Fix NS_S_DRM_NEEDS_INDIVIDUALIZATION (0X000D27DE) Error

Quick answer

Close Windows Media Player. Delete the %windir%\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\DRM folder (or C:\Users\All Users\Microsoft\Windows\DRM on older systems), then reopen WMP and let it re-download the DRM upgrade automatically.

Why this happens

This error shows up when you try to play a DRM-protected media file — usually a WMA or WMV file bought from a store or downloaded from a service — and Windows Media Player's DRM engine needs a specific security upgrade called "individualization." The individualization process failed during the handshake with Microsoft's servers. This can trigger for a few reasons: your system date is wrong, a firewall blocked the upgrade, or the DRM folder got corrupted. I've seen it most often on Windows 10 versions 21H2 through 23H2, and on some Windows 11 builds. It's not a virus, but it feels like one.

Step-by-step fix

1. Close Windows Media Player completely. Check the system tray (bottom right) to make sure it isn't running minimized. If it's still running, open Task Manager and end the wmplayer.exe process.
2. Open File Explorer. Click the folder icon on the taskbar, or press Windows key + E.
3. Enable viewing hidden files. In File Explorer, click the "View" menu at the top, then check the box next to "Hidden items." Without this, you won't see the AppData folder.
4. Navigate to the DRM folder. Copy and paste this into the File Explorer address bar and press Enter:
   

   %windir%\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\DRM

   If that path doesn't exist (it doesn't on some older Windows 7/8 systems), try:
   

   C:\Users\All Users\Microsoft\Windows\DRM

   After pasting, you should see a folder containing files like drmstore.hds and maybe some .bak files. If you get a "path not found" error, the DRM folder might be in a different location — try searching for "DRM" in C:\ drive.

5. Delete everything inside the DRM folder. Select all files (press Ctrl+A), then press Delete. Ignore any error messages about files in use — just skip those files if they won't delete. You want to delete drmstore.hds and any .bak files. Don't delete the folder itself, just the files inside it.
6. Open Windows Media Player again. After it loads, try playing the same file. WMP will detect the missing DRM store and automatically attempt to re-individualize your player. A pop-up might appear saying "Windows Media Player is upgrading your security." Let it run — this can take 10 to 30 seconds, depending on your internet speed. Once it finishes, the file should play.

If the main fix fails

Sometimes the individualization server is down or your network is blocking it. Try these:

• Check your system date and time. An incorrect date breaks the DRM handshake. Go to Settings > Time & Language > Date & Time. Turn on "Set time automatically" and "Set time zone automatically." If it's already on, toggle them off and back on to force a sync.
• Disable your antivirus or firewall temporarily. I don't love suggesting this, but Windows Defender's firewall sometimes blocks the individualization port (TCP 443). Disable Windows Defender Firewall for a minute, try the file, then re-enable it. If that works, add an exception for wmplayer.exe.
• Use the Microsoft DRM individualization tool manually. Go to Microsoft's DRM page (this URL still works as of early 2025). Click the "Install" button there. It downloads an ActiveX control that re-individualizes the player outside of WMP. This works on Windows 10 but might fail on Windows 11 if Internet Explorer is removed — you'll need to enable IE mode in Edge to run ActiveX.
• Re-register the DRM components. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run:
  

  regsvr32 %windir%\system32\drmclien.dll
  regsvr32 %windir%\system32\drmstor.dll

  You should see "DllRegisterServer succeeded" for both. Then repeat the folder deletion step.

Prevention tip

The best way to avoid this is to keep Windows Media Player updated. Microsoft stopped adding new features to WMP on Windows 10 and 11, but they still push security updates through Windows Update. Make sure your system is fully updated. Also, if you're buying DRM-protected media, know that many older stores (like the old Zune Marketplace or PlaysForSure services) have shut down their individualization servers. If that's the case, the file is effectively unplayable — the server that issues the upgrade doesn't exist anymore. In that situation, your only option is to strip the DRM using a tool like FairUse4WM (though that may be illegal where you live, so check your local laws). For everything else, the fix above works nine times out of ten.