Why wont your blu ray with HDMI to dvi cable play on your dvi monitor?

HDMI and DVI are compatible connectors for video signals. There are two small but important differences.

First, DVI does not carry audio whereas HDMI includes it as part of the interface.


Second, and most important, is that HDMI supports HDCP, an encoding system to prevent signals being copied. To receive HDCP encoded signals, the display must be HDCP compliant (i.e. licensed to receive and decode the signals). DVI does not support HDCP and therefore a DVI monitor will see garbage rather than a good signal.


For protection of the content, there are no licensed HDMI to DVI converters on the market. Furthermore, the few unlicensed converters are not guaranteed to operate. Indeed, the HDCP system provides for disabling HDCP receivers in the future if they are using unauthorized license keys. HDCP has been introduced in response to people pirating material. Sadly, it also prevents legitimate use of some content such as display on DVI monitors as this question demonstrates.