connected, you’ve just managed to identify the problem. To fix it, switch the connection to HDMI. In case your external screen device doesn’t have an HDMI slot by default, you’ll need an adapter in order to enforce this workaround. In case this method is not applicable, move down to the next potential fix below.
Installing every pending Windows update
According to a lot of affected users, this problem can be caused by a bad Windows 10 update released around the end of 2015. In case you installed that update but you didn’t install the hotfix that resolves the iTunes conflict (released in February 2016), you can expect to see the ‘Movie Cannot be Played in HD’ error whenever you try to play visual media on iTunes. One solution that will get the problem fixed if this scenario is applicable is to install every pending Windows update and bring your computer up to that. This operation will ensure that you have the hotfix installed – after you do this, you should be able to use iTunes for movies & TV series without problems. Here’s a quick guide on installing every pending update on Windows 10: In case the ‘Movie Cannot be Played in HD’ error still appears, move down to the next potential fix below.
Reverting & Blocking the Windows Update
As it turns out, the ‘Movie Cannot be Played in HD’ error is often reported to be caused by a problematic update that ends up effectively breaking the iTunes application. This can be resolved by installing the hotfix (method above), but in case you don’t want (or don’t have the means) to update to a newer Windows version, there is one additional workaround. Some users that also faced this issue have confirmed that they were able to get the issue resolved by using system restore to revert back from the problematic Windows update and then block it in order to prevent it from being installed once again. Here’s a step by step guide that will show you how to revert & block the Windows update that ends up causing the ‘Movie Cannot be Played in HD’ error: In case the issue persists, move down to the next potential fix below.
Disabling Hyper-V (Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 Only)
As it turns out, there is one particular scenario that seems to only affect Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 users. Keep in mind that on this operating system, Microsoft automatically includes a Virtual Machine package called Hyper-V Client – It will be installed by default. But keep in mind that the Hyper-V package is not a problem by itself. The problem occurs because it installed a secondary driver that’s capable of breaking HDCP – which means you will see the ‘Movie Cannot be Played in HD’ error even if your system is fully compliant. If this scenario is applicable, you should be able to fix the issue by disabling the Hyper-V technology altogether. Here’s a quick guide on how to do this: If the issue persists, move down to the next method below.
Resetting the Power Manager (macOS Only)
In case you’re encountering the macOS variation of this error (‘Can’t watch in HD’), you should be able to fix the issue by resetting the power manager. There are a lot of Mac users confirming that this operation finally allowed them to play video content normally within iTunes. Apparently, this is one of the first troubleshooting guide recommended by Apple support agents for issues of this kind. Here’s a quick guide on how to do this: Note: The instructions below should work regardless of the macOS version that you’re using.
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