Imagine this:
You’ve invited your friends over the weekend to watch a new-release Disney Plus movie, West Side Story.
Everything is set, including your bowls of popcorn and cold drinks.
But once you’ve played the movie to start streaming…
You’ve noticed that your new projector isn’t displaying any pictures on the screen.
Is it possible to fix it on the spot? And how?
Read on to learn:
- 11 ways to fix Disney Plus that isn’t working on a projector.
- Why many Disney Plus contents aren’t playable on projectors.
- How downloading Disney Plus content for offline viewing can help.
- How to stream Disney Plus on a projector using an HDCP-certified cable.
- And that’s only the beginning…
Why is Disney Plus not working on my projector?
Disney Plus isn’t working on your projector because the HDMI cable and port you’re using aren’t HDCP compliant. It may also not work if your projector and streaming device have outdated software. Some factors like electronic glitches, software bugs, app caches, and cookies also play a role.
Disney Plus not working on projector: 11 fixes
#1: Play it on a device first
“My projector is only displaying a still image whenever I try to play a movie…”
Well, that’s one of the most common concerns among Disney Plus users who are trying to stream using a projector.
It happens due to an unresolved glitch in the device’s connection.
While there isn’t a direct way to resolve this problem yet…
You can continue watching your favorite show by following this trick:
Note: This will only work if you’re using a third-party device with a screen such as a smartphone or a laptop.
- Connect your streaming device to your phone or laptop.
- Open the Disney Plus app.
- Play the show you want to watch.
- Tap the cast icon on the top-right corner.
- Then, choose your projector among the options.
Or if you have a Disney Plus app installed on your projector:
- Open the Disney Plus app on your selected device.
- Play the show you want to watch on it.
- Open the Disney Plus app on the projector.
- Then, click the same show on the “Continue Watching” column.
After this, you should be able to watch your favorite show on your projector without problems.
#2: Play Disney Plus on a web browser
If that doesn’t work, stream Disney Plus on a web browser.
You can install a web browser on most projectors to access different streaming sites.
And here are the most-recommended ones you can get:
- Brave.
- Firefox.
- Google Chrome.
To stream Disney Plus content on a web browser:
- Launch the web browser.
- Visit the Disney Plus web app.
- Log into your account.
- Select the show you want to watch.
- Tap the cast icon on it.
- Then, choose your projector device.
Suppose these web browsers are unavailable on your projector’s app manager. You can use your laptop or any similar device to access Disney Plus on the web.
Once you’ve logged into your Disney Plus account, connect it to your projector in 2 ways:
- By casting it.
- By connecting it via HDMI.
To cast Disney Plus on your device’s web browser, follow the above steps.
To stream Disney Plus via HDMI connection:
- Connect your selected device to your projector using an HDMI cable.
- Change your projector’s input to “HDMI.”
- Open the Disney Plus app on the device.
- Then, play the show you want to watch.
#3: Download the content for offline viewing
Another option that you can try is to download the movie you want to watch for offline viewing.
That way, you can stream it on your projector anytime and anywhere you like, even without data or WiFi. Plus, this may also eliminate other potential connection errors you may encounter.
Like most streaming apps, Disney Plus allows users to download content.
But here’s the catch: You can only download content on iOS and Android devices. So, if you’re planning to cast from your laptop or PC, this wouldn’t work for you.
To download content on Disney Plus:
- Launch your Disney Plus app.
- Log into your account if needed.
- Tap the search icon at the bottom of the screen.
- Search for the movie or TV series you wish to download.
- Tap the download icon (down-pointing arrow).
- Then, wait for the download to finish.
Note: The download is finished once the down-pointing arrow icon becomes a checkmark.
Once done, use your projector to stream Disney Plus content.
To do that:
- Launch the Disney Plus app on your device.
- Click the download icon at the bottom of the screen.
- Look for your recently downloaded content.
- Tap it to begin streaming.
- Press the cast icon on the top-right corner.
- Then, choose your projector device.
#4: Reboot the projector
Still doesn’t work? Then you may try rebooting your projector device.
A reboot resolves minor electronic glitches of your projector by restarting its system. And this helps the device perform and respond better.
Note: The reboot process differs depending on your device’s brand and model. So, refer to your product manual for the actual steps.
But to give you an idea here’s the standard way of doing it:
- Ensure that the projector is turned ON.
- Unplug its power cord from the socket.
- Wait for about 30 to 60 seconds.
- Replug the projector.
- Then, press its POWER button to turn ON the device.
If your projector doesn’t have to be plugged in, press and hold its POWER button until it turns OFF and ON once.
Doing this should resolve most connectivity issues with your projector.
Once done, check whether you can now broadcast Disney Plus on your projector.
#5: Reboot the streaming device
Are you using a streaming device to watch Disney Plus on your projector?
If yes, then you also might want to reboot your streaming device.
Like your projector, a streaming device can also run into software bugs and glitches. And you can fix them by simply rebooting your device.
Note: Depending on the steaming device you’re using, the reboot process varies. Please consult your product manual for instructions.
Some of the most popular streaming devices in the market today are:
- Apple TV.
- Roku Stick.
- Chromecast.
- Nvidia Shield TV.
