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Re: MakeMKV Expired Key Work Around (MakeMKV-Loader)
Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2025 8:06 pm
by 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
Re: MakeMKV Expired Key Work Around (MakeMKV-Loader)
Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2025 9:23 pm
by 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.
Re: MakeMKV Expired Key Work Around (MakeMKV-Loader)
Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2025 9:28 pm
by Terron1
Alekhine wrote: Sun Aug 10, 2025 4:08 pm
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
Re: MakeMKV Expired Key Work Around (MakeMKV-Loader)
Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2025 10:24 pm
by Terron1
Alekhine wrote: Sun Aug 10, 2025 5:15 pm
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
Re: MakeMKV Expired Key Work Around (MakeMKV-Loader)
Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2025 10:28 pm
by 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.
Re: MakeMKV Expired Key Work Around (MakeMKV-Loader)
Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2025 10:42 pm
by 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/
Re: MakeMKV Expired Key Work Around (MakeMKV-Loader)
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2025 8:06 am
by 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.
Re: MakeMKV Expired Key Work Around (MakeMKV-Loader)
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2025 8:19 am
by 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?
Re: MakeMKV Expired Key Work Around (MakeMKV-Loader)
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2025 1:45 pm
by Alekhine
Terron1 wrote: Sun Aug 10, 2025 10:24 pm
Alekhine wrote: Sun Aug 10, 2025 5:15 pm
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.

Re: MakeMKV Expired Key Work Around (MakeMKV-Loader)
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2025 4:51 pm
by 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
Thankfully Mike is fine and back, so there is no more need for this Workaround.
I removed the script. Please use the Beta Key or buy a license.
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.
Re: MakeMKV Expired Key Work Around (MakeMKV-Loader)
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2025 5:02 pm
by bjaurelio
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.
Re: MakeMKV Expired Key Work Around (MakeMKV-Loader)
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2025 10:15 pm
by Fynn22
Re: MakeMKV Expired Key Work Around (MakeMKV-Loader)
Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2025 12:26 am
by 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.
Re: MakeMKV Expired Key Work Around (MakeMKV-Loader)
Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2025 1:35 am
by Chaos6616
flojo wrote: Tue Aug 12, 2025 12:26 am
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?
Re: MakeMKV Expired Key Work Around (MakeMKV-Loader)
Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2025 2:11 am
by flojo
Yes I used the backup option in the GUI. You should try it yourself, it's obviously a easy 1-liner.