Fix NS_E_WMP_PNG_UNSUPPORTED_COMPRESSION Error

Quick answer

Convert the PNG file to a standard PNG (8-bit or 24-bit) using an image editor or online converter. Windows Media Player only supports basic PNG compression.

What's going on?

I know this error is infuriating. You double-click a PNG, expect it to open, and instead get NS_E_WMP_PNG_UNSUPPORTED_COMPRESSION (0xC00D102A). This tripped me up the first time too. The issue is that Windows Media Player uses a stripped-down PNG decoder that only handles specific compression formats. PNG files can use different compression algorithms — like zlib, Deflate, or even experimental ones — and WMP only supports the basic zlib/Deflate method. If your PNG was saved with an advanced compression technique (common in high-end graphics software or when optimizing for size), WMP throws this error.

The error usually appears when you've downloaded a PNG from a website, received one via email, or saved it from a tool that uses non-standard compression. I've seen it most often with PNGs exported from Adobe Photoshop with the "Optimized" option, or from some Android apps that use APNG-like extensions.

How to fix it

Re-save the PNG as a standard PNG
Open the PNG in a free tool like Paint (Windows built-in), IrfanView, or GIMP. Go to File > Save As, choose PNG, and save with default settings. Paint always saves in standard format. This is the fastest fix and works 90% of the time.
Use an online converter
If you don't have an image editor handy, upload the file to a trusted site like convertio.co or ezgif.com. Convert it from PNG to PNG again — yes, it sounds silly, but it forces re-encoding. Download the new file.
Change the file association
If you don't need WMP to open PNGs at all, right-click the file, select Open with > Choose another app, and pick Photos or any image viewer. Check "Always use this app". This bypasses the error permanently.
Update or reinstall Windows Media Player
Rarely, a corrupt WMP installation causes this. Go to Settings > Apps > Optional features, locate Media Features, and reinstall WMP. On Windows 10/11, WMP is an optional feature, so you can also toggle it off and on.

Alternative fixes if those don't work

Use PowerShell to convert
If you have many PNG files and want to batch convert, open PowerShell as admin and run:

Get-ChildItem "C:\path\to\folder\*.png" | ForEach-Object { Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Drawing; $img = [System.Drawing.Image]::FromFile($_.FullName); $img.Save($_.FullName.Replace(".png","_fixed.png"), [System.Drawing.Imaging.ImageFormat]::Png); $img.Dispose() }

This re-saves each PNG using .NET's standard encoder. The new files end with _fixed.png.

Install VLC
VLC Media Player handles PNGs without complaining about compression. It's free, lightweight, and also plays videos. Uninstall WMP if you prefer — or keep both.
Check the file's actual compression
Use a tool like pngcheck (command line) to see what's inside: pngcheck -v yourfile.png. If it shows anything other than "Deflate/Inflate" in the compression method, you've found the culprit.

Prevention tip

When saving PNGs from Photoshop, Illustrator, or other advanced editors, always use "Save As" and choose PNG-24 with standard compression. Avoid "Save for Web" unless you're sure it uses zlib. Most online tools don't care about this, but WMP does. If you regularly share PNGs with people who use WMP, stick to Paint or Photos for re-saves.

Also, if you're sending files via email, zip them. Email servers sometimes change compression on the fly, which can trigger this error on the receiving end.