Netflix are blocking installs on rooted/unlocked smart devices

Netflix are blocking installs on rooted/unlocked smart devices

Netflix are blocking installs on rooted/unlocked smart devices

 
Over the past few days, the Netflix android app has been showing up as incompatible on select smart devices, preventing many from downloading/using the app on their devices. This incompatibility is not due to hardware, or even software compatibility but due to Netflix’s new DRM which will prevent modified Android devices from functioning properly with the app. 
 
Netflix has confirmed that version 5.0 of the Netflix Android app now uses Google;s Widevine DRM, which prevents devices that are not “Google Certified” from running the app, or even seeing the app on the Google Play Store. Below is Netflix’s full statement on this change. 
 
 
 
 
With our latest 5.0 release, we now fully rely on the Widevine DRM provided by Google; therefore, many devices that are not Google-certified or have been altered will no longer work with our latest app and those users will no longer see the Netflix app in the Play Store.
 
 
Google’s Widevine DRM specifies three levels of Google support across various platforms, though it looks like the new Netflix app will work on all three levels, with the device’s SafetyNet status (related to Android Pay) also having an effect on whether or not Netflix will show up on the Play Store. 
 
Netflix says that version 5.0 will only work with devices that are “certified by Google and meet all Android requirements”, which means that many unlocked devices will not have access to the Netflix app due to these new compatibility checks unless they have a good SafetyNet Status and Widevine approval. 
 

  

Netflix are blocking installs on rooted/unlocked smart devices

 

At this time it is unclear what exactly is blocking many unlocked devices from downloading the Netflix app, though there are ways to circumvent this block, like downloading the app using an APK file from a reliable source.

Those that download/instal Netflix version 5.0 using an APK file have not reported any compatibility issues, though it is unknown if future updates will render the app inoperable on these systems. 

 

You can join the discussion on Netflix’s block on rooted/unlocked Android devices on the OC3D Forums. 

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