Video playback is restricted to 540p

[r2rX]

Netflix add-on version

1.20.2

Operative systems used

Linux (Ubuntu / Mint / ...)

Kodi version used

Kodi 19 (Matrix)

Description of the bug

Simply put, when trying to load any video through Kodi/Netflix plugin, the maximum resolution allowed on playback is 540p.

Steps to reproduce the behavior

Not sure what to write here but install Kodi 19.4 & the Netflix v1.20.2 plugin and try playback any video files (that are confirmed to support 1080p) to check if they'll play above 540p.

Debug log - mandatory

https://paste.kodi.tv/avoyodoseh.kodi

Possible fix

No response

Additional context

Widevine is up-to-date, as far as I can tell (there were no prompts to update). When hovering over content, i.e a series, the label at the bottom right indicates 1080p support but the moment I open the entry to select an episode, it reflects 540p. The last time I viewed any content was between a week to two ago. At that point, all videos I was viewing were playing at 1080p. Between then and now, both Kodi and the Netflix plugin have remained on the same respective versions. The Netflix account subscription was upgraded to support up to 4K so it's safe to assume that it should support 1080p. Lastly, I also reset the ESN and applied but it didn't seem to resolve it.

Screenshots

No response

[demod-au]

Just noticed this happening to me tonight. Kodi 19.4 on android shield. Also haven't watched Netflix for 3 to 4 days so not sure exactly when it started.

Edit:. ESN was missing a large number of characters. I manually copied from Netflix app and now playing 1080p again

[kokikoku]

Same to me from yesterday. max only 540p.

Netflix add-on version: 1.20.2
Debug enabled: False
System platform: windows
Machine architecture: AMD64
User agent string: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/96.0.4664.77 Safari/537.36

Widevine info

Library status: Correctly loaded
Version: 4.10.2557.0

ESN

Used ESN: NFCDCH-02-*9KW0HM0JY0C9UXMFWUYMR411H
Website ESN: NFCDCH-02-*APW18CHCT8MGW2K77E4PE10KY
Android generated ESN: --not obtained--

[semool]

Jup. Here also on Nvidia Shield 2019/Kodi20 Nightly. 540p with HDR g

OK. it works again after i set the ESN new in the Addon Settings. Before i only checked the saved ESN in the settings.xml. They where complete there.
Strange.

[damnms]

i have an odroid n2 with coreelec and i was quiet sure netflix worked with 1080p and above some months ago. now i noticed that i can only watch in quiet bad resolution. so i asked in #kodi if anyone else has the same problem. someone says that this can not work because of widevine. now i am wondering if its a widevine problem or if its also (hopefully) only a ESN problem. can someone tell me how to get the ESN from the website?

[vascobraga41]

I solved my issue by resetting ESN in the addon settings. Solved it in at least 3 devices using CoreELEC.

[Sholander]

On my Firestick 4K I had to write, to the end of existing ESN, additional 64 characters that I got from official Netflix app.
After writing them, had to press "OK" button to save them (NOT Apply changes now button). After restarting Kodi all is back to normal.
Although in addon FAQ for Video Stream only at 540P (SD) on Android device says "... manually copy the official ESN in the add-on by clicking on Change ESN button (you can ignore all characters of the final part)" it looks like all characters are now needed.

[damnms]

when i reset the ESN i can select 1080p but it does not start playback. i will try to install the LG netflix app on my TV and get the ESN from it

tried to use the ESN from my TV (there it works without problems), but in kodi it says there is some error because of the format. the ESN looks like: LGTV20171=x1x030xxx31
where x is a number - not sure how "sensitive" this information is

i downloaded the netflix app (without ms store) on windows 10 ltsc and copied the extremely long esn into the netflix app. it says now "User authentication data does not match entity identity." :(

[vascobraga41]

Tried on another CoreELEC device and also successful. After reset of ESN I do "apply changes now" and then ok. For this type of devices it always works.

