Without a valid HK, the program cannot decrypt the disc, and the rip will fail.
The error is almost always network‑ or configuration‑related, not a disc defect. Following the steps above resolves it in >95% of cases. If the disc is extremely new, patience (or manual key addition) is the only solution.
After updating, restart your computer and try the disc again.
If you have , log into your account and temporarily disable "Advanced Security" . After doing this, restart MakeMKV to see if the download works. Re-enable the feature once you are done ripping.
Your security software might flag MakeMKV’s background internet requests as suspicious. makemkv automatic hk downloading is disabled or failed
If MakeMKV is not listed, click , browse to your MakeMKV installation folder, and select makemkvcon.exe and makemkv.exe . 4. Manually Download and Install Hashed Keys
Instead of requiring users to manually search for these keys, MakeMKV (by default) connects to its server to download the necessary key files automatically. If it cannot do this, you cannot rip the disc. Causes of "Automatic HK Downloading is Disabled or Failed"
"HK" stands for , a vital part of MakeMKV's decryption process. When you insert a protected Blu-ray (especially 4K UHD), MakeMKV tries to download the correct hashed key from an online server to unlock it. The "Automatic HK downloading is disabled or failed" message means that MakeMKV attempted to contact the server but was unable to perform this download, leaving the disc locked.
MakeMKV's automatic HKEY downloading feature allows users to access the latest Blu-ray and DVD decryption keys. However, in some cases, this feature may fail or be disabled. To address this issue, we propose a new feature that provides a retry mechanism and a fallback solution to ensure seamless access to HKEY downloads. Without a valid HK, the program cannot decrypt
Copy the downloaded KEYDB.cfg file and paste it directly into that data directory folder.
Have you checked if you are using the of MakeMKV? Share public link
Under the tab, ensure Enable internet access is checked.
If the basic settings are correct, the problem is likely a network block somewhere between your computer and the server. If the disc is extremely new, patience (or
Are you attempting to rip a standard or a 4K Ultra HD disc?
This error stops MakeMKV from decrypting your newer discs. It means the software cannot download the required needed to bypass the disc's copy protection.
is widely considered the gold standard for ripping Blu-ray and DVD discs to MKV format. However, like any software that relies on dynamic encryption keys, it occasionally throws cryptic errors. One of the most frustrating messages users encounter is:
"HK" stands for "Hashed Keys." When modern Blu-ray or UHD discs are manufactured, they use a unique set of cryptographic keys to encrypt their content. For MakeMKV to decrypt a disc and convert it to an MKV file, it must have the correct key for that specific disc. The software references a master table of these Hashed Keys. This table is stored on a server maintained by the MakeMKV author and is not stored permanently within the application.