DVDFab Passkey is a Windows disc decryption program that removes copy protections and region codes from DVDs, Blu-rays, 4K UHD Blu-rays and recorded Blu-ray discs. It runs in the background so that a protected disc in the drive becomes readable by other software, such as players and backup tools. It can also save that disc to the hard drive without its protection. Passkey is commercial software with a free trial, and DVDFab also offers a free, reduced version called Passkey Lite.
Decryption that runs from the system tray
When started, Passkey minimizes to the Windows system tray. From there it runs in the background and automatically removes the protections from the disc in the drive.
While Passkey runs, other programs see an unprotected disc: DVDFab’s Copy and Ripper modules, players such as PowerDVD or VLC, and tools such as ImgBurn can all read it.
Protections on DVD and Blu-ray discs
For DVDs, Passkey handles CSS, CPRM and CPPM, region codes and RCE, APS analog protection, and UOPs (the prohibitions that stop you skipping warnings or menus). It also handles structural protections such as ARccOS, RipGuard and CORE X2.
The Blu-ray side covers AACS, including newer MKB versions, AACS 2 and AACS bus encryption, along with BD+ (including 3D BD+), BD-J, BD-Live, UOPs and region codes. This includes 4K UHD Blu-ray discs. Passkey can also repair ISO files or folders created by other tools that still carry leftover Screen Pass protection and therefore fail to play. Passkey does not remove Cinavia, an audio watermark rather than disc encryption.
Recorded BDAV and 4K BDAV discs
Blu-ray recorders write broadcasts and home recordings in the BDAV format, which uses its own AACS encryption. Standard recorded Blu-rays use AACS, while recorded 4K BDAV discs use AACS and AACS 2. Passkey handles each type through a separate component. Users can save the decrypted recording as a BDAV folder or ISO image and open it in third-party BDAV backup and playback software.
Ripping a disc to ISO or folder
Once Passkey decrypts a disc, right-clicking the tray icon offers two save options. “Rip to Hard Disk” writes the disc’s file structure as an unprotected folder, and “Rip to Image” produces a single ISO file. A “Keep Protection” option on the image rip creates an ISO that keeps the original copy protection. Passkey can rip from several optical drives at the same time.
These copies are full-size: Passkey does not compress, convert or burn. Those jobs belong to the separate DVDFab program, which can take Passkey’s decrypted output as its source.
Region code control
Besides removing the region lock from discs, Passkey can change the region setting of supported Blu-ray player software, such as PowerDVD and TotalMedia Theatre. This makes these players behave as multi-region. Users can reset the Blu-ray playback region (A, B or C) from the tray menu.
UHD Drive Tool for 4K drives
Some 4K UHD drives ship with firmware that prevents UHD disc data from being read for backup. Passkey includes a UHD Drive Tool that flashes a compatible firmware version onto supported drives. Users open it from the tray menu with “Downgrade Firmware”. They pick the drive from a list, start the downgrade, and restart the computer after the success message. Support covers specific models and firmware versions, mostly LG with some ASUS, HP, Buffalo and Archgon drives. The tool works with internal SATA drives and external USB drives in AHCI or IDE mode.
Playback and program settings
The settings panel controls how decrypted discs behave in players and how Passkey itself runs. Users can change the DVD and Blu-ray playback order and remove redundant PGCs (the program chains that some protections add to confuse ripping and navigation). They can also select the interface language and turn automatic update checks on or off.
Passkey editions and Passkey Lite
DVDFab sells Passkey as separate components by disc type, plus an All-In-One package that combines them:
| Component | Discs |
|---|---|
| Passkey for DVD | Commercial, rental and recorded DVDs |
| Passkey for Blu-ray & UHD | Commercial and rental Blu-ray and 4K UHD discs |
| Passkey for Blu-ray Recorder | Recorded BDAV discs (AACS) |
| Passkey for 4K Recorder | Recorded 4K BDAV discs (AACS and AACS 2) |
| UHD Drive Tool | Firmware downgrade for supported 4K drives |
The trial unlocks the full functions for 30 days on most components. Passkey Lite stays free but handles only common protections: RC, RCE, APS and UOPs on DVDs, and older Blu-ray protections plus region code, BD-Live and UOPs. It does not remove ARccOS or RipGuard, and it can save a disc to ISO or folder only when it can fully decrypt that disc. Lite keeps the player region change and works alongside DVDFab, VLC and ImgBurn.