[damnms]

For this type of devices it always works.

what device exactly?

in the logs i found some things, maybe its related, not sure:

2022-12-04 11:58:52.101 T:3850  critical <general>: [script.module.inputstreamhelper] ['ldd', '/storage/.kodi/cdm/libwidevinecdm.so'] cmd failed.
2022-12-04 11:58:52.101 T:3850  critical <general>: [script.module.inputstreamhelper] Failed to check for missing Widevine libraries.
2022-12-04 11:58:52.105 T:3850  warning <general>: [script.module.inputstreamhelper] Widevine update check was made on 2022-12-03 21:06
2022-12-04 11:58:52.130 T:3648     info <general>: VideoPlayer::OpenFile: plugin://plugin.video.netflix/play/movie/81245455/?profile_guid=WPEXNH2E7NHULMMPRIC4GVB4L4
2022-12-04 11:58:52.131 T:6488     info <general>: Creating InputStream
2022-12-04 11:58:52.133 T:6488     info <general>: AddOnLog: inputstream.adaptive: [Repr. chooser] Resolution set: 1920x1080, max allowed: 1920x1080, Adjust refresh rate: 0
2022-12-04 11:58:52.133 T:6488    error <general>: GetDirectory - Error getting /usr/lib/kodi/addons/inputstream.adaptive/
2022-12-04 11:58:53.231 T:6488     info <general>: AddOnLog: inputstream.adaptive: Successfully parsed manifest file (Periods: 1, Streams in first period: 35, Type: VOD)
2022-12-04 11:58:57.507 T:6488     info <general>: Creating Demuxer
2022-12-04 11:58:57.509 T:6488     info <general>: Opening stream: 1001 source: 256
2022-12-04 11:58:57.907 T:6488     info <general>: Creating video codec with codec id: 27
2022-12-04 11:58:57.907 T:6488     info <general>: AddOnLog: inputstream.adaptive: VideoCodec::Open
2022-12-04 11:58:57.907 T:6488  warning <general>: AddOnLog: inputstream.adaptive: ToCdmVideoCodecProfile: Unknown codec profile 0
2022-12-04 11:58:57.909 T:6488     info <general>: Creating video thread
2022-12-04 11:58:57.910 T:6504     info <general>: running thread: video_thread
2022-12-04 11:58:57.910 T:6488     info <general>: Opening stream: 1002 source: 256
2022-12-04 11:58:58.022 T:6488     info <general>: Finding audio codec for: 86056
2022-12-04 11:58:58.023 T:6488     info <general>: Creating audio thread
2022-12-04 11:58:58.023 T:6507     info <general>: running thread: CVideoPlayerAudio::Process()
2022-12-04 11:58:58.023 T:6488     info <general>: Opening stream: 1032 source: 256
2022-12-04 11:58:58.028 T:6488     info <general>: CDVDSubtitlesLibass: Using libass version 1600000
2022-12-04 11:58:58.028 T:6488     info <general>: CDVDSubtitlesLibass: Creating ASS library structure
2022-12-04 11:58:58.028 T:6488     info <general>: CDVDSubtitlesLibass: Initializing ASS Renderer
2022-12-04 11:58:58.028 T:6488     info <general>: CDVDSubtitlesLibass: Initializing ASS library font settings
2022-12-04 11:58:58.029 T:6488    error <general>: GetDirectory - Error getting /storage/.kodi/temp/fonts/
2022-12-04 11:58:58.029 T:6488    error <general>: GetDirectory - Error getting special://temp/fonts/
2022-12-04 11:58:58.119 T:6488     info <general>: CDVDSubtitlesLibass: Creating new ASS track
2022-12-04 11:58:58.148 T:6488     info <general>: Opening stream: 1001 source: 256
2022-12-04 11:58:58.148 T:6488     info <general>: Opening stream: 1002 source: 256
2022-12-04 11:58:58.148 T:6488     info <general>: Finding audio codec for: 86056
2022-12-04 11:58:58.149 T:6488     info <general>: Opening stream: 1032 source: 256
2022-12-04 11:58:58.154 T:6507     info <general>: CAEStreamParser::TrySyncAC3 - E-AC3 stream detected (6 channels, 48000Hz)
2022-12-04 11:58:58.155 T:6507     info <general>: Creating audio stream (codec id: 86056, channels: 6, sample rate: 48000, pass-through)
2022-12-04 11:58:58.157 T:3678     info <general>: CActiveAESink::OpenSink - initialize sink
2022-12-04 11:58:58.157 T:3678     info <general>: CAESinkALSA::Initialize - Configure simple control for "AUGESOUND"
2022-12-04 11:58:58.158 T:3678     info <general>: CAESinkALSA - Use card "hw:0" and set codec format "DD+"
2022-12-04 11:58:58.164 T:3678     info <general>: CAESinkALSA - Set Spdif to HDMITX to "Spdif_b"
2022-12-04 11:58:58.165 T:3678     info <general>: CAESinkALSA - Set codec for "Audio spdif_b format"
2022-12-04 11:58:58.165 T:3678     info <general>: CAESinkALSA - Set codec for "Audio spdif format"
2022-12-04 11:58:58.165 T:3678     info <general>: CAESinkALSA::Initialize - Attempting to open device "hdmi:CARD=AMLAUGESOUND,DEV=0"
2022-12-04 11:58:58.171 T:3678     info <general>: CAESinkALSA::Initialize - Opened device "hdmi:CARD=AMLAUGESOUND,DEV=0,AES0=0x06,AES1=0x82,AES2=0x00,AES3=0x0e"
2022-12-04 11:58:58.187 T:6507     info <general>: CAEStreamParser::TrySyncAC3 - E-AC3 stream detected (6 channels, 48000Hz)

