Some music and video files may have Digital Rights Management (DRM) embedded within the file.

These are DRM protected content.

The purpose of DRM protection is to defend the file from piracy.

Win11 Lock Folder Header

This discourages people from sharing the file with others or resale it for monetary gains.

If you use iTunes, theres a way tocheck for DRM protectionfrom within the program.

Hence, follow the methods outlined in this article to pinpoint DRM protected files on your PC.

The Details view on Windows File Explorer to visualize DRM protected files

Then organize them in a different folder on the local drive to isolate protected content from unprotected ones.

Contents

What Is DRM Protected?

A video, audio, or PC game might contain a DRM protected tag.

To find Protected status bar you need to click More

The publisher who sold the content mentions the allowed number of devices on which the files will work.

Publishers rely heavily on Digital Rights Management (DRM) protection technology to protect their intellectual property from piracy.

DRM protection works in two layers.

Finding the Protected choice in Choose Details dialog box

In the first layer, the content protection encryption uses identification data to know that youre the rightful owner.

Some publishers may allow you to copy the content of the DVD to three to five DVDs.

Youve successfully created a status bar to differentiate DRM-protected audio and video files from DRM-free ones.

How to check if video or audio file is DRM protected or not on Windows Explorer

Now, copy and paste the protected content somewhere else.

Look For DRM Protection on Physical Media

Suppose you bought music DVDs or movie DVDs from a video store.

Check Multiple Files on the File Explorer

2.

Finding out if content is DRM protected or not from file Properties

Video is especially hard to work with.

Next up, thebest free video editing software for Windows 11.

Checking Copyright status of content

Win7 Set folder to Details

Win7 Enabling Protected Column

Win7 view of Protected column

Win7 file Properties and Protected field

Win7 Set folder to Details

Win7 Enabling Protected Column

Win7 view of Protected column

Win7 file Properties and Protected field