Droid X can't handle expired DRM licenses.

[djtonic]

Hi,

I transferred about 10GB of wma + MP3 music to my SD Card. Some of the WMA files had expired licenses.  Instead of the player just skipping the file when it tries to play one of these songs, I get a notification that the license is expired and then the phone just freezes....it just hangs until I turn it off and sometimes have to do a hard reset to reboot.  This happens using the default Music player and 3rd party music players alike. 

I have since went through all that music and deleted any DRM protected files.

Very frustrating, especially while driving and running to have to remove the battery to use the phone again. 

anyone else have this happen?

dj.

[moates · Accepted solution]

The Motorola Droid X does not support DRM-protected files, therefore it will not play the files properly.

[djtonic]

Hey Motes,

Thanks...the issue isnt wether or not the Droid plays DRM files, the issue is what it does when it finds a DRM protected file....it freezes the whole phone up.

Dj.

[kamala]

I'm having the same issue. These are files I own.  I purchased them through the zune marketplace but they are MINE dang it!

If the music player can't be improved to play these files it should at least be patched to skip over them.

I've taken note of some of the files, did a hard reboot and then gone back and played the exact same song with no problems!  What gives?

I was hoping to be able to use my Droid as my music player and stop carrying around my phone and my mp3 player, but it doesn't look like Verizon is quite there yet.  boooooo...

Hate, hate, HATE DRM...

[MotoX]

Does anyone know if there is a fix for this yet.

[crb79]

It doesn't support DMR protected files.  So unexpected issues can arise when unsupported files are played on the device, such as the device freezing.  

[hallcp1019]

no fix  as of yet best be it find one of the many music apps on the market and get your songs there i use music downloader pro its free easy and has full song and ringtones but to each thier own

[Wildman]

DRM is Digital RIGHTS managment, this means there is restrictions on the file that wont allow it to be played on unauthorized devices and of coursr the device will freeze because it cant read the data on the file because it is restricted.... So a short answer to your question, no there isnt a fix and there wont be one because it is functioning as it is designed.  There are a few apps that can convert the files and some times this will allow the files to play but I havent had to use apps like that in years...

Good Luck...

[sgs]

I started getting the messages yesterday - DRM Notification License Expired.  I seem to get it after I've gone in to my Contacts.  The Contacts hang after I've chosen one.   Note that I have NO downloaded materials that did not come directly from Verizon. 

[Wildman]

Did you change devices by chance, this is the only way I think that the DRM on a Verizon downloaded file may do this, I just copy my cd's to sd card so I cant verify this because I never downloaded music from Verizon...

Have you called tech support to see if there is a solution?

[RoseCranston]

I have found a solution IF your trying to transfer songs from your computer and this issue is hindering you from playing them. Before I found this solution, I had simply plugged my Droid X to my computer, left it on "USB Mass Storage", then opened my music folder up on my computer and the folder where my music is on my Droid X then simply drag & drop all my music. After.....NONE OF MY MUSIC PLAYED AND IT STATED THE LICENSES WERE EXPIRED....BLAH BLAH BLAH DRM CRAP.....soooo...here's my solution:

1.) Download and Start BearShare program.

2.) Make sure your Bearshare library has been updated with your content (music).

3.) Use your USB to connect the Droid X and your computer.

4.) On your Droid X, scroll down the "Notification Bar", select "USB Connection", and then select "Windows Media Sync"

5.) On Bearshare, select "iPod/MP3" tab and the Droid X should be loading unto the program.

6.) Simply drag and drop your DRM protected WMA's or MP3s.

7.) After songs have transferred, then please play them using the "Music" app on your Droid X BEFORE disconnecting from the computer to test the process.

NOTE: For some reason when you do it this way, the DARN Droid X plays the DRM protected songs, maybe this type of transfer also sends authorization to play songs.

P.S.: Bearshare actually has improved and has a wide variety of songs, including mixtapes.

[droidsw]

Great solution. These posts were several months old. Curious if this problem still was occurring, or if maybe GB had repaired this glitch?

Wildman, I respect you immensely, but your contention was the phone was functioning "as designed"? LOCKING UP as "designed"? Again, lets agree to disagree. What you cal "as designed", I call a glaring, obvious, undeniable GLITCH.

[Wildman]

Boy this is a old post....

droidsw I respect you opinions and views but in response to a device freezing when a DRM file is accessed isn't out of the normal, the player usually attempts to read any usable data and if the file is encoded with the security data required for DRM to be effective this usually causes a read error that makes the device lockup until the player gives up on accessing the file.  This may not be a response with every file but the freezing part is very common.

@RoseCranston, I usually stay away from file sharing apps like Bareshare but your solution is very unique and I may have to give it a shot, does this only work with audio file?

[droidsw]

Wildman, I don't expect you to respect my opinion, after all; I am just someone who this time last year still had a flip phone. My phone knowledge pales in comparison to yours.

I just don't give them credit for creating punitive software to dissuade people from trying to play mp3's without the rights.

A pop-up telling them it can't be played, yes. The phone locking up? Glitch.

You obviously give them more credit than I do.