[Yaqwa]

Just noticed this happening to me tonight. Kodi 19.4 on android shield. Also haven't watched Netflix for 3 to 4 days so not sure exactly when it started.

Edit:. ESN was missing a large number of characters. I manually copied from Netflix app and now playing 1080p again

Can you give me the correct string please

[damnms]

i reinstalled widevine and clicked reset ESN, now it works with full hd again, thanks

no, i wont give u that as i have no idea whats behind this information, sorry!

[r2rX]

So I have tried reinstalling widevine and resetting the ESN but that didn't work. When comparing the last, long portion of the ESN string in Kodi from what's reported in the Netflix app in Win11 and Android, it is indeed shorter in Kodi. Replacing the shorter string with the longer one from either app didn't work (still playback at 540p) unless I am getting the format wrong. Using the entire string from either app results in an error (understandably). Ideally, we shouldn't have to do this even for those that this workaround works for.

[Sholander]

You can not use ESN strings from different operating systems. If you have installed Kodi with Netflix addon on an Android system, then you can use only the ESN string from Netflix official application on the same Android system.

[r2rX]

You can not use ESN strings from different operating systems. If you have installed Kodi with Netflix addon on an Android system, then you can use only the ESN string from Netflix official application on the same Android system.

I figured as much but thought to test anyway. If that's the case, the last option I can think of is to sign-in via Chrome but I haven't determined how to derive the ESN through Chrome.

[semool]

It looks like a general Problem at Netflix Site. Since today i have 540p everywhere, also in the native netflix app on my Shield.

[8traxrule]

The native app on my Shield is still playing 2160 (verified with the test patterns you can get just by searching for "Test Patterns".)

I have only been getting 540 on Kodi though since Thursday, and I depend on that to work as the regular Netflix app is entirely unusable by my standards (butting into credits, Skip prompts and onscreen Rating displays mainly). I had been messing with something else on Kodi so I thought that had broken it, and I had seen this happen before and it was fixed previously by uninstalling the Netflix add-on and reinstalling it. This time it didn't help. I completely uninstalled Kodi and that didn't help either, then as a last result I reset my Shield back to factory settings and no go there. Glad it's not just me at least.

I will donate $100 USD to the add-on developer after this is fixed, just to show them my appreciation for the add-on and its upkeep. I know things like this happen sometimes but hopefully it's being worked on. It's a shame that the people who design native apps are so focused on the ADD crowd that we have to resort to these kinds of workarounds just to view things complete and uninterrupted, but I'm thankful those workarounds exist. I would not use these services otherwise.

[ksooo]

Since today i have 540p everywhere, also in the native netflix app on my Shield.

