Fix NS_E_DRM_UNABLE_TO_SET_PARAMETER (0XC00D273F) in Windows Media Player

You're trying to play a song or video you bought online, and Windows Media Player gives you this error. The file is probably a protected WMA or WMV with Microsoft's old PlaysForSure DRM. You see the code 0XC00D273F and the message "The application has made an invalid call to the Digital Rights Management component". This happens most often right after you upgrade Windows (like from 10 to 11) or install a codec pack that messed with the DRM files.

What causes this error

The DRM (Digital Rights Management) system keeps a license store in a hidden folder. When that store gets corrupted, or the rights management components aren't registered correctly, Windows Media Player can't talk to the DRM part. The result is this error. It's not a problem with the file itself – the fix is on your PC.

Fix 1: Delete the DRM files and let Windows rebuild them

1. Close Windows Media Player completely. Make sure it's not running in the background (check the system tray).
2. Press Windows key + R on your keyboard. The Run box opens.
3. Type %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Media Player and click OK. A folder opens with a bunch of files and folders.
4. Look for a folder named DRM or a file called DRMStore. Might be hidden – if you don't see it, go to the View tab and check "Hidden items".
5. Delete the entire DRM folder. Yes, all of it. Windows will recreate it the next time you use WMP.
6. Now go back to the Run box (Win + R) and type %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\DRM. Delete everything in that folder too. If a file says it's in use, reboot into Safe Mode and try again.
7. Restart your computer.

After the restart: Open Windows Media Player. Try playing the file again. It'll take a minute to download new DRM data from the internet (you need an active internet connection). If the file asks for a license, follow the prompts – it should work now.

Fix 2: Re-register the DRM components

If deleting the DRM folder didn't help, the system files might be unregistered. Here's how to fix that:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator. Click Start, type cmd, right-click it, and choose "Run as administrator".
2. Type these commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:

regsvr32 atl.dll
regsvr32 wmvcore.dll
regsvr32 wmp.dll
regsvr32 mpvis.dll
regsvr32 wmpeffects.dll
regsvr32 dxmasf.dll
regsvr32 blackbox.dll
regsvr32 msnetobj.dll

Each one should give you a success message like "DllRegisterServer in atl.dll succeeded". If one fails, write down the filename – that file might be missing from your system.

3. Restart your computer.
4. Test Windows Media Player again.

Fix 3: Check the Windows Media Player settings

Sometimes the DRM setting inside WMP is just turned off. Let's check:

1. Open Windows Media Player.
2. Press Alt + T to open the Tools menu, then choose Options.
3. Click the Privacy tab.
4. Look at the bottom: check the box that says "Download usage rights automatically when I play or sync a file". If it's already checked, uncheck it, restart WMP, then check it again.
5. Click Apply and OK.
6. Restart WMP and try your file again.

What to check if nothing works

If you're still getting the error after all three fixes, the issue might not be on your side. Here's what to check:

• Is the file's license expired? Some old PlaysForSure licenses had expiration dates. If the file was downloaded from a store that shut down (like MSN Music or Yahoo Music), the license servers are gone forever. You'll need to find a DRM-free copy.
• Are you using an old version of Windows Media Player? Older versions like WMP 9 or 10 on Vista have problems with modern certificates. Update to WMP 12 (comes with Windows 7, 8, 10, 11).
• Did you install any DRM-removal tools? Programs that strip DRM can break the DRM system for other files. Uninstall them and run the registry fix again.
• Third-party firewalls or antivirus sometimes block the DRM request from reaching the license server. Temporarily disable your security software for one test – if the file plays, add an exception for Windows Media Player in your firewall.

That's it. This error looks scary but it's one of the easier ones to fix. Delete the DRM folder, re-register the DLLs, and you'll be listening to your music in a few minutes.