MakeMKV Expired Key Work Around (MakeMKV-Loader)

[CalicoSkies]

I've heard of existing software that does this. For Windows, one is RunAsDate:
https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/run_as_date.html

There's also a program for Linux and Mac called faketime that will do that:
https://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/tr ... ime.1.html
To install on a Mac:
https://gist.github.com/miguelmota/3e72 ... 3d5e09584f

[birdman54]

I'm running into an issue that returns the follow error, followed by a few more, then fails to rip:

"Drive DVD+R-DL HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GP65NW60 RF01 M02OAP84629 has RPC protection that can not be bypassed. Change drive region or update drive firmware from http://tdb.rpc1.org. Errors likely to follow."

I was able to fix this by manually keeping the date and time locked at 7/__/25 until the ripping is done, rather than the time in the application automatically switching back after a moment. Perhaps worth messing with the program so it doesn't switch the time/date back until MakeMKV is closed out.

[Terron1]

Hello everyone.

I registered solely to thank Terron1 and dyoung for taking the time to find a solution to the MakeMKV key expiry issue and for sharing it with the community.

Both Terron1's and dyoung's solutions are two good attempts. In the end, I opted for dyoung's because I could set the date to match my country's time zone, and because I could specify the path where I have the MakeMKV application installed.

At the same time, I encourage dyoung to be more accommodating with people.

For example, with Terron1, since this person was the first to give up their personal time for us... and likewise, I also encourage you to be more accommodating with Kizar, since he only tried to be condescending with Terron1, encouraging you to be condescending with him as well.

‘Free time’ is the second most precious thing people have after their health.

Terron1 gave it to us first; you came later, yes... but he was the first to do so, even though he didn't make a programme as great and as simple as yours.

For me, it's the intention that counts.

And I repeat, thank you both: Terron1 and dyoung.

Best regards.

(I apologise for my poor English)

I appreciate your response

My app runs off UTC and should convert back to your local machine time. Also it checks your registry for the time sync feature and temporarily disables/re-enables it before and after the startup. It also contains a safeguard in there to make sure if you start it around midnight it will reset to the correct day (It does a check to see if the day has switched over). I do this for both the Windows and Mac version.

If you do decide to use it, let me know if there are any issues

[Terron1]

Hello again.

After creating the file ‘MakeMKV-Launcher.ps1’ as explained by dyoung, how can I create a shortcut to this file so that it starts up after placing the shortcut on the desktop?

Best regards.

I made a video covering how to make a shortcut for a powershell script if you are interested in watching it --> here

[illllbehaviour]

Hi I've been trying to get Makemkv working with the two workarounds listed here but I cant seem to get it to rip dvd's or Blu rays.

I always seem to get the same errors during the initial disk reading stage.
I'm running as admin in both cases and have tried inputting the old beta key but always get the same errors they just stack up the drive stops spinning and the program crashes soon after. When using the powershell script I get a message about a service not being started but that's about all can see. Any help greatly appreciated.

[tommik128]

Believe it or not, but simple clean text BAT file of several bytes that you launch as admin can also solve this problem. Thanks to the author who posted this on reddit. Just make sure you register MakeMKV with old key first, no disc in drive. Ripped a blu-ray movie without problems.

https://www.reddit.com/r/makemkv/commen ... _solution/

[Fond Lion]

I'm on Linux and found out that it's problematic to change the system time back to the current time after starting MakeMKV. I get missing decryption key errors with some Blu-rays and can't load backup folders created with MakeMKV previously because of data mismatch errors, but everything works fine when I keep the date at July 1 while running MakeMKV.

[PlasmaPower]

This is neat, but I found that it dosen't really work for ripping movies, at least for me, because the date is set too close to when the key expires.

I found it I set the date a bit farther back, then it works just fine. Maybe change the date it goes back to for the program a bit?

[Alekhine]

Hello again.

After creating the file ‘MakeMKV-Launcher.ps1’ as explained by dyoung, how can I create a shortcut to this file so that it starts up after placing the shortcut on the desktop?

Best regards.

I made a video covering how to make a shortcut for a powershell script if you are interested in watching it --> here

Hello again...

Thank you very much, Terron1, for your contribution on how to create a shortcut for a ‘Powershell’ file, as it has been very useful to me.

At the time, I tried to create it without success; I had forgotten to add the command ‘-ExecutionPolicy Bypass’.

So... once I added it, along with the command ‘-File’ followed by the path where I have the ‘PowerShell’ file installed, the shortcut on the desktop worked perfectly.

Thanks again.

