Yes. Every PS4-family console enables HDCP on its HDMI output by default. For gameplay capture, open Settings → System → Enable HDCP and clear the checkbox, then reconnect the console through a compatible capture card. This does not make Netflix, Hulu, Blu-ray, DVD, or other protected video capturable; those applications require HDCP to remain enabled.
What HDCP means on PS4
HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) is a copy-protection and device-authentication system used over HDMI, DisplayPort, and DVI. The source console and display or recording device perform a compatibility check before protected video is shown. HDCP is not a picture-quality feature: it does not increase resolution, frame rate, color, or audio quality. Its purpose is to restrict unauthorized recording of protected content. Elgato explains the capture-device behavior in its HDCP guide.
Is HDCP enabled by default on every PS4?
Sony documents HDCP as enabled by default on the PS4 HDMI output. The practical setting applies across the PS4 family, including the original console, PS4 Slim, and PS4 Pro; the exact HDCP version depends on the output mode and equipment chain. Sony’s PS4 support instructions identify the default state and gameplay-only disable option.
The gameplay switch was introduced with PS4 system software 1.70, released on April 30, 2014, as described in Sony’s PS4 FAQ. An unusually old or modified system may not behave identically, so update the console before diagnosing a missing menu item.
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How to disable HDCP on PS4
- Turn on the PS4 and connect it directly to a TV or monitor so you can see the menus.
- Close any movie or streaming application.
- Open Settings.
- Select System.
- Find Enable HDCP and clear the checkbox.
- Reconnect the console to the capture card. Changing this setting closes applications, so relaunch your game afterward.
- Open the capture software or OBS only after the HDMI chain is connected.
Elgato specifically recommends changing the option while the PS4 is connected directly to the display, rather than routing it through the capture device first. The setting remains changed until you alter it again, but protected-media apps will not play normally while HDCP is disabled.
Correct capture-card wiring
Use a capture card with an HDMI input and, if you want to continue viewing on a television, HDMI passthrough:
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PS4 HDMI OUT → capture-card HDMI IN → capture-card HDMI OUT → TV or monitor
│
└→ USB or PCIe connection to the computer
Select the capture device as a source in OBS or the manufacturer’s application. A splitter is not required for this arrangement. Devices marketed as HDCP bypasses can create handshake, legal, policy, and reliability problems and are not the normal solution.
For example, Elgato’s PS4 wiring guidance shows the same input/output arrangement.
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What can you capture after HDCP is disabled?
| Content | Result |
|---|---|
| Gameplay | Capture is supported when HDCP is disabled and the card supports the console’s signal. |
| Blu-ray discs | HDCP is required; a capture device cannot record the protected video. |
| DVDs | HDCP is required; playback is not available to the capture device. |
| Netflix, Hulu, and similar DRM apps | Protected playback remains blocked when HDCP is off. |
| PS4 Share clips and Capture Gallery files | Can be saved, exported, or shared using the console’s built-in features. |
Sony limits the switch to gameplay, and Elgato likewise states that its devices cannot display or record an HDCP-protected HDMI signal. Disabling HDCP is therefore a Sony-supported gameplay-capture permission, not a universal DRM bypass.
PS4 Pro, 4K, and HDCP 2.2
Do not confuse the gameplay switch with 4K HDCP-version compatibility. A PS4 Pro sending 4K protected video may require HDCP 2.2 support from every part of the chain: the console, HDMI cable, TV port, AV receiver or soundbar, switch, and capture device. One incompatible component can prevent a picture.
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Sony’s PS4 support page documents a Safe Mode option called Set HDCP Mode, including HDCP 1.40 Only. Selecting it can restore compatibility but may limit output to 1080p. This is a fallback for a 4K handshake problem, not an alternative way to disable HDCP for gameplay capture.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If the capture card still shows a black screen
HDCP is the first check for a PS4 capture setup, but it is not the only possible cause. Work through these checks in order:
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- Confirm Enable HDCP is unchecked.
- Verify the console cable is in the card’s HDMI In, not HDMI Out.
- Close OBS and the card utility, then power-cycle the PS4, capture card, and display.
- Test the PS4 directly on the TV. If that fails, the problem is not the capture software.
- Reduce the PS4 output resolution or disable HDR temporarily if the card or display does not support the current mode.
- Try a known-good, suitable HDMI cable and a different TV input.
- Bypass an AV receiver, HDMI switch, or soundbar to isolate handshake or EDID problems.
- Check that the correct capture source, driver, and software version are selected in OBS or the manufacturer’s app.
- For PS4 Pro 4K, test a direct console-to-TV connection and verify HDCP 2.2 support throughout the chain.
When audio disappears
Video compatibility does not guarantee audio compatibility. Capture hardware can reject Dolby, DTS, or other multichannel formats. Elgato’s PS4 HD60 S setup guide recommends Linear PCM for compatible workflows; check the exact card’s supported audio formats.
When the HDCP option is missing
On PS4 the documented location is Settings → System → Enable HDCP. Check that you are not following PS5 instructions, whose menu is different, and install current PS4 system software. The official PS4 User’s Guide also lists the system setting.
When protected apps stop working
That is expected after disabling HDCP. Re-enable Enable HDCP, restart the affected application, and use the PS4 directly with the display for protected playback.
Do you need a capture card?
For occasional clips, the PS4’s Share button, Capture Gallery, USB export, and built-in broadcasting can avoid extra hardware; Sony describes these functions in its PS4 FAQ. A capture card becomes worthwhile for live streaming, long recording sessions, overlays, multiple sources, and detailed PC audio control. OBS is free software, but it cannot remove HDCP or capture a protected HDMI feed without compatible hardware and an authorized signal.
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If you buy a card, verify the exact model’s supported resolution, frame rate, HDR behavior, passthrough, audio formats, USB or PCIe requirements, operating-system support, and current manufacturer documentation. Elgato’s capture range is documented at elgato.com; AVerMedia’s products are listed at avermedia.com. Brand compatibility alone does not guarantee a PS4 Pro 4K setup will work.
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