Fix NS_E_DRM_INVALID_LICENSE_REQUEST (0XC00D271C) on Windows

Quick Answer

Delete the DRM license folder at %windir%\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\DRM and then re-acquire the license.

Why This Happens

The NS_E_DRM_INVALID_LICENSE_REQUEST error — code 0xC00D271C — pops up when Windows Media Player or a similar app can’t read the DRM license tied to a media file. Had a client last month whose entire music collection went dead after a Windows update borked the license store. The file itself might be fine, but the license is corrupt, missing, or from a different machine. This usually happens with purchased or rented content that uses Microsoft’s PlayReady DRM. I’ve seen it with video files, music tracks, even some ebooks that use DRM-locked audio. The fix is straightforward: clear the local license cache.

Step-by-Step Fix

1. Close any media app using the file (Windows Media Player, Groove Music, etc.).
2. Open File Explorer and paste this into the address bar: %windir%\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\DRM. Hit Enter.
3. Delete everything in that folder. You’ll need admin rights — click Continue if prompted. Don’t worry, Windows recreates these files automatically.
4. Open the media file again. Windows Media Player will prompt you to re-acquire the license online. Click “Yes” or “OK”.
5. If the file is local (not from a store), you’ll need the original license file — often a .lic or .drv file. Re-import it via the player’s license management tool.

That’s it for 90% of cases. The license store is just a cached copy of the DRM data. When it gets corrupted, the player can’t validate the file. Deleting it forces a fresh download.

Alternative Fixes If That Doesn’t Work

Re-register Windows Media Player

Open an admin Command Prompt (right-click Start > Terminal Admin) and run:

regsvr32 wmp.dll

This re-registers the core player components. Then try the file again.

Reset the DRM Store via Registry

Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Player\DRM in Regedit. Delete the DRMStore key. Reboot. This flushes the user-level DRM cache.

Check the File Format

Some “corrupted” errors are actually format mismatches. Use a tool like MediaInfo to confirm the file is indeed ASF/WMV/WMA with DRM. If it’s a different format, the DRM header might be junk from a bad encoder.

Reinstall the Codec

If the file plays in VLC but not in WMP, the issue isn’t DRM — it’s a missing codec. Install the K-Lite Codec Pack (Standard, not Mega).

Prevention Tips

• Back up your license files if you buy DRM’d content. Look in %userprofile%\Documents for ".lic" files.
• Avoid playing DRM files on shared or multiple user accounts — I’ve seen licenses get tangled across profiles.
• Stick to DRM-free formats where possible (MP3, FLAC, MP4). One client switched to all FLAC after this error took down his library twice.
• Keep Windows updated — but wait a week before installing major updates. The update that broke my client’s licenses was a known issue in KB5006670.

When to Give Up

If you’ve deleted the license store, re-registered WMP, and the file still won’t play, the license itself might be dead. Contact the content provider. For old WMV files from 2008-era stores (like MSN Music), the servers are gone — that content is gone forever. Happened to a buddy of mine with a bunch of TV shows he bought. Lesson: buy DRM-free.