Disney+ is a popular streaming service with 100+ films and TV shows accumulated from different franchises, including Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, and National Geographic. It has also brought originals like The Mandalorian, The Right Stuff, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, and there’s more to come in the near future.
However, it’s never fun when you get interrupted during your binge-watch, especially when random errors show up on the screen. Error 83 is by far the most common error you probably have encountered when streaming Disney+, and it can be said for others as well.
In this guide, we have discussed the reasons why you may be encountering Error 83. We also have listed a few ways you can follow to get past the issue.
Reason 1: DRM failure and unsupported device
Disney+ supports a wide variety of devices, including Android smartphones/tablets, iPhone/iPad, Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, Vizio SmartCast TV, Roku, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and many more. You can also use a browser (e.g., Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari) to get access to the Disney+ web version.
As vast as the list of compatibility is, Disney+ still requires devices to have the proper DRM (Digital Rights Management) system. Assuming that your internet is working properly and the Disney+ servers are up as always, Error 83 is more likely indicating a DRM failure. However, it’s probably not a client-side failure unless you have tampered with your device’s encrypted Widevine keys. Apart from that, here are a few reasons why it might be a client-side DRM failure instead:
- The web version of Disney+ is officially compatible with most of the modern browsers, including but not limited to Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari. If you use one of the following browsers and still getting Error 83, make sure that it’s updated to the latest version. Also, Chrome works the best in our experience.
- If you are using the built-in browser on the console or smart TV, Disney+ won’t work at all. Consider installing the official app instead. You can also use the Chromecast or Airplay feature to cast Disney+ content from your Android or iOS device (if supported).
- On launch, Disney+ wasn’t compatible with web browsers on Linux due to its strict DRM measures. However, popular Linux distros like Ubuntu are finally supported, and you can use either Chrome or Firefox to stream Disney+ on your PC or laptop.
If you have an unsupported device, you can’t do anything about it but switch to a compatible platform. Alternatively, you can ask Disney+ to help you get past the “Error 83” message.
Reason 2: Server-related issues
Error 83 can also mean that there’s a connection failure between your device and the Disney+ servers, most likely due to network traffic congestion. The error is shown when you try to access the Disney+ library or playback a movie or show, and it returns with zero stream data.
This is the most common reason to see Error 83 on Disney+, and there are a few possible workarounds to it:
- Restart the Disney+ app and try to stream again. Given that millions use Disney+, the downtimes won’t probably last longer than a few minutes or so. You may also try re-logging in with your credentials to check if the servers are up or not.
- If the error still persists, go to DownDetector and check whether it’s a widespread outage. In such cases, you can do nothing but wait for the servers to get restored in a working state. These types of outages happen during big releases only, so you shouldn’t worry too much about long waits.
- In case you are on your Android or iOS device, make sure that it’s receiving strong Wi-Fi signals. You should also try switching to cellular data once to see whether it’s an issue related to your internet service provider.
- Repeating Error 83 messages can also indicate that your ISP is blocking your access to Disney+ for some reason. Contact your provider and ask them to fix the blocking issue.
Whether you are planning to travel or just trying to avoid the frequent Error 83 messages, we recommend you download your favorite films and shows from the Disney+ Android or iOS app when the servers are up. It not only saves you a lot of data but also lets you watch content offline when encountering connection errors.
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Talha Ali is your tech generalist, covering a wide spectrum of topics within the ever-evolving world of technology. With a curiosity for the latest innovations, industry trends, and breakthroughs. Whether it’s hardware, software, emerging technologies, or the intersection of tech with daily life, Talha’s articles provide readers with a well-rounded perspective on the dynamic landscape of the tech industry.