Sony Sony KD-43X85K 43-Inch 4K LED Smart TV HDCP ERROR Error Fix: HDCP Content Protection Failure

Error code HDCP ERROR on the Sony Sony KD-43X85K 43-Inch 4K LED Smart TV means: HDCP Content Protection Failure. The screen goes black, purple, or green, or displays an HDCP error message when attempting to play copy-protected content from streaming services, Blu-ray players, or cable/satellite boxes. HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) requires a successful authentication handshake between the source device and the TV over the HDMI cable. If this handshake fails, the video signal is blocked. Unplug and firmly reconnect the HDMI cable at both ends. Power cycle both devices by unplugging for 30 seconds. Try a different HDMI cable — HDCP handshake failures can be caused by a marginal or damaged cable. Ensure the HDMI Signal Format is set to Enhanced Format in the TV settings for 4K HDR content. Update the firmware on both the TV and the source device, as HDCP compatibility improvements are frequently included in firmware updates.

The most successful fix is "Update Firmware and Adjust HDMI Signal Format Settings" (medium difficulty, ~30 minutes). This fix costs nothing. HomeMD has 2 community-ranked fixes for this error.

This error is rated warning severity. It is generally not urgent and can often be resolved with a simple DIY fix.

Yes — the top-ranked community fix ("Update Firmware and Adjust HDMI Signal Format Settings") is rated medium difficulty and takes about 30 minutes. Tools needed: Remote control.

DIY cost: $0. Professional repair typically costs $100-$150. Many homeowners save money by trying the top-ranked community fix first.

The Sony Sony KD-43X85K 43-Inch 4K LED Smart TV has 8 other known error codes, including: 2 BLINKS (Standby LED Blinks 2 Times — Main Board / System Error), 3 BLINKS (Standby LED Blinks 3 Times — Backlight / DC Voltage Error), 4 BLINKS (Standby LED Blinks 4 Times — Power Supply / Temperature Protection), 5 BLINKS (Standby LED Blinks 5 Times — T-Con / Panel Communication Error), 6 BLINKS (Standby LED Blinks 6 Times — Backlight / LED Strip Failure), and 3 more.

Error code HDCP ERROR also appears on 3 other Sony models: Sony XBR-65X950H 65-Inch 4K Full Array LED Smart TV, Sony XR-55X90K 55-Inch 4K Full Array LED BRAVIA XR Smart TV, Sony XR-65A80K 65-Inch 4K OLED BRAVIA XR Smart TV. The fix may vary by model, so check each model's specific page for tailored repair steps.