How to Play Netflix HD on any Android Device with Widevine Level 1 DRM

A while ago I wrote an article entitled “Why Doesn’t your Android TV Box Play Full HD or 4K Videos in Netflix?” basically explaining that most TV boxes running Android could only play SD quality, because HD and higher quality requires both Widevine Level 1 DRM, and Netflix certification, and the second part is the most difficult since Netflix need to spend time testing a given product, and may not agree to do so for smaller manufacturers. The end result is that only a small subset of devices can play Netflix HD.

netflix-hd-tabletSamsung Tab S2 is one of the device with Widevine Level 1, but is not certified by Netflix, and by default can only play SD quality. But XDA Forum user chenxiaolong apparently found a workaround and as the photo above shows is now able to reach HD resolutions (e.g. 1920×1080) with Netflix using his tablet. After analyzing packets between the server and his two Samsung tablets, he noticed that he could set “enableWidevineL1” from the JSON response to true, and provided a method showing how to change the app without uploaded a modded apk. But others followed his instructions and released a modified Netflix HD apk. [Broken link: See mirror instead]

Although it might or might not breach Netflix TOS, please note that this has nothing to do with piracy at all, nor does it skip DRM, as it still requires both a Netflix HD subscription and a device supporting Widevine Level 1 DRM. Sadly that also means the trick will still not work on most cheap Android TV boxes that are limited to Level 3 security. It’s also quite possible Netflix eventually notices and changes the code to prevent this little hack. You can check Widevine DRM support with DRM Info app.

Thanks to Theguyuk for the tip.

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60 Replies to “How to Play Netflix HD on any Android Device with Widevine Level 1 DRM”

  1. @Hetz
    Netflix has video samples to test bitrate and resolution that will show the text as shown in the tablet picture above.
    Last year, when I tried with somebody else account I searched for “Example Short 23.976”. This may have changed since then.

  2. Oddly Samsung’s galaxy tab 2 is listed here

    https://help.netflix.com/en/node/23939

    Netflix is available in HD on the Android tablets below.
    Note: Devices must run the latest firmware for HD playback to work properly.

    Acer Predator 8 (GT-810)
    Acer Iconia Tab 10 (A3-A30)
    Amazon Fire HD 8″ 2016 (KFGIWI)
    Asus Zenpad S8 (P01MA, P01M)
    Asus Zenpad 10 (P023, P021, P01T)
    Asus ZenPad Z8 for Verizon (VZW_P008)
    Dell Venue 8 7840 (Requires Android 5.0+)
    Google Nexus 7 2013
    Google Nexus 9 (requires Android 6.0)
    Google Pixel C
    Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro (YT3-X90F, YT3-X90L, YT3-X90X)
    Nvidia Shield Portable
    Nvidia Shield Tablet
    Nvidia Shield Tablet K1
    Nvidia Tegra Note 7
    Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 (SM-T700, SM-T701, SM-T702, SM-T705, SM-T707)*
    Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 (SM-T800, SM-T801, SM-T802, SM-T805, SM-T807)*
    Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 (SM-T710, SM-T715, SM-T715C, SM-T715Y, SM-T715N0, SM-T810, SM-T815, SM-T815C, SM-T815Y, SM-T815N0, SM-T817, SM-T817A, SM-T817V, SM-T817W, SM-T817P, SM-T817T, SM-T817R4)
    Samsung Galaxy View (SM-T670, SM-T677, SM-T677A, SM-T677V)

    Netflix is available in HD on the Android phones below.
    Note: Devices must run the latest firmware for HD playback to work properly.

    Asus Zenphone 2 (Z00AD, Z00ADA, Z00ADB, Z00ADC)
    Asus ZenFone 3 Ultra (ASUS_A001)
    Asus Zenphone Zoom (Z00XS)
    Google Nexus 6
    Google Nexus 5X
    Google Nexus 6P
    Google Pixel and Pixel XL
    HTC One A9 (One A9U)
    HTC Butterfly 3 (B830X)
    LG G3 (D850, D851, D855, LS990, US990, VS985)
    LG V20 (VS995, LG-H918, LG-LS997, LG-US996, LG-H910, LGV34, LG-F800S, LG-F800K, LG-F800L, LG-H990N, LG-H990TR, LG-H990T, LG-H990ds, LG-H990, LG-H915, LG-H910PR)
    Motorola DROID Turbo (XT1254)
    Motorola DROID Turbo 2 (XT1585)
    Motorola Moto X 2014 (XT1092, XT1093, XT1095, XT1096, XT1097)
    Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (SM-N910A, SM-N910P, SM-N910T, SM-N910V, SM-N910R4)
    Samsung Galaxy Note 5 (SM-N920C, SM-N9208, SM-N920I, SM-N920G, SM-N920A, SM-N920W8, SM-N920T, SM-N920V, SM-N920P, SM-N920R4, SM-N920R6, SM-N920R7)
    Samsung Galaxy Note 7 (SM-N930A, SM-N930V, SM-N930P, SM-N930T, SM-N930R4, SM-N930R6, SM-N930U, SM-N930R7, SM-N930W8, SM-N9300, SC-01J, SCV34, SM-N930F)
    Samsung Galaxy S6 (SM-G920T, SM-G920T1, SM-G920P, SM-G920R6, SM-G920R7, SM-G920R4, SM-G920V, SM-G920I, SM-G920F, SM-G9208, SM-G920W8, SM-G920A, SM-G920AZ)
    Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge (SM-G925T, SM-G925P, SM-G925R6, SM-G925R7, SM-G925R4, SM-G925V, SM-G925I, SM-G925F, SM-G9250, SM-G925W8, SAMSUNG-SM-G925A)
    Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ (SM-G928F, SM-G928C, SM-G9287C, SM-G928I, SM-G928G, SM-G928A, SM-G928W8, SM-G928T, SM-G928V, SM-G928P, SM-G928R4)
    Samsung Galaxy S7 (SM-G930P, SM-G930T, SM-G930A, SM-G930AZ, SM-G930U, SM-G930R7, SM-G930R6, SM-G930T1, SM-G930R4, SM-G930V, SM-G891A)
    Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge (SM-G935P, SM-G935T, SM-G935A, SM-G935U, SM-G935R4, SM-G935V)