Same here.

[semool]

Have they Blacklistet Our ESN or is this a problem with shield in general? With the App in my TV 4k works fine.

[vascobraga41]

There are some changes, most definitely. In Linux based systems it's enough to just reset ESN and apply changes. I had to do it again in one of the devices I had reset yesterday. But I tried now 6 devices and I can get 1080p in all of them.
The android ones, that use the ESN from the app are in more trouble, it seems. I guess that when Stefano is "fit for duty" things will be solved.

[8traxrule]

Those who are getting 540 on the native Shield app, do you have the 4K subscription or a lower level?

[r2rX]

There are some changes, most definitely. In Linux based systems it's enough to just reset ESN and apply changes. I had to do it again in one of the devices I had reset yesterday. But I tried now 6 devices and I can get 1080p in all of them. The android ones, that use the ESN from the app are in more trouble, it seems. I guess that when Stefano is "fit for duty" things will be solved.

Linux systems aren't exempt from this issue as I'm stuck at 540p on Fedora, despite resetting the ESN. Hopefully Stefano can work his magic, once he's able to. :)

[8traxrule]

Changed the ESN to what my Shield info displays and getting 2160 again!

Will be sending $100 donation soon in appreciation of this add-on, it means a lot to me.

[didgerifou]

Hi. I had the same problem on nvidia shield. I had to change the esn. I had to indicate the complete esn and not the partial. I have HD again. Sorry my English...

[Liqianyu]

@ksooo @semool
It looks like it's because using the full ESN (with 64-bit random code) in the add-on causes the ESN to be limited to live at a low resolution. Not sure if this is temporary or permanent, I think we should stop using add-ons and watch.
@8traxrule
Netflix Premium Plan,I think you should stop using the full ESN in add-ons, which may result in the official app not getting 540p+ resolution either.

[kokikoku]

I solved my issue by resetting ESN in the addon settings. Solved it in at least 3 devices using CoreELEC.

reset ESN not sovled in my Win11 Kodi.

[CastagnaIT]

There are some changes, most definitely. In Linux based systems it's enough to just reset ESN and apply changes. I had to do it again in one of the devices I had reset yesterday. But I tried now 6 devices and I can get 1080p in all of them. The android ones, that use the ESN from the app are in more trouble, it seems. I guess that when Stefano is "fit for duty" things will be solved.

Linux systems aren't exempt from this issue as I'm stuck at 540p on Fedora, despite resetting the ESN. Hopefully Stefano can work his magic, once he's able to. :)

I'm currently still in bed with covid, but I'm recovering, I hope in a few days i should be able to use the pc

[smplayer-dev]

I changed one of the numbers in the ESN and I get 1080p again. I guess this new ESN is going to be blacklisted, but maybe the addon could randomly change some of the ESN numbers from time to time?

Edit: I have also tested with a fully 64 hexadecimal random number and it works as well.

[Liqianyu]

@smplayer-dev
This ESN will also be restricted if the number happens to be used by another device. Then it will probably affect others.
I think this way to solve the problem may cause more serious problems (such as account blocking)

[Paco8]

The fact that the ESN worked for a couple of days seems to indicate that they had forgotten about the ESN, but somehow it got blacklisted again. Maybe does the Netflix app check if Kodi is installed or something?

[tsioukas]

The fact that the ESN worked for a couple of days seems to indicate that they had forgotten about the ESN, but somehow it got blacklisted again. Maybe does the Netflix app check if Kodi is installed or something?

It’s only 48h, maybe they change the random ESN timeout or there is a server syncing issue.

[rijnhard]

So using kodi stable ppa on Ubuntu 22.04.1 this literally just started happening to me today. Everything streams at 540p.
System is fully up to date.
No actual changes, did try to force HDCP 2.2 but no go. But refreshing esn did work. Will see for how long.

[Paco8]

After 6 months, I have reinstalled the Netflix app on an Android TV. But how can I find out the resolution it is using? The 'Test patterns' videos no longer display the resolution. To my eye, the image quality looks good; it could be 1080p, but I'm not sure.

