--- title: "What Is Widevine? Google's Streaming DRM Explained" description: "Widevine is Google's DRM for Android, Chrome, Android TV and most smart TVs. See what the L1, L2 and L3 security levels mean for HD and 4K playback." url: "https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/widevine" markdown_url: "https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/widevine.md" category: "Security" updated: "2026-10-05" --- # What is 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. ## How Widevine works The video is encrypted during packaging. At playback, the Widevine module on the device sends a license request, the license server confirms the viewer's entitlement and returns the decryption key inside a license that only that module can read. ## Widevine security levels: L1, L2 and L3 The level is a property of the device, not of your service. The license server reads it and can cap resolution accordingly, which is why the same title may play in 4K on a television and in lower quality in a desktop browser. - L1: decryption and video processing happen inside the device's hardware-protected area. Required by most rights holders for HD and 4K. - L2: decryption is hardware-protected but video processing is not. Rare in practice. - L3: protection is software only. Typical of desktop browsers and uncertified devices, and usually limited to standard definition for premium content. ## Where Widevine is used Android and Android TV, Fire TV, Chromecast, Chrome, Firefox and Edge, and most smart TV platforms. Apple devices use FairPlay instead, so a service that wants to reach both needs multi-DRM. ## Widevine on RentAnOTT Widevine is part of the multi-DRM included on the RentAnOTT Growth and Scale tiers, together with FairPlay and PlayReady. [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. - [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. - [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. - [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. - [Android TV](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/android-tv) — Android TV is Google's version of Android for televisions, streaming sticks and set-top boxes. It runs on sets from many manufacturers and on operator boxes, and apps for it are distributed through Google Play. ## Further reading - [Pricing](https://www.rentanott.com/pricing) - [Offline video in streaming apps](https://www.rentanott.com/blogs/offline-videos-streaming-app-guide) - [White-label streaming platform buyer's guide](https://www.rentanott.com/blogs/white-label-streaming-platform) ## Frequently asked questions ### Who owns Widevine? Google. It acquired Widevine Technologies in 2010 and builds the DRM into Android and Chrome. ### Why does my video only play in low resolution on some devices? The device probably reports Widevine L3, meaning software-only protection. License rules for premium content usually restrict L3 devices to standard definition. ### Does Widevine work on iPhone? Not for native playback. Apple devices use FairPlay, so a service protected only with Widevine cannot play protected video in Safari or in an iOS app's native player. 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