PlayReady SL3000 encrypted AAC has no audio / causes freezes

SpeaR 25 Reputation points
2026-09-13T16:16:49.2266667+00:00

Microsoft Edge Version 153.0.4234.32

OS: Windows 11 build 26200.6899

GPU: NVIDIA RTX 5080

I’m debugging what looks like a Windows PlayReady / Media Foundation protected-audio issue.

CANAL+ behavior:

  • PlayReady SL3000 → 1080p available, but encrypted AAC has no sound, video usually works but sometimes it freezes
  • Force PlayReady SL2000 → audio/video work, but max 720p
  • Force Widevine L3 → audio/video work, max 720p

I reproduced the problem outside CANAL+ using Microsoft’s official PlayReady test content:

  • encrypted H.264 video
  • encrypted AAC audio
  • video policy SL3000
  • audio policy SL2000
  • both KIDs become “usable”
  • video plays normally
  • audio is completely silent

Same result in both Edge, Chrome and Firefox. Netflix works with PlayReady SL3000 at 1080p but its AAC audio is clear/unencrypted so that's why.

Also, if I disable all Windows playback devices, CANAL+ SL3000 video stops freezing.

This makes me suspect the Windows protected audio path / Media Foundation / PUMA / audio driver or APO layer. Of course I've tried out various audio devices.

Has anyone seen encrypted AAC fail specifically in hardware-secure PlayReady on Windows?

Microsoft Edge | Audio and video playback | Windows 11
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  1. Carl-L 21,745 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-09-15T06:34:41.6633333+00:00

    Hello SpeaR,

    Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum.

    Before we proceed, can you please open edge://media-internals and let me know what is the final audio-related errors after reproduction? Also, may I know if the clock still advancing when the audio is silent and whether it freeze at a certain point or appears randomly?

    Additionally, does the audio mixer show activity on Edge when the audio is silent and if you have subtitles or captions, does these still works?

    I'm waiting for your reply.

    Was this answer helpful?

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