    Android media boxes with phone firmware are treated as in the phone and tablet group.

  3. @cnxsoft
    Thank you

    I was, am worried over security exploits or account harvesting.

    Not turned on the PC in months. Am I right in thinking Widevine L3 is software and Widevine L1 has to be firmware enabled in hardware and have a non rooted device.

    Curious how it breaks DRM Widevine L1 to force a Widevine L3 to play L1.

    Maybe me, but don’t feel trust in posted app. I will adopt the surrogate goat, miners canary, security method myself.

  4. @theguyuk

    @cnxsoft

    Tq for coorperation. Yes, its clean…After i get the apk look into its. I think the apk is disable DRM Detection Level and only supported only Cert-Device L1 then im thinking how to force it to HD in level 3…Actually im re-modded the apk :-

    1) To always return Detection Widevine L1 even the device is L3. Means no false (0)..always true (1)
    2) To always detect Device is HD

    1. I try on my android box and my xiaomi mi max 2, maximum resolutiom is 960 x 540. my devices all are widevine L3. I also try to modd apk using guide from https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=65001865&postcount=12, and my apk doesn’t show HD on preview title. why?

      Another thing, how to enable 5.1 audio. where to edit in apk? i try open apk netflix version 5.10 and latest, the folder structur also change, and cannot find file /smali/com/netflix/mediaclient/service/webclient/model/leafs/DeviceConfigData.smali anymore. Hope you can help me.. or modd newest version of netflix, since old version HD not working anymore

  5. @Aie Massfiria
    Can be done same hack with Android TV leanback version APP? and/or force DD+ 5.1 audio?

  6. @Aie Massfiria:
    Netflix.hdonly8.apk does not work on Samsung galaxy tab A 10.1 2016 LTE. The resolution is not improved (480p).

    Netflix.hd.remodded.apk does not work either. With this version it only plays sound and shows the message: “unable to reach netflix service. Please refer to the customer service.”

    1. Not tested on any device with L1 level..Actually modded special for L3 coz L1 still can using original apk at Playstore and can get HD or UHD depending on device, hdcp level and TV.

  7. Okay, I thought when this app can trick netflix to accept a L3 device, a L1 device should be easy as well… Bad luck for me

  8. @Bob Snelgrove
    You can run that apk, but you’ll be limited to 480p. 720p is only possible if you have a box with Widevine L1.
    The DRM is something done at the factory that can’t be updated by firmware update.

  9. cnxsoft :
    @Bob Snelgrove
    You can run that apk, but you’ll be limited to 480p. 720p is only possible if you have a box with Widevine L1.
    The DRM is something done at the factory that can’t be updated by firmware update.

    No 1080P then, even with the MINIX?

  10. cnxsoft :
    @Bob Snelgrove
    That’s my understanding based on what I read on minix forums.
    You need to have a Netflix certified device for 1080p/4K, even the hacked app discussed in this post is limited to 720p.

    Thanks,

    No need to get the MINIX then! So I guess the hacked Samsung at the beginning of this article is an exception then? (1080p)

  11. I have a Beelink Mini MXIII – II and on DRM Info it says Widevine 1.
    I´ve installed the netflix_HD.apk as said but the resolution seems to be 720p… so. it didnt change.
    Is there any news about this trick?

  12. I’ve seen YOKA KB2 PRO specification, it’s written it supports Widevine level 3, do you think this box support Netflix HD FHD 4K? or only HD?

  13. this is a compare DRM between xiaomi redmi pro where netflix run in hd and yoka kb2
    https ://drive. google. com/open?id= 0BwF2bFS55u_MLUtNVHBKZTJaQ1U

    do you think if I change build.prop of yoka can I see netflix hd?

  14. maybe a dead thread but if anyone this working for the Android TV APK version of netflix. The UI is much better.

  15. 404. That’s an error.

    The requested URL was not found on this server. That’s all we know.

  16. I just came to thank you for the apk. I got a new mecool box and there’s this “fix” for it but weirdly, it’s not working like it’s supposed to. This saved my day. wtf! Thank you very much. Hopefully I hope theres an app that can go up to 4k not limited 1080p.

  17. I bought a Lenovo Tab M10 plus 2nd Gen that shows Widevine L1, but Netflix shows L3 so no HD!
    I installed your APK and now it works like a charm thank you so muuuch !!!!!

    1. Thanks for the feedback. I’m surprised the APK (not mine by the way) still works after so many years.

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