--- title: "What Is PlayReady? Microsoft's Streaming DRM Explained" description: "PlayReady is Microsoft's DRM for Windows, Edge, Xbox and many smart TVs. See its security levels and where it fits in a multi-DRM setup." url: "https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/playready" markdown_url: "https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/playready.md" category: "Security" updated: "2026-10-05" --- # What is 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. ## How PlayReady works As with other DRM systems, the video is encrypted at packaging. The PlayReady client on the device requests a license, the license server checks the viewer's entitlement and returns the key along with the rules for that playback. ## PlayReady security levels The license server can set a minimum level per title or per resolution, so a 4K stream is only issued to devices that report SL3000. - SL150: for development and testing only - SL2000: software-based protection, accepted for standard and some high definition content - SL3000: hardware-based protection inside a trusted execution environment, required by most rights holders for 4K and HDR ## Where PlayReady fits PlayReady matters most on televisions and in the living room: many Samsung and LG sets, operator set-top boxes and Xbox rely on it. On Windows it is what allows 4K playback in Edge and in Windows apps. It shares Common Encryption with Widevine, so the same encrypted files can serve both, with FairPlay covering Apple devices. ## PlayReady on RentAnOTT PlayReady is part of the multi-DRM included on the RentAnOTT Growth and Scale tiers, together with Widevine and FairPlay. [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. - [FairPlay](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/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. - [Smart TV app](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/smart-tv-app) — A smart TV app is an application built to run on a television's operating system or on a streaming device attached to it, and installed from that platform's app store. For a streaming service it is the way viewers watch on the big screen. - [4K streaming](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/4k-streaming) — 4K streaming is delivering video at a resolution of 3840 × 2160 pixels, also called Ultra HD or UHD, which is four times the pixel count of Full HD. It is usually offered together with HDR and reserved for a premium tier. ## Further reading - [Pricing](https://www.rentanott.com/pricing) - [White-label streaming platform buyer's guide](https://www.rentanott.com/blogs/white-label-streaming-platform) - [Offline video in streaming apps](https://www.rentanott.com/blogs/offline-videos-streaming-app-guide) ## Frequently asked questions ### Who makes PlayReady? Microsoft. It licenses PlayReady to device makers and to services that run license servers. ### Do I need PlayReady if I already use Widevine? For full coverage, yes. Most smart TVs support Widevine, but some devices and Windows 4K playback depend on PlayReady. A multi-DRM service provides both without separate integrations. ### Does PlayReady support offline playback? Yes. A persistent license lets a title be stored and played without a connection until the license expires. 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