Microsoft’s latest Windows 11 update is causing significant headaches for users attempting to play protected video content.
Released on August 29, 2025, the KB5064081 update for Windows 11 version 24H2 has disrupted video playback functionality across multiple local media and broadcast applications.
As reports of black screens, frozen video streams, and copyright protection errors proliferate online, frustrated consumers are left unable to access legally purchased movies, TV broadcasts, and digital audio files on their Windows PCs.
Playback Failures Across Key Applications
Shortly after installing KB5064081, users discovered that media players relying on Enhanced Video Renderer technology and HDCP enforcement protocols fail to render protected streams.
Digital TV software, BluRay and DVD playback tools, and digital audio applications employing DRM schemes now display abrupt interruptions or a blank screen instead of video output.
Although popular streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ remain unaffected, desktop applications for locally stored or broadcast content frequently crash or freeze during playback.
Users recount scenarios in which attempting to watch a live broadcast via digital tuners triggers an immediate “copyright protection error” message, while launching a purchased Blu-ray rip yields a black screen—even when HDCP-compliant hardware is in use.
Attempts to restart the application or reboot the system often lead to persistent freezing until the update is uninstalled.
Investigations by security analysts and community forums indicate that the root of the problem lies in a conflict between the update’s newly introduced security enhancements and existing DRM frameworks.
The Enhanced Video Renderer, responsible for delivering high-definition video signals, is encountering communication breakdowns with HDCP protocols embedded in graphics drivers and media libraries.
This incompatibility appears to stem from modifications in how Windows processes and validates protected content streams after the August preview update.
Because these changes affect only locally executed or broadcast-protected content, web-based streaming platforms bypass the flawed code paths and continue to operate normally.
However, the inability to play DRM-protected media on desktops poses significant inconvenience for users who rely on Windows media center setups or professional applications for content review and archiving.
For industries such as broadcasting, film editing, and home theater enthusiasts, the update effectively halts workflows and entertainment.
Microsoft’s Response and Recommendations
On September 19, 2025, Microsoft officially acknowledged the issue, confirming that KB5064081 and subsequent related releases carry the problematic code.
The company stated that fixes are under development for future Windows updates, but has not provided a timeline for patch availability.
In its support bulletin, Microsoft stopped short of recommending any temporary workarounds or rollback procedures, leaving affected users without an official method to restore playback functionality.
Until a corrective patch is released, Windows 11 version 24H2 users are advised to avoid installing KB5064081.
Those who have already applied the update may wish to pause automatic updates and consider rolling back to a pre-24H2 build, if feasible, to regain access to their protected media.
As user frustration mounts, Microsoft faces mounting pressure to expedite a solution and clarify interim measures for consumers and enterprise customers alike.
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