[MickBim]

If you can plug a keyboard on your tv, press F8 to see the resolution

…

On Wed, Jan 31, 2024 at 3:29 PM Paco8 ***@***.***> wrote: After 6 months, I have reinstalled the Netflix app on an Android TV. But how can I find out the resolution it is using? The 'Test patterns' videos no longer display the resolution. To my eye, the image quality looks good; it could be 1080p, but I'm not sure. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#1509 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABP5WUEESPLZEKQLHKRJLOLYRJIMHAVCNFSM6AAAAAASSMY4G6VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMYTSMJZGIYTMOBYGE> . You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[Paco8]

Thanks, it's 1080p.
So it seems Netflix has finally unbanned my device 😃

[MauriceW67]

Thanks, it's 1080p. So it seems Netflix has finally unbanned my device 😃

Hmm strange. I just tried again after more than 4 months on my Shield. Immediately got only 540p. Previously I would get 4K for about a day and then back to 540p, but that doesn't even happen now.

[tsioukas]

Thanks, it's 1080p. So it seems Netflix has finally unbanned my device 😃

Nice, I hope they unbanned you. It will good to check it every day (if you can) to see if it keep 1080p permantely and if it's not to see how many days after it will return to 540p (I hope it dosen't). Which model of Android TV do you have and what version is your Android system? Does your subscription support 4K?

[Paco8]

It's a Chromecast with Google TV, with android 12. My Netflix subscription is HD only.

[tsioukas]

It's a Chromecast with Google TV, with android 12. My Netflix subscription is HD only.

Interesting, and how did you manage to press F8 (as mentioned above) to get resolution or you get info with another way?

[JohnnyRico140]

wow, I think I just had this problem for the first time...I was usually using Netflix app on my Android 4K TV without any problem, watching tv shows and movies on 4K or HD with premium account but when I tried Kodi plugin this week, (and deleting it after some test), it appears they banned my TV on the Android native app...

There is nothing much to do ? Contacting them is no option ?

[Paco8]

Interesting, and how did you manage to press F8 (as mentioned above) to get resolution or you get info with another way?

I connected my smartphone to the chromecast using the "Google TV" app and the "technical keyboard" to send F8.

[tsioukas]

@Paco8, thank you, it worked. "Technical Keyboard" isn't available on newer Android version so I used an alternative "CodeBoard Keyboard for Coding". Maybe there are other keyboards that works also. F4 and F8 are the keys that show the stream info.

@JohnnyRico140, I have do the same as you do with Chromecast with Google TV, but I didn't have the same problem. My Netflix app plays 2160p normaly. Normaly the Netflix addon have the random ESN enabled, have you change this setting? I think the only way to ban device ESN is to copy Netflix App (device) ESN (as unfotunattely I did it stuppetly a year ago) to Kodi Netflix addon setting. Sound strange that they ban your device.

[JohnnyRico140]

I never checked any ESN when doing this, just my log (and generated auth key)

[tsioukas]

Have anyone "unban" his ESN number successfully? And if yes, what actions he followed? (remove Netflix app, factory defaults, period that didn’t use ESN number in any app, even for one time test etc.)

[Paco8]

My Chromecast with Google TV got banned. At first, I didn't use the Netflix app for a month. Then, videos played in 1080p for one day but went back to 540p after.

Next, I deleted the Netflix app and stopped using the Netflix add-on in Kodi. After six months, I installed Netflix again, and now it seems unbanned. It's been playing videos in 1080p for about three weeks.

[JohnnyRico140]

Mmmm nice to hear...For now I have connected a Firestick 4K with Netflix on my banned TV and everything's running well on 4K...Maybe some days, everything's going back to normal !

[Paco8]

As I mentioned in a previous post, my Chromecast was unbanned after 6 months. Now, also after 6 or 7 months, I reinstalled the Netflix app on an Nvidia Shield, which was also banned. Unfortunately, it remains banned, restricted to 540p.

There's a difference: during these months, I didn't use the Netflix addon on the Chromecast, but I did on the Nvidia Shield. So, I think Netflix can identify the device regardless of the ESN and bans it if it uses the Netflix addon.

