The process of using the Key Database is straightforward but precise. Follow these steps carefully.
There’s no official keydbcfg makemkv command — but combining them turns KeyDB into a . You could even build a web dashboard using KeyDB’s pub/sub to show live MKV creation progress across all your ripping nodes.
: MakeMKV typically downloads "hashed keys" automatically when you open a disc. However, keydb.cfg allows you to manually provide keys for discs not yet in the official MakeMKV database.
Note: On macOS and Linux, directories starting with a dot are hidden by default. You may need to enable hidden files in your file manager to see the .MakeMKV folder. How to Install keydb.cfg for MakeMKV keydbcfg makemkv
This guide explains what the keydb.cfg file is, why MakeMKV needs it, and exactly how to set it up on your system. What is KeyDB.cfg?
Blu-ray and 4K UHD discs are wrapped in AACS encryption layers. To decrypt and read the video streams, a media player or ripping program requires a unique key sequence tailored to that specific disc variant. MakeMKV’s Default System vs. The Config File
handles this automatically by downloading keys from its own servers. However, serves two vital purposes: Bridging the Gap : Community databases (like those found at FindVUK Online The process of using the Key Database is
appendonly no
: Double-check the spelling of your directory path. On Linux and macOS, folder names are case-sensitive; the aacs directory must be written entirely in lowercase.
; Device Key entry | DK | DEVICE_KEY 0x... | DEVICE_NODE 0x... | KEY_UV 0x... | KEY_U_MASK_SHIFT 0x... You could even build a web dashboard using
While KEYDB.cfg is a massive list of many discs, hashed keys are surgical fixes for single discs. Troubleshooting Decryption Errors
# MakeMKV keydb.cfg example # Place this file in MakeMKV's data directory (e.g., ~/.MakeMKV/ on Linux/Mac, or %APPDATA%\MakeMKV\ on Windows) # # Format: SHA1 of disc ID (optional), then key, then optional comment # Example lines: # 0x00F1A2B3C4D5E6F7081920A1B2C3D4E5F6071829 = 0x0123456789ABCDEF0123456789ABCDEF01234567 | Some Movie Name # # You can download a full keydb.cfg from https://keydb.cf or use the automated KEYDB.cfg from the forum.
Take the KEYDB.cfg file you extracted from the .zip archive and copy it into the data directory you found in Step 2. on many systems, particularly Linux and macOS , filenames are case-sensitive. The file must be named KEYDB.cfg in all capital letters for MakeMKV to recognize it. It is recommended to use KEYDB.cfg on all platforms to be safe.
Even with a perfectly configured keydb.cfg file, hardware restrictions can block UHD decryption. Your optical disc drive must be capable of reading the data without enforcing hardware-level AACS blocks.