Fix NS_E_WMP_BMP_INVALID_FORMAT (0XC00D1032) in Windows Media Player

What's going on with this error?

You double-click a .bmp file and Windows Media Player (WMP) fires up. Then you get the error NS_E_WMP_BMP_INVALID_FORMAT (0xC00D1032). The player basically says 'I don't know how to play this.' That's because .bmp is a still image format, not a video format. WMP isn't built to show photos. It happens most often when you've set WMP as your default player for all media files, including images. You might see this after installing a codec pack or after a Windows update that resets file associations. Let me walk you through three fixes—try them in order. You can stop when it works.

Fix 1: Open the file in the right program (30 seconds)

This is the simplest fix and it usually works right away. You don't need to change any settings yet.

1. Right-click the .bmp file that's giving you the error.
2. From the menu, select Open with.
3. Choose Photos (Windows 10/11) or Paint. Both can open .bmp files natively.
   What you should see: The image opens instantly in a viewer app. The error message goes away. If you want WMP to never try to open .bmp files again, move to Fix 2. Otherwise you're done here.

Pro tip: If you don't see 'Photos' or 'Paint' in the list, click Choose another app and find it there. Check the box that says 'Always use this app to open .bmp files' if you want this to be permanent.

Fix 2: Change the default file association for .bmp (5 minutes)

If you keep getting the error when you double-click .bmp files, Windows is still sending them to WMP. We need to tell Windows to use a different program for .bmp files.

1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard, then type Default apps. Click the result that says 'Default apps settings'.
2. Scroll down the settings page. Look for the link that says Choose defaults by file type. Click it.
   What you should see: A long list of file extensions (.pdf, .jpg, .docx, etc.) with the current default app next to each one.
3. Scroll down until you find .bmp. It's in alphabetical order, so it's under the 'B' section.
4. Click the current default app next to .bmp. It probably says 'Windows Media Player'.
5. A pop-up will appear showing available apps. Select Photos or Paint.
   What you should see: The app name changes immediately. No restart needed.
6. Close the Settings window. Double-click a .bmp file to test it.

If it still opens in WMP, try a different app from the list. Sometimes 'Paint' isn't listed because it's called 'Microsoft Paint' in some Windows versions. Pick whatever image viewer you see.

Fix 3: Convert the .bmp to a video format (15+ minutes)

This is the fix for the rare case where you actually want to play a bitmap in WMP. Maybe you have a slideshow or a video created from bitmaps. WMP can't play them natively. You'll need to convert the file to a video format like .wmv or .mp4 using a free tool.

1. Download and install HandBrake (free, open-source, at handbrake.fr). Or use VLC Media Player's convert feature if you already have VLC installed.
2. Open HandBrake. Click Open Source and select your .bmp file. But here's the catch: HandBrake won't normally accept a single .bmp. It expects video files. So you might need to use a different tool.
3. Better option: Use FFmpeg (command-line tool). It's free and handles bitmaps fine. Here's the command:

ffmpeg -framerate 1 -loop 1 -i input.bmp -c:v libx264 -t 10 output.mp4

This creates a 10-second video from your bitmap. Replace 'input.bmp' with your file's name. The 'output.mp4' will play in WMP without errors.

Warning: If you're not comfortable with command line, skip this fix. Use Fix 1 or Fix 2 instead. Most people don't need to play bitmaps in WMP—it's a waste of time.

After conversion, double-click the new .mp4 file. It should open in WMP without the 0xC00D1032 error.

What if none of these work?

If you still see the error after Fix 2, something else is wrong. Could be a corrupted file association in Windows Registry. But that's rare. Try restarting your PC and running the sfc /scannow command to fix system files. Open Command Prompt as Admin and type sfc /scannow. Let it finish. Then test again. If it still fails, the BMP file itself might be corrupted—try opening it in Paint to confirm.

That's it. You fixed it. Go listen to something that actually plays.