[Cnksf]

Updating netflixea library could couse this issue?

[demod-au]

reinstalled the Netflix app on an Nvidia Shield, which was also banned. Unfortunately, it remains banned, restricted to 540p.

Mine is like this too. The last few nights Ive has a message pop up from Netflix app. " Warning, this device is not optimised for Netflix (-14)"

Anyone else?

[leonaheidernfan]

Hi has anyone got this working recently (July / Aug 2024) in HD on a Xiaomi Mibox S (model no : MDZ-22-AB)

On first run I was able to get 1080p but subsequent runs and reinstall of the plug-in I can only get 1080p for the first 2 minutes unless I downgrade the stream to 540p

I can only get (960*540) in the plug-in but I got up to HD in the Netflix app as per my attached screenshot

I keep regenerating the ESN but it doesn't work and I am still stuck at 540p.

I have the original app installed but disabled on the Mibox S

maybe I am doing the re-generating of ESN wrongly

[MauriceW67]

Has anyone tried using the official app on their Shield Pro 2019 lately? To my surprise it's been playing 4K Dolby Vision for a few weeks now already without dropping back to 540p. Seems like Netflix has finally unbanned the official ESN of my Shield.

Today I also tried the addon in Kodi again. I reset the ESN to a new random one and it actually played a 4K DV episode with Atmos for more than 2 minutes. Not sure how long this will last. I will keep testing it in the coming days.

[forbritney]

Just spent two hours reading all threads.

I have the same issue with the original Netflix app on my Sony TV playing at 540P, and I also used the original ENS on the addon.

So from what I read, the way to unban my TV is to logout from it and also delete my TV from Netflix's device management page, then wait at least 6 months until I login again. But still, have a chance to get banned again...?

Is there any other solution that I missed...? ( and sorry for that )

[mklcw]

I deleted the addon from kodi, and my netflix resume to 4k without reverting back to 540p for months since. Hope it helps u too.

…

On Sun, 8 Sept 2024, 20:23 forbritney, ***@***.***> wrote: Just spent two hours reading all threads. I have the same issue with the original Netflix app on my Sony TV playing at 540P, and I also used the original ENS on the addon. So from what I read, the way to unban my TV is to logout from it and also delete my TV from Netflix's device management page, then wait at least 6 months until I login again. But still, have a chance to get banned again...? Is there any other solution that I missed...? ( and sorry for that ) — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#1509 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/A4S635GAISGWQCZ5TGRKD6TZVQ6SJAVCNFSM6AAAAAASSMY4G6VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZDGMZWGY3DKOJYGQ> . You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[forbritney]

I deleted the addon from kodi, and my netflix resume to 4k without
reverting back to 540p for months since. Hope it helps u too.

I reset my TV two weeks ago, but it is still restricted to 540p. I haven't installed Kodi or the add-on since then, so it should be the same as deleting it. Perhaps I should try changing the ESN before logging out of my account and waiting for 6 months.

[Paco8]

For one of my devices I think I waited for about two months and it was finally unrestricted.

[forbritney]

For one of my devices I think I waited for about two months and it was finally unrestricted.

OK, I guess we just have to wait on this issue, lol.
I think I'm going to try logging out of my account and wait for about 3 months. Hopefully, it will be unrestricted by then.

[leonaheidernfan]

I deleted the addon from kodi, and my netflix resume to 4k without
reverting back to 540p for months since. Hope it helps u too.

I reset my TV two weeks ago, but it is still restricted to 540p. I haven't installed Kodi or the add-on since then, so it should be the same as deleting it. Perhaps I should try changing the ESN before logging out of my account and waiting for 6 months.

Do you sign out if the Google account on the android TV or the netflix app only.

[forbritney]

Do you sign out if the Google account on the android TV or the netflix app only.

The Netflix app only. Is Google account relevant?

[leonaheidernfan]

Do you sign out if the Google account on the android TV or the netflix app only.

The Netflix app only. Is Google account relevant?

Just trying to figure out why my Xiaomi mibox s plays netflix in the app at 1080p videos but can't do it in Kodi .

I reset the box before as well