--- title: "What Is FairPlay? Apple's Streaming DRM Explained" description: "FairPlay Streaming is Apple's DRM for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Safari. See how it works with HLS and what you need to deploy it." url: "https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/fairplay" markdown_url: "https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/fairplay.md" category: "Security" updated: "2026-10-05" --- # What is FairPlay? FairPlay Streaming is Apple's DRM system. It protects video delivered over HLS to iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Safari on Mac, and is the only DRM those devices support for native playback. ## How FairPlay works The video is encrypted and delivered as an HLS stream. When playback starts, Apple's player creates a key request, the app or page sends it to a key server, and the server returns the content key wrapped so that only that device can use it. Decryption happens inside the operating system, so the key is never visible to the app. Protected video is also blanked in screenshots and screen recordings on Apple devices. ## What you need to deploy FairPlay - A FairPlay Streaming deployment package from Apple, requested through an Apple Developer account - A key server, your own or a multi-DRM provider's, that holds the credentials Apple issues - HLS packaging with FairPlay encryption - Support in each player: the iOS and tvOS apps, and Safari on the web ## FairPlay and offline viewing FairPlay supports downloads through persistent keys. The license sets how long a downloaded title may be kept and how long the viewer has to finish once they start, which is how rental and subscription downloads are enforced on iPhone and iPad. ## FairPlay on RentAnOTT FairPlay is part of the multi-DRM included on the RentAnOTT Growth and Scale tiers, together with Widevine and PlayReady. Offline viewing is a $59/month add-on on Growth and above. [See security features](https://www.rentanott.com/features#security). ## Related terms - [DRM](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/drm) — DRM (digital rights management) is technology that encrypts video and controls who can decrypt it. A viewer's device must obtain a license from a license server before it can play the stream, and the license sets the rules for that playback. - [Multi-DRM](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/multi-drm) — Multi-DRM is the use of several DRM systems, normally Widevine, FairPlay and PlayReady, to protect the same video so that it plays securely on every browser, phone and television. - [Widevine](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/widevine) — Widevine is Google's DRM system. It protects streamed video on Android phones and tablets, Android TV and Google TV, Chrome and other browsers, and most smart TVs and streaming devices outside Apple's ecosystem. - [PlayReady](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/playready) — PlayReady is Microsoft's DRM system. It protects streamed video on Windows and the Edge browser, Xbox consoles, and many smart TVs and set-top boxes. - [HLS](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/hls) — HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) is a streaming protocol created by Apple that delivers video as a series of short segments over ordinary web servers, listed in playlist files with the .m3u8 extension. It is the most widely supported way to stream both live and on-demand video. - [Apple TV](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/apple-tv) — Apple TV is Apple's streaming set-top box, which runs the tvOS operating system. Streaming services reach it by publishing a tvOS app on the App Store. The name is also used for Apple's own TV app and subscription service, which are separate things. - [Offline viewing](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/offline-viewing) — Offline viewing is a feature of a streaming app that lets a viewer download a title to their phone or tablet and watch it later without an internet connection. The download stays encrypted and playable only inside the app. - [DRM license server](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/drm-license-server) — A DRM license server is the service that issues licenses for protected video. When a device asks to play an encrypted stream, the license server checks that the request is authorized and returns the decryption key, wrapped so that only that device can use it, together with the rules for playback. ## Further reading - [Pricing](https://www.rentanott.com/pricing) - [Offline video in streaming apps](https://www.rentanott.com/blogs/offline-videos-streaming-app-guide) - [Choosing a live streaming player](https://www.rentanott.com/blogs/live-streaming-player) ## Frequently asked questions ### Is FairPlay required for an iOS streaming app? Only if the content needs DRM. Apple does not require DRM, but rights holders usually do, and FairPlay is the DRM that iOS, tvOS and Safari support natively. ### Does FairPlay work on Android or Windows? No. FairPlay is limited to Apple platforms. Android uses Widevine and Windows uses PlayReady, which is why services combine all three as multi-DRM. ### Does FairPlay work with MPEG-DASH? No. FairPlay Streaming works with HLS. Services that use DASH elsewhere deliver HLS to Apple devices. All 163 terms: [Streaming and OTT glossary](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary). ## Book a demo Tell RentAnOTT what you are launching. The team walks through the platform and maps the path to go-live around your catalog, markets and revenue model. Book a demo: https://www.rentanott.com/contact ## More from RentAnOTT - [Home](https://www.rentanott.com/index.md) — What RentAnOTT is, what every plan includes, and how launch works - [Features](https://www.rentanott.com/features.md) — Every core feature and optional add-on - [Pricing](https://www.rentanott.com/pricing.md) — Platform tiers, apps, add-ons, usage rates and example bills in INR and USD - [Free tools](https://www.rentanott.com/tools.md) — OTT app builder and calculators for streaming revenue, bandwidth, bitrate and pricing - [Insights](https://www.rentanott.com/blogs.md) — All streaming business articles - [Glossary](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary.md) — Definitions of streaming and OTT terms - [Book a demo](https://www.rentanott.com/contact.md) — Talk to RentAnOTT about your launch Full site in one file: https://www.rentanott.com/llms-full.txt