Netflix doesn't work

[maxwowpow]

System Details

• OS: Win 11 (MacOS M2 too)
• Thorium Version 112.0.5615.166 (Official Build) (64-bit) as well 111.0.5563.111 (Official Build) (64-bit)
• Normal and Incognito mode

Problem
Netflix Browser Error Code M7121-1331

Screenshots

Additional Notes
Widevine Content Decryption Module - Version: 4.10.2557.0
Status - Component already up to date

https://bitmovin.com/demos/drm

[gz83]

@maxwowpow

Does version 112 have this problem?

[maxwowpow]

yes.

[gz83]

@maxwowpow

Does it work in non-incognito mode?

Also, please open the chrome://components/ page and check the status of the Widevine Content Decryption Module component to see if it is up to date and if you can get the version number.

[maxwowpow]

No.
Incognito is mentioned because it supposed to be clean as possible without cookies and userdata.

Widevine Content Decryption Module - Version: 4.10.2557.0
Status - Component already up to date

[nicklvh]

i have this issue too

[gz83]

Is there still a problem that Netflix cannot play? If it still exists, please open the following two pages when the problem occurs, and upload all the content under these two pages to here, so as to locate the problem

chrome://media-internals/#cdms

chrome://histograms/#Media.EME

@maxwowpow @nicklvh

[nicklvh]

[gz83]

@nicklvh

Is it convenient for you to check the widevine components according to the guidelines in this reply?

#84 (comment)

[nicklvh]

@nicklvh

Is it convenient for you to check the widevine components according to the guidelines in this reply?

#84 (comment)

i dont understand?

if this is what ur talking about then here

[gz83]

You need to go to the following page to confirm the status of the widevine component
chrome://components/

@nicklvh

[maxwowpow]

PS: same on the Mac M2 version 112

[gz83]

@maxwowpow

Is it convenient for you to follow the instructions in the comments below to troubleshoot?

#84 (comment)

[maxwowpow]

Clear Key ("org.w3.clearkey") is always supported and not listed here.
Empty video codec profile list means we are not differentiating and assume all profiles are supported.
Codecs marked with "*" signals clear lead not supported.
Key System: com.widevine.alpha
Robustness: Software Secure
Name: Widevine Content Decryption Module
Version: 4.10.2557.0
Path: /Users/x/Library/Application Support/Thorium/WidevineCdm/4.10.2557.0/_platform_specific/mac_arm64/libwidevinecdm.dylib
Status: Enabled
Capabilities: {"Audio Codecs":["aac","vorbis","flac","opus"],"Encryption Schemes":["CENC","CBCS"],"Session Types":["temporary","persistent-license"],"Video Codecs":{"av1":[],"h264":[],"vp8":[],"vp9":[]}}

histograms.txt

[gz83]

There is a suspected exception with the widevine component, I will discuss this with Alex

[Alex313031]

@gz83 @maxwowpow @nicklvh We will be releasing M113 for MacOS soon.

You guys can try it and see if it fixes the problem.

@midzer When you build, can you make sure the widevine args are correct.

Also, @maxwowpow why did you file this issue in this repo, if you are on Mac?

[Alex313031]

Alex313031/Thorium-Win#48

[gz83]

Please open the chrome://flags page and open the three experimental flags shown in the image to see if it solves the problem you are experiencing.

@maxwowpow @nicklvh

[maxwowpow]

same error / not solved.
ps: macos is only added for the fullness. the original problem is with windows.

[Alex313031]

I will be migrating the windows builds to a non-component widevine, and see if it fixes the problem.

[Alex313031]

@maxwowpow @nicklvh Try 114 release, it should be fixed now.

[MulverineX]

@Alex313031 I tried the latest release on Windows 11, Thorium doesn't start

[gz83]

If it is the windows version, only the avx2 version has been released, if your hardware does not support it or there are problems with the system, then the browser will definitely not open properly, the regular avx version for windows system will be released in the near future.

@MulverineX

[maxwowpow]

Thanks,

first try not successful, same error.

• flags enabled
• same https://bitmovin.com/demos/drm
• clean profile tried
• no flags set tried

Key System: com.widevine.alpha
Robustness: Software Secure
Name: Widevine Content Decryption Module
Version: 4.10.2557.0
Path: ...\Thorium\USER_DATA\WidevineCdm\4.10.2557.0\_platform_specific\win_x64\widevinecdm.dll
Status: Enabled
Capabilities: {"Audio Codecs":["aac","vorbis","flac","opus","dts","dtsx-p2","dtse"],"Encryption Schemes":["CENC","CBCS"],"Session Types":["temporary","persistent-license"],"Video Codecs":{"av1":[],"h264":[],"vp8":[],"vp9":[]}}
Key System: com.widevine.alpha
Robustness: Hardware Secure
Name: Google Widevine Windows CDM
Version: 1.0.2512.0
Path: ...\Thorium\USER_DATA\MediaFoundationWidevineCdm\x64\1.0.2512.0\Google.Widevine.CDM.dll
Status: Enabled
Capabilities: "No Capability"
Key System: com.widevine.alpha
Robustness: Software Secure
Name: Widevine Content Decryption Module
Version: 4.10.2652.1
Path: ...\Thorium\USER_DATA\WidevineCdm\4.10.2652.1\_platform_specific\win_x64\widevinecdm.dll
Status: Enabled
Capabilities: {"Audio Codecs":["aac","vorbis","flac","opus","dts","dtsx-p2","dtse"],"Encryption Schemes":["CENC","CBCS"],"Session Types":["temporary","persistent-license"],"Video Codecs":{"av1":[],"h264":[],"vp8":[],"vp9":[]}}

histograms.txt

[gz83]

Try uninstalling the existing version and reinstalling it, also there is a problem with widevine in the M114 branch according to the upstream bug report.