[Kizar]

I've modified the PowerShell Script. The date will now changed until MakeMKV will be closed. This solve the problem Blu Rays cannot be decrypted

Code: Select all

if (!([Security.Principal.WindowsPrincipal][Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent()
).IsInRole([Security.Principal.WindowsBuiltInRole] "Administrator")) {
    Start-Process powershell.exe "-NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File `"$PSCommandPath`"" -Verb RunAs
    exit
}

$T = Get-Date

Set-Date -Date "2025-07-30"

$proc = Start-Process -FilePath "C:\Program Files (x86)\MakeMKV\makemkv.exe" -PassThru

$proc.WaitForExit()

Set-Date -Date $T

Save this as some_name.ps1

Warning: If you use MakeMKV with this script, it's nearly impossible to use anything that checks the date on your system. For example most Websites and Services will not work, because there are certificates and browsers will check if date and time are correct. If not, they will present a warning, that the certificate isn't valid. Use at your own risk.

It is a workaround, not a crack.

@mike admin: I hope you will be back soon. If so, its fully OK to delete this.

[bjaurelio]

I've heard of existing software that does this. For Windows, one is RunAsDate:
https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/run_as_date.html

There's also a program for Linux and Mac called faketime that will do that:
https://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/tr ... ime.1.html
To install on a Mac:
https://gist.github.com/miguelmota/3e72 ... 3d5e09584f

There's some discussion on the GitHub for the docker container about using faketime. So far no one seems to have it working. I'm hoping someone gets it as a workaround for those of us who rip directly on a server.

[Fynn22]

While scrolling threw the forum i saw this post and wanted to share my way/script that i use to bypass the current problem with beta key/perma key.
I made a script with chatgpt. Basicly rightlclick, run as admin, it automaticly change the date of your pc and opens MakeMKV and after i close MakeMKV it sets the time automaticly back. Im not sure if it will be helpful to anyone, but here is the code.

Code: Select all

@echo off
:: Save current date
for /f "tokens=1-3 delims=/.- " %%a in ('date /t') do set OLD_DATE=%%a-%%b-%%c

:: Save current time
for /f "tokens=1-2 delims=:. " %%a in ('time /t') do set OLD_TIME=%%a:%%b

echo [1/4] Current date saved: %OLD_DATE%
echo [2/4] Setting date to 31.07.2025...

:: Set date to 31.07.2025 – NOTE: Check the format
:: German system → DD-MM-YY
date 31-07-25

:: Disable automatic time synchronization
reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Parameters" /v Type /t REG_SZ /d NoSync /f >nul
net stop w32time >nul

echo [3/4] Starting MakeMKV...

:: Adjust path to MakeMKV if necessary
start "" "C:\Program Files (x86)\MakeMKV\makemkv.exe"

:: Wait until MakeMKV is closed
:waitloop
tasklist | find /i "makemkv.exe" >nul
if not errorlevel 1 (
    timeout /t 5 >nul
    goto waitloop
)

echo [4/4] Restoring date and automatic time...

:: Restore old date (NOTE: Format may depend on system settings)
date %OLD_DATE%

:: Re-enable automatic time sync
reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Parameters" /v Type /t REG_SZ /d NTP /f >nul
net start w32time >nul
w32tm /resync >nul

echo Done. Date and time synchronization have been restored.
pause

Copy paste it in a .txt file and after saving it rename the file and change it to .bat file. Remember to always Run as admin or it will not work. In the line with "date 31-07-25" you can change the day if you need a diffrent date. If you dont have MakeMKV saved in the default folders you have the change that part aswell.

[flojo]

Well, libfaketime seems to work on Ubuntu, so I'm sure it works on Alpine, although I'm not sure about Docker Alpine (but I don't see why not). You could also take a minimal Ubuntu install .iso and boot that with a VM, it's not a lightweight option but it's an easy one.

Code: Select all

# On Ubuntu 24.04
sudo apt install libfaketime
# ... install text here ...
LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/faketime/libfaketime.so.1 FAKETIME="@2025-07-24 20:30:00" makemkv

However, it does state "Evaluation version, 0 day(s) out of 30 remaining".

Code: Select all

MakeMKV v1.18.1 linux(x64-release) started
Using LibreDrive mode (v06.3 id=4C194CE2C4D1)
Backing up disc into folder "/home/test/Videos/backup/VERY HAROLD KUMAR CHRISTMAS"
Evaluation version, 0 day(s) out of 30 remaining
This disc uses newer version of AACS protection. Please let us know about it by visiting http://www.makemkv.com/a/?JzQE/kzMdGuJno...
Loaded content hash table, will verify integrity of M2TS files.

[Chaos6616]

Well, libfaketime seems to work on Ubuntu...

Can you confirm you can perform rips via faketime? Or is it more that the program launches and passes the initial registration check?

[flojo]

Yes I used the backup option in the GUI. You should try it yourself, it's obviously a easy 1-liner.