Fix NS_E_INVALID_OUTPUT_FORMAT (0XC00D0BBB) in Windows Media Player

You're trying to save a file or convert audio, and Windows Media Player throws this error. I know it's annoying.

I've seen this error pop up for years, especially on Windows 10 and 11 after updates. The fix is usually simple—let's go straight to it.

The Quick Fix: Change the Output Format in Windows Media Player

1. Open Windows Media Player. If you don't see the menu bar, press Ctrl+M or click the 'Organize' button and choose 'Layout' > 'Show menu bar'.
2. Click Tools > Options.
3. Go to the Rip Music tab.
4. Under 'Rip settings', find Format. It's probably set to 'WMA' or 'MP3'. Change it to WMA Lossless or WMA 160 Kbps.
5. Click Apply, then OK.
6. Try your conversion or save operation again.

If you're not ripping a CD but getting this error when saving a playlist or converting a video, skip the Rip Music tab and go to the Burn tab instead. There, change the 'Audio format' to something different—like from MP3 to WMA—and try again.

Why This Works

The NS_E_INVALID_OUTPUT_FORMAT error means Windows Media Player doesn't recognize or support the output format you're asking for. It's a compatibility issue. The player is old—really old—and Microsoft hasn't updated it much since Windows 7. So newer formats or weird bitrates confuse it. Switching to a standard format like WMA 160 Kbps (which the player loves) bypasses the glitch.

In the Rip Music tab, the default format is often 'WMA' at a variable bitrate. But variable bitrate files can trip up the player during conversion. Fixed bitrates like 160 Kbps are safer. Also, if you have a third-party codec pack installed (like K-Lite), that can sometimes override the player's format handling, causing this error. Changing the format here forces the player to use its own codec instead.

Less Common Fixes for the Same Error

If the above doesn't work, try these:

• Reset Windows Media Player settings: Close the player. Press Win+R, type %appdata%\Microsoft\Media Player, and delete all files in that folder. Restart WMP—it'll rebuild the library. This fixed the error for a buddy of mine on Windows 11 after a feature update.
• Disable third-party codecs: If you use codec packs, uninstall them temporarily. Go to Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a program, remove the codec pack, restart, and try again. If the error goes away, you know the codec was the problem. Reinstall a newer version of the pack later.
• Use a different media player: Honestly, WMP is a dinosaur. For converting audio or video, try VLC Media Player—it handles almost any format without complaints. Or use Audacity for audio files. I switched to VLC years ago and never looked back.
• Check file permissions: This error can happen if you're trying to save to a folder you don't have write access to. Right-click the destination folder, select Properties, go to Security tab, and make sure your user account has 'Write' permission. If not, click Edit and add it.

How to Prevent This Error in the Future

• Stick to common formats for output: WMA, MP3 (320 Kbps max), or WAV. Avoid odd bitrates like 64 Kbps or 192 Kbps—they can trigger the bug.
• Keep Windows Media Player updated (though it only gets security fixes now via Windows Update).
• If you must use WMP for ripping CDs, always pick WMA 160 Kbps as your format. It's the most stable.
• Consider moving to modern software for media tasks. Windows Media Player is end-of-life support in Windows 10 and 11. The Groove Music app and VLC are better choices.

One last thing: if you're running Windows 11 22H2 or later, Microsoft disabled the 'Burn' tab in WMP. That feature is gone. If your error involves burning CDs, you'll need third-party software like Imgburn.

That's it. The error is a pain, but the fix is usually one dropdown change away. Let me know in the comments if you're still stuck—I'll help you dig deeper.