By the way, would you mind sending the URL of the netflix video that is not playing properly?

@maxwowpow

[MulverineX]

@gz83 it would be any episode/movie on the site. Only the non-drm preview videos load.

[maxwowpow]

Using portable version (zip).

[Lukas-drz]

@maxwowpow @MulverineX @nicklvh @etil2jz @gz83 Upon further investigation, this is not a bug in Thorium. All Thorium builds will have this issue, and all Chromium builds (like from woolyss) will have this issue.

It is related to Google tightening restrictions with the latest Widevine release, and some streaming sites updating at the same time (as per internal guidance from Google, who makes widevine, no doubt) to now require VMP (Verified Media Path), which requires signing your application with a .sig file from widevine, something very expensive to do.

For example the comment about the default path to widevine or symlink, this is not the issue. Widevine is installing and registering properly.

Sites that work just fine: Hulu, Apple Music, Paramount Plus.

Sites that do not work: Netflix, Spotify.

If you want to watch Netflix, you will either have to use Chrome or Firefox, or, I made a streaming app based on Castlabs Electron fork, which they offer a VMP signing service. However, this service only works on their fork (which is not open source), so it's not like I could use it to (illegally mind you, even if it did work) sign thorium for free.

Anyway, the app is called Quark Player, and I use it on Windows for Netflix > https://github.com/Alex313031/quark-player

TLDR: Netflix is permanently broken on Chromium and Thorium, due to factors outside of my control. Use Chrome, Firefox, or Quark Player for Netflix.

Is there a version that can be installed and works without VMP ?

[gz83]

VMP validation is mandatory and cannot be disguised or bypassed. If Widevine exists, there must be VMP.

@Lukas-drz

[Lukas-drz]

Thanks
Then how do VMP is processed ? What do I need to do/wait for it to be on my browser and start using Spotify ?

[gz83]

Currently, Spotify can only be used using browsers or software that can pass VMP verification.

@Lukas-drz

[Lukas-drz]

Thorium can't pass it ?
I managed to have it working

[gz83]

Thorium currently cannot pass VMP verification. If it could pass VMP verification, there would not be so many feedback related to Widevine.

@Lukas-drz

[Lukas-drz]

Okay then see that :


I don't know how but sometimes after rebooting the thorium browser, the folder : ~/.config/thorium/WidevineCdm/ is no more empty and contains :

├── 4.10.2710.0
│   ├── LICENSE
│   ├── manifest.fingerprint
│   ├── manifest.json
│   ├── _metadata
│   │   └── verified_contents.json
│   └── _platform_specific
│   └── linux_x64
│   └── libwidevinecdm.so
└── latest-component-updated-widevine-cdm

5 directories, 6 files
And now it works on spotify

[MulverineX]

IIRC lots of sites haven't updated to use VMP yet, thats why this issue is specifically titled for Netflix. Widevine support isn't completely broken as you've shown, but all sites are likely to transition to VMP eventually.

[Lukas-drz]

I found out that @kkm was right.
You need to go to chrome://components in order to check for updates to install the drm and now after rebooting thorium Spotify just works.

[Alex313031]

@MulverineX @Lukas-drz Thats interesting, the new widevine might allow spotify to work.

@gz83 This is not entirely true. Widevine can exist without VMP, that how we can watch stuff on linux, and some stuff like hulu still works on the windows and mac thorium releases.

[Lukas-drz]

Would it be possible to enable by default widevine without passing by chrome://components ? Or just by passing an argument on start-up?

[komprimiert]

turns out this is a windows-only issue it works on linux

[MulverineX]

Incorrect, I'm assuming you only tested on a site with basic Widevine like Spotify? Sites like Netflix that use VMP will cease to function. If netflix really is working then there must be some A/B testing going on

[komprimiert]

Incorrect, I'm assuming you only tested on a site with basic Widevine like Spotify? Sites like Netflix that use VMP will cease to function. If netflix really is working then there must be some A/B testing going on

I tested it with both Spotify and Netflix and it works

[Jestriker]

I have the same problem, is there any fix? I can't watch netflix

[MulverineX]

@JustMe-png other than using Firefox or Quark Player, no. And if you use Firefox you only get 720p at a shitty bitrate because Netflix made under the table agreements with Microsoft & Google.

Note: AFAICT the 1080p Netflix browser extension doesn't work anymore, if anyone has a script that works a link would be appreciated.

[Jestriker]

well... I want to use Thorium, thats why I asked it here... is there a way?

[MulverineX]

@JustMe-png No. And there never will be. DRM is a bitch. Perhaps in the future hackers will make a bypass, but I doubt you want to download your browser from hacking forums. It has to be built into the browser binary, it is impossible to do with a browser extension. Alex has already said no to pursuing that course of action.

[Jestriker]

ok, so how does his software works? the Quark Player

[MulverineX]

Uses a special closed source version of electron, because of the way that the DRM is signed into the software, it's impossible to extract and add to a different chromium build

[chaoscreater]

Netflix works on Brave just fine, which is based on Chromium. They have a Github repo for that. Perhaps there's a way to check how they did it to allow Netflix to work?

[Alex313031]

@MulverineX @JustMe-png VMP is not supported on Linux, so usually sites will allow it to play, but reduce the quality. Netflix and Spotify work just fine in Thorium on Linux, but Netflix is limited to 576p, and Spotify is limited to 256Kbps.

[imide]

This is fucking bogus. I know it's out of the maintainer's control, but it's still asinine. If I have to go through all of these hurdles to watch things I am paying for, I'm just gonna pirate.

Thank you, Alex and other maintainers, you are doing a fantastic job. (not trying to be sarcastic, I mean this) Thorium is working fantastic! (other than this one hiccup)