MediaCodec.start() fails with CodecException on Honor devices using c2.qti.avc.decoder.secure

Version

• Media3 1.8.0

More version details

• Playback type: HLS with Widevine DRM
• Video format: H.264 / AVC (avc1.4D401E), resolution 640x360
• DRM security level: L1
• Device API levels: Android 12 to Android 15

Why does video playback fail with CodecException on Honor and Oppo despite successful DRM session creation? Can Media3 improve handling of secure decoder failures on Qualcomm-based devices with C2 codec implementation?

Devices that reproduce the issue

• Honor 200 pro; Android 15.
• Oppo cph2591, Android 12.

Devices that do not reproduce the issue

• One Plus 12, Android 15.
• Realme, Android 13.
• Redmi, Android 13.

Reproducible in the demo app?

• Yes

Reproduction steps

1. play drm contents
2. video start

Expected result

• video start playing

Actual result

Playback fails immediately with a MediaCodec$CodecExceptionduring decoder initialization. The error occurs specifically when trying to initialize the secure decoderc2.qti.avc.decoder.secure.

bug_report.zip

The provided log file:

androidx.media3.exoplayer.ExoPlaybackException: MediaCodecVideoRenderer error
at androidx.media3.exoplayer.BaseRenderer.createRendererException(BaseRenderer.java:545)
Caused by: androidx.media3.exoplayer.mediacodec.MediaCodecRenderer$DecoderInitializationException:
Decoder init failed: c2.qti.avc.decoder.secure, Format(... video/avc ...)
at androidx.media3.exoplayer.mediacodec.MediaCodecRenderer.maybeInitCodecWithFallback(MediaCodecRenderer.java:1226)
Caused by: android.media.MediaCodec$CodecException:
at android.media.MediaCodec.native_start(Native Method)
at android.media.MediaCodec.start(MediaCodec.java:2574)

Bug Report

You will email the zip file produced by adb bugreport to android-media-github@google.com after filing this issue.