What is DRM Content in Android Apps?

If you’ve ever tried to stream a movie on an Android device and got a blank screen, low resolution, or an error like “Playback not supported,” chances are, you’ve run into DRM restrictions. But what exactly is DRM, and why does it affect video playback in Android apps? Let’s break it down.

What is DRM?

DRM (Digital Rights Management) is a technology used to protect digital content (like movies, TV shows, or music) from being copied, pirated, or accessed illegally. Content providers like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ rely heavily on DRM to make sure their content is viewed only under allowed conditions.

Think of DRM as a set of rules and locks, and your Android device needs the right key to unlock and play that content.

Common DRM systems in Android

Android supports multiple DRM systems, but the most popular one is Google Widevine.

Widevine DRM:

Developed by Google, it is the most commonly used DRM system in Android apps.

It has three security levels:

• L1 (Level 1): Highest security. All content is decrypted and processed in a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE), needed for HD/1080p/4K playback.

• L3 (Level 3): Decryption happens in software, not hardware. Playback is limited to SD (480p) or lower.

• L2 (less common): Some hardware processing but not fully TEE-based.

Other popular but less-used DRM systems include:

• Microsoft PlayReady

• Marlin

• Verimatrix VCAS

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Criteria for playing DRM-Protected videos

To play high-quality DRM-protected content, your Android device must meet specific criteria:

1. Hardware and OS Support

• The device must support Widevine L1 for HD and above.

• Devices with only L3 will be limited to lower resolutions.

2. Certification

• The device must be Google-certified (Play Protect Certified).

• Custom ROMs or rooted devices often fail DRM checks.

3. App-Side configuration

• Apps must integrate a DRM-supported video player (like ExoPlayer with DRM modules).

• DRM license URLs and keys must be correctly configured in the backend.

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Unsupported scenarios

Not all devices can play all DRM content, here’s when things can go wrong:

1. Low-Tier devices

• Budget phones often only support L3, resulting in SD playback even on HD content.

2. Custom ROMs / Rooted devices

• These can break DRM security checks, leading to failed playback.

3. No Hardware TEE

• If the device lacks a Trusted Execution Environment, it can’t decrypt high-resolution DRM content securely.

4. Network restrictions

• Some DRM systems check location, time, or IP address. A VPN or slow connection might block playback.

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How can you handle this?

When building Android apps that use DRM-protected content:

• Always check the Widevine level of the device using the MediaDrm API.

• Gracefully fall back or inform users if their device doesn’t meet the criteria.

• Use ExoPlayer with proper DRM configuration for a robust setup.

Here’s a quick snippet to check the Widevine security level (run it on a real device, not in an emulator):

import android.media.MediaDrm
import android.media.UnsupportedSchemeException
import android.os.Build
import android.util.Log
import java.util.UUID

fun getWidevineSecurityLevel(): String {
    val widevineUUID = UUID.fromString("edef8ba9-79d6-4ace-a3c8-27dcd51d21ed")

    return try {
        val mediaDrm = MediaDrm(widevineUUID)
        val level = mediaDrm.getPropertyString("securityLevel")
        mediaDrm.release()
        "Widevine Security Level: $level"  // e.g., L1 or L3
    } catch (e: UnsupportedSchemeException) {
        "Widevine DRM not supported on this device"
    } catch (e: Exception) {
        "Error checking Widevine level: ${e.localizedMessage}"
    }
}

Your output will be something like this:

Widevine Security Level: L1

Or this:

Widevine DRM not supported on this device

And if you wonder what string is that we are passing in UUID.fromString("edef8ba9-79d6-4ace-a3c8-27dcd51d21ed") , that’s the UUID that uniquely identifies Google's Widevine DRM scheme. It differs for different DRM systems.

Check this for Reference:

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Final thoughts:

DRM may seem frustrating, but it's essential for content protection. As Android developers, understanding DRM systems, especially Widevine levels and how to handle unsupported scenarios, is crucial for building smooth, reliable streaming experiences.

Have you ever faced DRM issues while developing or watching content? Drop your experience in the comments!