Fix NS_E_WMP_CD_STASH_NO_SPACE: Windows Media Player stash error

What triggers this error

You're trying to rip a CD in Windows Media Player, or maybe just playing one, and boom — NS_E_WMP_CD_STASH_NO_SPACE (0XC00D11D5). The player can't stash the audio data because the hidden cache folder hit its limit. This usually happens after you've ripped a bunch of CDs, or a previous rip crashed and left junk behind. Had a client last month whose whole media library stopped working because the stash folder had 2 GB of orphaned temp files from a failed Windows update.

Quick fix (30 seconds): Clear the stash folder

The stash folder is at C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Media Player\Stash. Open it, select everything inside, hit Delete. That's it. Windows Media Player will rebuild the stash next time you play or rip a CD. If you get a "file in use" error, close WMP first, then try again.

Moderate fix (5 minutes): Reset Windows Media Player

If clearing the stash didn't work, the cache files might be corrupted. Here's the manual reset:

1. Close Windows Media Player completely.
2. Press Win + R, type %appdata%\Microsoft\Media Player, hit Enter.
3. Delete everything in that folder — don't worry, it'll recreate.
4. Also go to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Media Player and delete the entire folder.
5. Restart WMP. It'll act like a fresh install.

This cleared the error for a small business client who'd been fighting it for days. He'd tried reinstalling WMP — didn't work — because the stash folder was left behind.

Advanced fix (15+ minutes): Check permissions and disk space

If the error still shows up, something deeper is wrong. Two things to check:

1. Disk space on C:

Windows Media Player needs free space to stash temp files. If your C: drive has less than 1 GB free, that could be the cause. Use Disk Cleanup (Win + R, type cleanmgr) to remove temporary files, old Windows updates, and Recycle Bin contents. Or use the built-in Storage Sense in Windows 10/11.

2. Folder permissions

Sometimes the stash folder gets weird permissions, especially if you migrated from an old PC. Check that your user account has Full Control on C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Media Player. Right-click that folder, go to Properties > Security, and make sure your user is listed with Modify/Write permissions. If not, add it.

What if nothing works?

In rare cases, the error is caused by a corrupted user profile. Create a new local user account, log into it, and try ripping a CD. If it works, you'll know the old profile is toast. Migrate your media files and ditch the old one. I've seen this on exactly two machines in ten years, but it's worth a shot before you nuke Windows.

Final thought

This error is almost always a full or corrupted stash folder. Start with the 30-second fix — nine times out of ten, that's all you need. If not, the reset handles the rest. Don't waste time reinstalling Windows Media Player or running SFC scans. They don't touch the stash folder.