Quick answer
Right-click the failed files in WMP, check 'Copy protect music' is unchecked, then delete and re-add them to the sync list. That clears the DRM lock 90% of the time.
What's actually happening here
You see this when Windows Media Player reports a sync completed, but some files didn't transfer. The error code 0x000D1136 means "partial success" — WMP's way of saying "I gave up on some files but finished the rest." It's not a crash, just a heads-up that a few tracks got left behind.
The culprit is almost always one of three things: DRM-protected files that WMP couldn't re-license, corrupt metadata (like broken album art or malformed ID3 tags), or the device itself hitting a limit — like max file count or a read-only partition. I've also seen it on older Zune and Creative MP3 players that don't handle WMA Lossless well.
Don't bother reinstalling WMP or running SFC. That rarely helps here. You need to identify and fix the specific files that failed.
How to fix it — step by step
- Find the failed files — In WMP, go to the Sync tab. Click the dropdown arrow next to the device name and select "View sync status." You'll see a list of files with status codes. Look for any with "Partial success" or an error icon.
- Check DRM protection — Right-click each failed file in your library, select Properties, then the Media Usage Rights tab. If it says "Protected content" or "License pending," that's your problem. Try playing the file twice in WMP before syncing again — that often renews the license.
- Strip DRM or re-download — If you bought the file from an old Zune or PlaysForSure store, you might need to download a DRM-free version. Otherwise, use a tool like SoundTaxi (paid) or Recoll (free) to strip the protection. I don't love that workaround, but sometimes it's the only option.
- Fix corrupt metadata — If DRM isn't the issue, use MP3tag (free) to clean the metadata. Open the failed files in MP3tag, remove any weird characters, fix album art (keep it under 500KB), and save. Re-add them to WMP and try the sync again.
- Reset the device — Some players get stuck in a bad state. Delete the sync relationship in WMP: right-click the device, select Delete, then reconnect it. WMP will rebuild the device profile.
Alternative fixes when the main one doesn't work
- Try a different USB port — Sounds dumb, but I've seen USB 3.0 ports cause timeout issues with older MP3 players. Use a USB 2.0 port if possible.
- Convert files to a simpler format — WMA Lossless and high-bitrate MP3s (320kbps) sometimes trip up older devices. Convert to 192kbps MP3 using iTunes or FFmpeg, then sync.
- Delete the device's sync database — On the device itself, look for a folder called
WMPInfo.xmlorSyncand delete it. This forces WMP to re-read the device's full content list. - Use Windows Media Player 11 — If you're on Windows 10 or 11 and using the old WMP, roll back to WMP 11 via Windows Features. The newer WMP in Windows 10/11 has worse sync handling.
How to prevent it from coming back
Once you've cleared the bad files, do this: In WMP, go to Tools > Options > Devices > Properties for your device. Uncheck "Enable advanced device functions." That turns off DRM re-verification and syncs everything as-is. Also set your sync quality to "Best available" instead of "Automatic" — it forces WMP to use a consistent bitrate and avoids format mismatches.
Finally, if you sync the same files regularly, export your sync list as a playlist. That way, if WMP corrupts its database, you can re-import the list without losing your selection.