Elgato 4K Capture Utility Software

HDCP and Elgato Game Capture devices

High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) is a digital copy protection system commonly associated with DisplayPort, DVI or HDMI connections. HDCP prevents the recording and piracy of commercial movies and TV shows. 
 
Elgato capture devices cannot capture HDMI signals with HDCP protection enabled.  
 
If you connect an HDMI signal that has HDCP protection, then Elgato capture devices will not display video.
 
Devices:
 

What is HDCP?

High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) is a digital copy protection system used with HDMI, DisplayPort, and DVI connections. It prevents the unauthorized recording or distribution of commercial movies and TV shows.

Elgato capture devices cannot capture HDMI signals that have HDCP protection enabled. If an HDMI signal is protected by HDCP, Elgato capture devices will not display or record video.
 

PlayStation 5 / PlayStation 5 Pro

PlayStation 5 enables HDCP by default. To use an Elgato capture card, you must disable HDCP.

 

Steps to disable HDCP on PlayStation 5

1) Connect your PlayStation 5 directly to a TV or monitor via HDMI (do not connect an Elgato device yet)
 
2) On the PlayStation 5 home screen, go to Settings → System → HDMI.

3) Toggle Enable HDCP Off.

4) After HDCP is disabled, connect your PlayStation 5 to the HDMI In port on your capture card.

5) Connect the HDMI Out port of your capture card to your TV or monitor.
 
 
Note: PlayStation 5 does not support third-party USB webcams, including Facecam and Facecam MK.2. 

PlayStation 4 / PlayStation 4 Pro

PlayStation 4 enables HDCP by default. However, with firmware 1.70, Sony added an option to disable HDCP for gameplay capture.
 
 
 

Steps to disable HDCP on PlayStation 4:

1) Connect your PlayStation 4 directly to a TV or monitor via HDMI (do not connect your capture card yet).

2) On the PlayStation 4 home screen, go to Settings → System.

3) Toggle Enable HDCP Off.

4) After HDCP is disabled, connect your PlayStation 4 to the HDMI In port on your capture card.

5) Connect the HDMI Out port of your capture card to your TV or monitor.

 
 
Note: HDCP is always enabled when watching purchased movies, using apps like Netflix, Hulu, or playing copyrighted media. Elgato capture devices cannot record this content.
 

PlayStation 3

PlayStation 3 always has HDCP enabled, and it cannot be turned off. Due to this, capturing gameplay via HDMI is not possible.

 

Xbox One / Xbox One S / Xbox One X

  • HDCP is off by default on Xbox One consoles.
  • HDCP turns on when media apps like Netflix, Hulu, or Blu-ray players are launched.
  • If a media app causes HDCP to remain active after closing, restart the console.
 

Nintendo Switch

  • HDCP is off by default on the Nintendo Switch.
  • HDCP turns on when using media apps like Netflix or Hulu.
  • Restart the console if HDCP does not disable automatically after exiting a media app.

 

Google Stadia

  • HDCP is enabled by default on Chromecast Ultra when using Google Stadia.
  • This means capturing Stadia gameplay is not supported on any Elgato capture device.
  • Google would need to update Chromecast Ultra to allow HDCP to be disabled.
     

Android Devices

Due to the large number of Android devices and their differences, an exhaustive list of how they handle HDCP is not available. 

 

iOS Devices

  • HDCP is off by default on iOS devices.
  • HDCP activates when using media apps like Netflix, Hulu, or Apple TV+.
  • Restart the device if HDCP remains enabled after closing a media app.
 

HDMI Enabled Disc Players

  • HDCP is always enabled when playing DVDs, Blu-ray, or Ultra HD Blu-ray discs.
  • These cannot be recorded with Elgato capture devices.
 

Video Streaming Services

HDCP will always activate when using streaming apps like:

  • Amazon Prime Video
  • Apple TV+
  • Disney+
  • Netflix
  • Peacock
  • Paramount+
  • Hulu
Since HDCP cannot be disabled for these apps, Elgato capture devices cannot record or stream their content.
 
 

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