Fix NS_E_DRM_RIV_TOO_SMALL (0XC00D28B7) DRM Error

Yeah, that DRM error is a pain. You're trying to play a song or video you bought legally, and instead of music, you get a cryptic code: 0XC00D28B7. Let's get it fixed.

The Fix: Reset DRM and Sync the Clock

This works 9 times out of 10. You're going to delete the folder where Windows keeps your DRM licenses and then force Windows Media Player to rebuild it. Then you'll sync your system clock — because an incorrect clock is the #1 trigger for this error.

Step 1: Close Windows Media Player

Make sure WMP isn't running. Check the system tray (bottom right) — if you see the WMP icon, right-click it and choose Exit.

Step 2: Delete the DRM folder

1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type %PROGRAMDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\DRM and hit Enter.
3. You'll see a folder with a bunch of files. Don't delete the folder itself — just the contents inside it. Select all (Ctrl+A) and delete. If Windows says a file is in use, reboot and try again. That folder is C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\DRM on most systems.

After deleting, close the File Explorer window.

Step 3: Sync your clock

1. Right-click the clock in the taskbar and choose Adjust date/time.
2. Toggle Set time automatically on (if it's off, turn it on).
3. Click Sync now under Additional settings.
4. Wait 10 seconds for the sync to complete. You'll see a confirmation message.

Step 4: Restart Windows Media Player

Open WMP again. Try playing the file that threw the error. It should work now. If it doesn't, move to the next section.

Why This Works

DRM licenses have a time window. When your PC clock drifts (common on older hardware or dual-boot setups), the license thinks it's either expired or not yet valid. The error code 0XC00D28B7 specifically means revocation version too small — Windows Media Player is checking a local list of revoked DRM components, and the list is outdated or corrupted. By deleting the DRM folder, you force WMP to download a fresh revocation list from Microsoft's servers. Syncing the clock ensures the timestamps on those licenses match reality.

I've seen this error most often when someone dual-boots Windows and Linux — Linux messes with the hardware clock. Or when the CMOS battery is dying. Either way, clock sync is the real hero.

Less Common Variations

Variation 1: Corrupted User Profile

If the steps above didn't work, the problem might be in your user profile. Test with a new local user account:

1. Go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users.
2. Click Add someone else to this PC and create a local account.
3. Log into that account, open WMP, and try playing the file.

If it works there, you've got a corrupted profile. Migrate your files and ditch the old one.

Variation 2: Windows Media Player Version Mismatch

On Windows 10 version 1803 and later, Microsoft removed the old DRM components. If you're using an ancient file (like a .wma from 2005), WMP may simply not support the DRM format anymore. The fix: use a modern player like VLC (download VLC) that ignores DRM and plays the raw audio.

Variation 3: Group Policy Blocking DRM Updates

In corporate environments, IT might block Windows Media Player from connecting to Microsoft's DRM servers. Check this only if you're on a work computer:

1. Press Windows Key + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter.
2. Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Media Player.
3. Look for Prevent DRM update. If it's Enabled, that's your problem. Set it to Not Configured or Disabled.

Prevention

Do these three things and you'll never see 0XC00D28B7 again:

• Keep your clock synced. Set it to sync automatically with time.windows.com. If you dual-boot, configure Windows to use UTC for the hardware clock — run this in an admin command prompt: reg add HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\TimeZoneInformation /v RealTimeIsUniversal /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
• Don't delete DRM files manually. Only do it when you get an error. Windows rebuilds them automatically when needed.
• Update Windows Media Player. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and install all pending updates. DRM components get updated through Windows Update.

That's it. You should be back to your music in under 5 minutes.