Fix NS_E_PROXY_NOT_FOUND (0XC00D2EED) in Windows Media Player

Windows Media Player says it can't find a proxy server when streaming. This usually happens after a VPN or network change. Here's how to fix it in order, from quick to thorough.

What's going on?

You tried to play a stream or open a URL in Windows Media Player (WMP) and got NS_E_PROXY_NOT_FOUND (error 0XC00D2EED). The short version: WMP thinks it needs to go through a proxy server to reach the internet, but it can't find one.

This almost always happens right after you disconnect from a VPN, switch Wi-Fi networks, or change network settings. Windows remembers the old proxy and WMP trips over it. The error doesn't mean your internet is down — your browser probably works fine. It's just WMP's own network stack that's confused.

Below I've laid out the fixes in order. Start with the first one — it's 30 seconds and solves most cases. If that doesn't work, move to the next. Stop when the error is gone.

Fix 1: The 30-Second Reset

Turn off proxy auto-detection

Press Windows Key + R, type inetcpl.cpl, and press Enter. This opens Internet Properties — even though you might not use IE, WMP reads proxy settings from here.
Go to the Connections tab.
Click LAN settings at the bottom.
In the box that pops up, uncheck Automatically detect settings.
Also uncheck Use a proxy server for your LAN if it's checked.
Click OK on both windows.

What you should expect: After clicking OK, try opening the stream in WMP again. If it works, you're done. If you still get the error, move to Fix 2.

Why this works: WMP inherits proxy settings from Internet Explorer. If a VPN or a misbehaving app left a stale proxy address in that dialog, WMP tries to use it and fails when that proxy isn't there anymore.

Fix 2: The 5-Minute Cleanup

Clear the proxy cache and reset Winsock

Sometimes the proxy setting is fine, but the network stack has a corrupted entry. This fix clears two things: the WinHTTP proxy cache and the Winsock catalog.

Step A — Reset WinHTTP proxy

Right-click the Start button and choose Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
Type this and press Enter:

netsh winhttp reset proxy

You should see the message: Current WinHTTP proxy settings were reset to their default state.

Step B — Reset Winsock

In the same window, type and press Enter:

netsh winsock reset

You'll see: Successfully reset the Winsock Catalog. You must restart the computer to complete the reset.

Don't skip that restart — it matters. After rebooting, try WMP again.

What else to check while you're here: If you use a VPN, disconnect it and try WMP without it. Some VPN clients write proxy entries that linger after the VPN session ends. If WMP works without the VPN, the VPN is your culprit — check its settings for an option like "use proxy for local connections" and turn it off.

Fix 3: The Advanced Fix (15+ minutes)

Force WMP to use direct internet

If the error persists, the problem might be in WMP's own network settings. WMP has a hidden proxy configuration that doesn't always follow Internet Explorer's.

Close Windows Media Player completely.
Open the Start menu, type regedit, and press Enter. If prompted by UAC, click Yes.
Go to this key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Preferences

Look for a DWORD value named ProxySettings. If it's not there, you'll create it.
Right-click in the right pane, select New → DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it ProxySettings.
Double-click ProxySettings and set the value to 0. This tells WMP to never use a proxy — go direct.
Click OK, then close the Registry Editor.

What to expect: After this, WMP should bypass any proxy attempts. Restart WMP and try your stream again.

If that still doesn't work: Check if you have third-party security software (like Norton or McAfee) with a "privacy" or "web protection" feature. These sometimes act as a system-wide proxy. Temporarily disable that feature — not the whole antivirus — and test WMP again. If the error goes away, whitelist WMP in that software's settings.

One more thing: the Windows 10/11 quirk

On modern Windows, WMP's streaming features are outdated, and this error is more common on older streams (like ASX files from radio stations). If you're hitting a 10-year-old stream, try opening the same URL in VLC or a browser instead. That's not a cop-out; it's a practical answer. But if you specifically need WMP, the registry fix above is your best bet.

When to call it quits

If you've done all three fixes and still see NS_E_PROXY_NOT_FOUND, the problem isn't your proxy — it's the stream itself. The server might be down, or it might be blocking your IP. Test the URL in a browser. If it doesn't play there either, the stream is dead and no amount of proxy tinkering will bring it back.

One last note: if you're on a corporate network, talk to your IT department. They might have a mandatory proxy that WMP needs to use, and overriding it locally could break other things. In that case, ask them for the correct proxy address and enter it in the LAN settings dialog from Fix 1 — that's the proper solution for managed networks.