If you’re having a problem with the Widevine Content Decryption Module, it’s probably interrupting your Netflix or Amazon Prime video-streaming experience.
And, really, in terms of first world problems, is there anything worse?
What The Error Looks Like
via GIPHY
Below, we’ve collected some of the internet’s best solutions.
What Is It?
The Widevine Content Decryption Module is a decryption module pre-installed in Chrome (and other) browsers which permits them to play Digital Rights Management-protected HTML5 video and audio content.
To access it, enter “chrome://components/” in your Chrome browser:
These DRM technologies allow content creators and owners to set policies about how their protected media content is viewed and copied.
The Widevine Content Decryption Module Error
Below we spell out some common fixes for this error across different browsers- most of the time it’s solved merely by updating it.
When it occurs on Netflix, you’ll get this error: Netflix Error M7357-1003 (Source).
Netflix Error M7357-1003
If you experience the error code M7357-1003 on your Windows or Mac computer, use this article to resolve the issue.
Chrome & The Widevine Content Decryption Module
This is a common error on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. It occurs when browsers can’t locate the module or determines that it’s outdated.
If you want a video walkthrough, check out this solution: “Netflix won’t play movie/video in Google Chrome! (SOLVED)” before proceeding to our full write-up:
First Solution: Update The Widevine Content Decryption Module
- This is a pretty easy fix- simply type the following into Chrome and press Enter: chrome://components/
- Click the “Check for update” button
- Try refreshing your page to see if it shows an “Up-to-date” status beneath the component.
- Restart your computer or laptop and see if it’s solved the problem.
Second Solution: Change Permissions For WidevineCdm
This one requires a bit more tech-savvy but is worth it if the first fix doesn’t work. The way this works, you’ll have to examine the plugin’s folder permissions to ensure you have complete control before retrying the first solution above. To begin:
- Press Windows + R to initiate the Run application.
- Enter “%userprofile%/appdata/local” in the dialogue box and press Enter.
- Next, click through to the following file path: Google > Chrome > User Data
- Now, head over to the Security tab and check that your login user has full access. (Verify this by making sure that the “Full control” checkbox is ticked. If you do have full control, that’s good.
- If you don’t have full control, you’ll want to choose your profile, click “Edit”, uncheck the ‘tick’ present underneath the column of “Deny”- this will enable full account access.
- Now you’ll click Apply to save changes and exit.
- Check to see if the issue has been fixed
Third Solution: Delete & Update The Plugin Folder
If all the above solutions don’t work, we can try deleting the plugin folder and reinstall it using Chrome. Do note that this method might require administrative privileges so make sure that you are logged in as an administrator.
- Press Windows + R to launch the Run application.
- Type “%userprofile%/appdata/local” in the dialogue box and press Enter. You will be redirected to the required folder.
- Navigate to the following file path: Google > Chrome > User Data
- Locate “WidevineCdm” from the list of folders, right-click it and select “Delete”.
- Press Windows + S, type “task manager” in the dialogue box, right-click on the application and select “Run as administrator”.
- End all Chrome tasks by right-clicking on Chrome entries and select “End task”.
- Now head over to method one and update the plugin using the steps mentioned. The module should update correctly and your Chrome might restart.
- Restart your computer and try playing any video. Hopefully, the problem will be solved
Fourth Solution: Check Your Antivirus Software
Depending on what antivirus you’re running, security software can sometimes cause arcane browser conflicts. Because PC security programs like McAfee, Norton & Kaspersky, have wide broad privileges, it can actually prevent the plugin from updating.
You can poke around your program’s settings to see if you can spot conflicting restrictions.
Or you can experiment with temporarily disabling the software or its firewall, altogether. Try updating the plugin while the antivirus is temporarily deactivated- see if that fixes it.
Fifth Solution Do A Chrome Reinstall
The dreaded Chrome reinstall- no one wants to have to go down this road. But sometimes a fresh install can eliminate pesky glitches:
Chrome Reinstall Video Walkthrough
Once you’ve uninstalled, all its modules will have been deleted- this means that corrupted components are given a refresh. How to do it:
- Use Windows + R to launch your computer’s Run application.
- Enter “appwiz.cpl” in the dialogue box- this will bring up a window listing all installed applications
- Right-click on your “Google Chrome” and select “Uninstall”.
- After it’s uninstalled- go to the official Google website and download Chrome.
- After it’s downloaded, execute and install it again
- Verify that the browser reinstall has fixed the issue.
Other Widevine Issues
What If WidevineCdm Is Missing?
If WidevineCdm isn’t there in chrome://components/, don’t freak out. First, make sure you’re actually using Chrome. If you are, follow the following fix:
- Uninstall Google Chrome
- Restart your computer or laptop.
- Make sure that you reinstall Chrome Google’s Chrome website.
- Once it’s up and running, plug chrome://components/ into your Chrome browser and check for WidewineCdm. It should be there!
How To Enable It In Chrome
Amazon has a helpful tutorial:
- Enter chrome://plugins in your browser’s address bar.
- Look for the Widevine Content Decryption Module.
- If the component is disabled, click Enable.
- Restart Chrome browser, by closing and reopening it.
Other Browsers
Firefox & The Widevine Content Decryption Module
It’s not just native to Chrome- Firefox also uses it. As Mozilla explains on a support page, some DRM-controlled content can be accessed using plugins like or Microsoft Silverlight or Adobe Flash, many services, especially streaming content providers, are transitioning to HTML5 video that necessitates a different DRM technology that’s called a Content Decryption Module (CDM).
One Reddit user, who frequently streams Netflix on Firefox, had an issue with the Widevine CDM. He said he tried a variety of common fixes including safe mode, turning DRM off and on again, reinstalling, creating a new profile, clearing all of his browsing data.
He finally found a fix- apparently by temporarily removing his HOSTS file from C:WindowsSystem32driversetc and then restarting Firefox, it enabled the module to update itself and clear the error. Specifically, the HOSTS file was blocking ‘0.0.0.0 redirector.gvt1.com’.
By removing that, it enabled Firefox to update Widevine DRM, according to this user.
Opera & The Widevine Content Decryption Module
If you run into trouble streaming Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, or Hulu and you think it has something to do with the Widevine Content Decryption Module, there’s a support thread over at Opera that has some possible fixes. According to one user, this fix worked for them:
- Close Opera
- Go to Opera’s profile directory
- Enter the Widevinecdm folder
- Remove/rename the folder with the version number
- Start Opera
- Go to opera://components/
- Update the component
Chromium & The Widevine Content Decryption Module
Over in Reddit Chromium, a Netflix Chromium user encountered a streaming problem that he attributed to a Widevine Content Decryption Module glitch.
While it turns out that his problem was caused by an unrelated mixed, hardware-software issue, Reddit users did post some useful links for using Netflix on Chromium.
In a nutshell, Redditors advise using Chromium with proprietary codecs + Widevine support + a good user agent string.
Final Thoughts
Let us know if these fixes worked for you- feel free to suggest your own in the comments section!