- Amazon Fire TV Stick.
And the only way you can reboot them is to connect them first to a smart device. That can be a laptop or a smart TV.
Just make sure that the device you’re connecting it to supports an HDMI connection.
#6: Update the projector’s software
Yes, your smart projector has software. And it has to be updated all the time.
Because if not, it may fail to receive commands and signals from your streaming device or Disney Plus app.
And that results in your Disney Plus content not playing on your projector.
There are 2 ways to update a projector’s software:
- Via WiFi.
- Via USB.
And the method you have to follow depends on your projector’s brand.
To update a projector’s software via WiFi:
- Plug your projector into the power source.
- Press its POWER button to activate it.
- Ensure that it’s connected to your WiFi network.
- Navigate its settings.
- Then, search and select “Software Update.”
To update a projector’s software via USB:
- Go to your manufacturer’s website.
- Download the latest software for your projector model.
- Save it on a USB flash drive. Make sure it’s outside any folder.
- Connect the USB to your projector.
- Select “USB” as the input source.
- Navigate the settings.
- Then, select “Software Update.”
Watch this video to see an example of how to update a projector’s software via USB:
#7: Update Disney Plus app’s software
“I’ve updated my projector’s software already. But Disney Plus still isn’t playing on it…”
If that’s the case, then you might also need to update Disney’s Plus’ software.
An outdated Disney Plus app can cause some content to freeze or not play at all. So, make sure to update it whenever necessary.
Note: Do this method if you have the Disney Plus app installed on your smartphone or laptop. And you’re using it to broadcast movies on your projector.
To update Disney Plus’ software:
- Go to your device’s app store.
- Tap the search icon.
- Search for “Disney Plus.”
- Click “Update” if displayed.
- Then, wait for the update to finish.
Additional note: If there’s no “Update” displayed on the page, that means that your app is up-to-date. And so, you may skip this method.
#8: Remove cache memory
Are you familiar with cache memory?
A cache is temporary data (RAM) that holds the frequently used information in your app or device.
Every time you use your Disney Plus app and projector, their caches increase. And eats up space in your devices.
That stored caches can sometimes cause your device to slow down or stop working at all.
“How can I fix it?”
The only way you can fix it is to remove caches on your Disney Plus app and projector.
To remove cache on your Disney Plus app:
- Go to your device’s settings.
- Proceed to “Apps.”
- Search for “Disney Plus.”
- Click “Storage.”
- Then, select “Clear Cache.”
And to remove cache on your projector:
- Turn ON the device.
- Navigate to its settings.
- Go to “Storage” or similar.
- Then, select “Clear Cache.”
Doing this frees up space on your devices. Plus, it speeds up your Disney Plus app and projector.
#9: Uninstall and reinstall the app
Geez, I guess it didn’t work?
This time, try to uninstall and reinstall the Disney Plus app.
Warning: Doing this deletes custom data and downloaded content. So, only do this if the abovementioned fixes fail to resolve the issue.
Uninstalling and reinstalling the app helps remove software bugs and minor errors. Which are causing connectivity errors on your devices.
It also deletes unnecessary data from past updates that may be slowing down your app.
So, if you can’t play Disney Plus content on your projector, uninstall and reinstall your app.
To do it:
- Go to your device’s app store.
- Search for “Disney Plus.”
- Click “Uninstall.”
- Wait for it to uninstall.
- On the same page, click “Install.”
- Wait for it to install.
- Then, log into your account.
Note: This option may not be possible for a pre-installed Disney Plus app on a projector. If this is your case, try the remaining fixes below.
#10: Use an HDCP-certified cable
“I’ve tried everything already. But I still can’t broadcast Disney Plus content on my projector!”
Then, the HDMI cable you’re using must not be HDCP compliant.
Disney Plus contents are copyrighted.
And to protect their content against piracy and illegal mass streaming…
They incorporated an HDCP program into their system.
High-bandwidth digital content protection (HDCP) automatically blocks suspected illegal streaming. It stops the content from playing as soon as it suspects that the user is playing it for illegal purposes.
And yes, Disney Plus doesn’t fully see projectors as “safe mediums” yet. That’s why you can’t just easily stream Disney Plus content on any projector you like.
Luckily, there’s a way to get around it.
If you are eager to stream your favorite Disney Plus show on a projector, use an HDCP-compliant cable.
Use an HDCP 2.2 HDMI cable to connect your streaming device to your projector.
#11: Connect the cable to an HDCP-supported port
Have you bought an HDCP-compliant cable already?
Okay, then, make sure to connect it to an HDCP-supported port.
Because if not, Disney Plus will continue to not play on your projector. Regardless if your HDCP cable is of the highest quality.
For an HDCP-compliant cable to work, you have to plug it into a port that supports it.
In most smart projectors, the HDCP-supported port is the “HDMI1.” Meaning it’s the first and primary HDMI port on your projector.
Look for it at the back of your projector, and insert your HDCP-compliant cable properly. It has an “HDMI1” label on it. So, you shouldn’t have a hard time searching for it.
After that, make sure to select “HDMI1” as your device’s input source.
If the problem persists, contact Disney Plus support for assistance.
You might also want to check out: (7 Fixes) Disney Plus Not Working On PS4