SdOnlyForL3 parameter in the Widevine License service), the license server will reject requests for HD keys on L3 devices, potentially causing playback failures if the player attempts to select an HD rendition. To handle this gracefully and ensure seamless playback, client-side players should proactively detect the device’s Widevine security level and limit rendition selection to SD (Standard Definition) resolutions (typically 480p or lower) when L3 is detected. This approach avoids license rejection errors by ensuring only compatible SD streams are requested.
Handling Restrictions in Players
If the HD restriction for L3 is enabled on the server side, implement the following best practices in your player:- Detect Widevine Security Level: Use the Encrypted Media Extensions (EME) API to query the device’s supported robustness levels before loading the manifest or starting playback. Attempt to request a high-robustness configuration (indicative of L1) and fallback to L3 if it fails.
- Restrict to SD Renditions: Upon detecting L3, configure the player’s Adaptive Bitrate (ABR) logic to cap the maximum resolution or bitrate, ensuring only SD variants from the DASH or HLS manifest are selected.
- Error Fallback: As a safety net, monitor for DRM license errors (e.g., rejection due to L3 restrictions) and dynamically switch to SD if an error occurs during playback initialization.