Fix HDCP Error 0XC0262513 on Video Output

What's Actually Happening Here?

The error 0XC0262513 pops up when Windows tries to play protected content—Netflix, Blu-ray, some streaming sites—and the graphics driver reports that the current output doesn't support HDCP. HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) is a handshake between your GPU, display, and the content source. If any link in that chain fails, you get this error. The thing is, the error message is often misleading. It says the output doesn't support HDCP, but usually the hardware does support it—something is just blocking the handshake.

This error appears most often on HDMI connections, less on DisplayPort, and rarely on DVI (which doesn't do HDCP well anyway). If you're using a laptop with an external monitor, or a desktop with a multi-monitor setup, that's a common trigger. I've also seen it happen right after a Windows update resets the graphics driver.

Let's walk through the fixes in order. Start with the cheap stuff. You can stop as soon as one works.

Fix 1: The 30-Second Reset

This sounds dumb, but it fixes a surprising number of HDCP failures. The handshake is finicky—a quick power cycle often resets it.

1. Turn off your PC and your monitor (or TV).
2. Unplug the monitor from the wall or power strip for 30 seconds. Do the same for your PC if it's a desktop—just unplug it. For a laptop, shut down completely.
3. Plug everything back in, turn on the monitor first, then the PC.
4. Try the protected content again.

What this does is force the GPU to renegotiate HDCP from scratch. If the previous session left a stale key or a half-open handshake, this clears it.

Fix 2: Check the Cable and Port (5 Minutes)

The most common real-world culprit is a bad or non-certified HDMI cable. Not every cable supports HDCP 2.2, which is required for 4K content. If you're getting this error on a 4K display, a cable that worked for 1080p might not cut it.

• Swap the HDMI cable with a known good one. Ideally one labeled "High Speed" or "Ultra High Speed" if you're doing 4K.
• Try a different port on your monitor or TV. Some TVs only support HDCP 2.2 on certain HDMI inputs. Check your TV's manual—often only HDMI 1 or 2 supports it.
• If you're using an adapter (DisplayPort to HDMI, USB-C to HDMI), ditch it. Adapters are notorious for breaking HDCP. Use a native port if possible.

Also, if you're using a splitter or a switch, that's your problem. HDCP and splitters don't mix well. Remove any middleman and connect directly.

Fix 3: Update or Roll Back Graphics Driver (10 Minutes)

A driver update can fix HDCP support, but a bad driver can also break it. I've seen both.

1. Press Win + X and open Device Manager.
2. Expand "Display adapters", right-click your GPU, and choose "Update driver".
3. Select "Search automatically for drivers". If Windows finds nothing, go to your GPU manufacturer's site—NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel—and grab the latest.

If you recently updated your driver and the error started after that, do the opposite: roll back. In Device Manager, right-click the GPU, go to Properties, then the Driver tab, and hit "Roll Back Driver". This restores the previous version that worked.

Fix 4: Check Display Link and Monitor Settings (5 Minutes)

Some monitors have a setting that disables HDCP, usually in the OSD (On-Screen Display). Look for something like "HDCP" or "Content Protection" and make sure it's enabled. I've seen this on cheap monitors where the default is off.

Also, if you're using a TV, make sure the input is set to "PC" or "Game" mode. Some TVs disable HDCP on certain picture modes to reduce input lag. That's a real thing on some Samsung and LG models.

Fix 5: The Registry Workaround (15+ Minutes, Advanced)

This is a hack, and it only works if your GPU actually supports HDCP but Windows is misreporting it. You're telling Windows to ignore the HDCP check. It won't bypass HDCP for content that requires it—that's a DRM thing. What it does is stop Windows from throwing the error when the output technically can do HDCP but the driver is being flaky.

Before you edit the registry, back it up. Seriously. A wrong key here can mess up your graphics settings.

regedit.exe

1. Open Registry Editor (Win + R, type regedit, press Enter).
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers.
3. Create a new DWORD (32-bit) value named HdcpCheckDisabled.
4. Set it to 1.
5. Reboot.

That instructs the graphics stack to skip the HDCP capability check. The reason this works is that the error is often thrown not because your hardware lacks HDCP, but because the driver fails to report it correctly at that moment. Disabling the check lets the content play, and if HDCP is truly unsupported, the DRM system will still block it—you just won't see this specific error.

If that doesn't help, undo it. Delete the value or set it back to 0.

Fix 6: Hardware Reality Check (When You've Tried Everything)

If none of that worked, you might genuinely have a display that doesn't support HDCP. That's rare on modern monitors—anything made in the last decade should support HDCP 1.4, and most support 2.2. But I've seen old DVI monitors that only do HDCP 1.0, and that's not enough for current streaming services.

Check your monitor's specs. Look for an HDCP version in the manual or the manufacturer's website. If it says HDCP 1.0 or nothing, that's your answer. The fix is a hardware upgrade or a different display.

Also, if you're using a desktop with multiple GPUs, make sure the cable is plugged into the GPU that's actually rendering, not the motherboard's port if you have a CPU with integrated graphics. That's a common gotcha—the iGPU might not support HDCP on that port.

One more thing: if you're using a virtual machine or remote desktop, HDCP doesn't work over those. The error is expected. Use a physical display.

At this point, you've done what you can on the software side. If the error persists, it's the hardware.