In the world of disc-based media preservation, one name quietly powers a revolution: Xreveal. While most users see a simple "rip" or "play" button, underneath lies one of the most fascinating, community-driven cryptographic libraries ever assembled — the Xreveal Decryption Key Database.
Elite members of the decryption community occasionally discover new Processing Keys through analysis of software updates from commercial players. These master keys are rare but extremely valuable—a single new Processing Key can unlock thousands of disc titles without needing individual VUKs. When a new Processing Key is found, it is added to the Xreveal database, instantly decrypting all newly released discs that use that key.
Xreveal itself doesn’t bypass protections — it merely applies existing cryptographic keys (which courts have often ruled legal to use for personal backups in many jurisdictions). The database doesn’t host copyrighted movie content, only mathematical keys — a crucial distinction.
Xreveal is an excellent piece of driver engineering, but without its decryption key database, it would simply be a region code remover. With the database, it becomes a universal decryptor.
By combining the best aspects of open-source key sharing (the KEYDB ecosystem) with the low-level performance of a kernel driver, Xreveal offers a unique solution for media collectors, home theater PC builders, and digital archivists.
Action plan for new users:
Your physical media collection is a library. The Xreveal Decryption Key Database is the librarian who holds every key. Treat it well, keep it updated, and you will never be locked out of a disc you own again.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for educational purposes. Circumventing DRM may violate copyright laws in your country, particularly the DMCA in the United States. Always check your local legislation and own your media with a valid original disc. This article does not condone piracy; it discusses tools for private backup and format-shifting of legally purchased content.
Xreveal is a lightweight, "on-the-fly" decryption tool for Windows that removes copy protection from DVD, Blu-ray, and UHD media. Its decryption capability relies on two primary types of databases: an external KEYDB.cfg file for the free version and an internal keydb.db for the Pro version. External Key Database (KEYDB.cfg)
The free version of Xreveal does not have a built-in cloud decryption service. Instead, users must provide their own decryption keys via a text file named KEYDB.cfg.
Function: This database contains specific disc keys (like Media Keys and Unit Keys) required to unlock AACS-protected content. Xreveal Decryption Key Database
Setup: Users typically download an community-maintained version of this file and place it in %APPDATA%\aacs\.
Updates: Because new discs are released frequently, this file must be updated manually or via tools like FindVUK to ensure the latest movie titles can be decrypted.
Compatibility: Xreveal can use "Unit Keys" from this database to decrypt discs in real-time, allowing other software like MakeMKV to process the content even if it lacks its own internal keys. Internal "My Discs" Database (keydb.db)
For Xreveal Pro users, the software manages its own internal database located at C:\ProgramData\Xreveal\keydb.db.
Automatic Key Retrieval: The Pro version can often obtain keys automatically via an internet connection, bypassing the need for a manual KEYDB.cfg file.
Disc Logging: Xreveal automatically saves details of every processed disc into this database. This includes:
Disc Identifiers: Disc ID, Volume Label, MKB version, and Region.
Decryption Keys: Media Key (MK), Volume Unique Key (VUK), and Unit Keys (UK).
Metadata: Capacity, disc date, and whether the disc features BD+ or 3D content.
Customization: Recent updates have added a "Comment" column, allowing users to add personal notes or additional listing information to their tracked discs. Summary of Key Locations Database Type Software Version Default File Path Manual KeyDB Free / Pro %APPDATA%\aacs\keydb.cfg Internal My Discs C:\ProgramData\Xreveal\keydb.db KeyDB - Xreveal In the world of disc-based media preservation, one
Xreveal Decryption Key Database is a collection of disc-specific keys (like VUKs or Media Keys) used by the software to decrypt Blu-ray, UHD, and HD DVD media.
For the free version of Xreveal, users must manually provide a file to enable decryption. Key Database Files Xreveal utilizes two primary types of database files:
: A public text file containing decryption keys for thousands of discs. Since Xreveal does not provide this file directly, users typically download it from community sources like the FindVUK Online Database : A local database used by Xreveal Pro (stored in C:\ProgramData\Xreveal\
) that automatically saves information for every disc you process, allowing for offline decryption in the future. Setup and Locations To use a decryption key database with , place the
file in one of the following default locations or specify it in the software settings: Standard Location C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\aacs\ Alternative Location C:\ProgramData\aacs\ Settings Path : Open Xreveal and navigate to Settings > BD / UHD > KeyDB to manually set the path to your database file. Comparison: Free vs. Pro Xreveal Free Xreveal Pro keydb.cfg Requirement Required for decryption Not required (uses cloud/local DB) Cloud Decryption Limited/Public keys only Full access to latest keys Local "My Discs" DB synchronization tool to keep your keys updated? How to use Xreveal
Xreveal is a lightweight Windows background decrypter that removes protections from DVD, Blu-ray, and UHD media. Since Xreveal does not contain its own decryption keys, it relies heavily on an external keydb.cfg database to unlock protected discs. Key Insights on Xreveal and its Key Database
The Role of keydb.cfg: This file contains disc-specific keys (VUKs or Unit Keys) required to decrypt Blu-ray and UHD media. Users typically download these databases from third-party sources like the FindVUK Online Database to keep their software capable of reading new releases. Free vs. Pro Features:
Free Version: Requires manual management of the keydb.cfg file. Recent updates have added a feature to find disc keys online for free, though it may have limitations.
Pro Version: Offers more automated features and broader support, including aacs-auth for specific disc types.
Alternative for AnyDVD/RedFox Users: Following the disappearance of RedFox (AnyDVD), many users have shifted to Xreveal as a primary alternative because it is significantly cheaper and actively maintained. Your physical media collection is a library
Cross-Compatibility: The same keydb.cfg used for Xreveal is often compatible with other playback software like VLC or MakeMKV (though MakeMKV sometimes requires specific formatting or hashed keys). Quick Setup Guide
Download Xreveal: Get the latest version from the official Xreveal site.
Obtain the Key Database: Download a recent keydb.cfg file from a community-maintained source like FindVUK.
Placement: By default, Xreveal looks for the file in %APPDATA%\aacs\. You can change this path in Settings > BD / UHD > KeyDB.
Plugins: For full protection removal (including BD+ and CSS), you should also install the Xreveal Plugins 1.0. How to use Xreveal
I have structured this as a product specification sheet that could be used by developers, product managers, or marketers to describe the functionality and value of the system.
Advanced users extract processing keys from updated versions of commercial players (WinDVD, PowerDVD) and inject them.
Free users can manually update the database using the Community Key Database (KEYDB) . Here’s the workflow:
| Tool | Database Format | Update Frequency | UHD Support | Automatic Upload |
|------|----------------|------------------|-------------|------------------|
| Xreveal | .xrdb (encrypted) | Weekly | Full | Built-in disc dump |
| AnyDVD HD | .zip (online only) | Bi-weekly | Full | No (separate tool) |
| MakeMKV | Built-in (SVQ files) | Monthly | Partial | No |
| FindVUK | Plain text .txt | Community | Full | Yes (to public forum) |
Xreveal’s advantage: