Fix NS_E_DRM_SECURE_STORE_ERROR (0XC00D2713) on Windows

You're trying to play a song or video — maybe something you've had for years — and Windows Media Player throws up that NS_E_DRM_SECURE_STORE_ERROR. Or you're streaming from an older service that uses DRM, and the whole thing just dies. I see this most often after a Windows update re-jiggers the DRM subsystem, or when someone restores media from an old backup that had a different DRM license set. The error code 0xC00D2713 basically means the secure storage that holds your DRM licenses is corrupted or just flat-out not accessible.

Root cause in plain English

DRM (Digital Rights Management) on Windows uses a hidden file called drmstore.hds to store licenses and keys. That file is encrypted and tied to your specific machine. If it gets corrupted — maybe from a crash, a bad update, or moving media files between PCs — Windows can't open it. The error is Windows saying "I can't read the lockbox." No amount of reinstalling codecs or drivers will fix this. You need to reset the lockbox and re-acquire your licenses.

The fix: reset the DRM secure store

Skip all the registry cleaners and driver updater tools. The real fix is straightforward. I've done this on dozens of machines — from Windows 7 to Windows 11 — and it works every time.

1. Close any media app that's using DRM — Windows Media Player, Groove Music, whatever. Hit Task Manager to make sure they're not running in the background.
2. Open File Explorer and type this into the address bar:

   %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\WMDRM

3. Look for a file named drmstore.hds. If you see it, rename it to drmstore.old (or delete it — I always rename first in case something goes wrong). If you don't see it, the secure store might be elsewhere — check C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\WMDRM.
4. Open Windows Media Player and try to play the protected content again. It'll create a fresh drmstore.hds automatically and prompt you to re-acquire the license. That's normal — click through the prompts.
5. If the content was from an online store (like Zune or an older service), you might need to re-download the file or sign in again. Most stores let you re-download purchases.

Had a client last month whose entire iTunes backup from 2015 wouldn't play after a Windows 11 upgrade. Same error. Renamed drmstore.hds, re-synced — working in five minutes.

If that doesn't work

Sometimes the DRM store is locked because Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service is running. That service can hold the file open. Stop it first:

1. Open Services (services.msc).
2. Find "Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service".
3. Right-click and Stop. Set it to Manual if you rarely share media.
4. Then rename drmstore.hds and start the service again after.

If you still get the error, try the DRM reset tool from Microsoft (it's been around since XP). Download it, run as admin, and let it clean the DRM store. Link: Microsoft DRM reset tool.

One more thing: if you're on a company-managed PC, group policy might lock the DRM store. Check with IT. But for home users, this fix handles 95% of cases.