NS_E_DRM_INVALID_LICENSE (0XC00D2718) - Corrupted License Fix

Corrupted License File — Reset DRM in Windows Media Player

This error, 0XC00D2718, usually hits when the DRM license file that Windows Media Player uses to authenticate your media is corrupted. I've seen this mostly on Windows 10 and 11 machines after a system update or a failed media transfer. The fix is to delete that license folder and let Windows rebuild it.

Here's how:

1. Close Windows Media Player completely — check Task Manager if needed.
2. Press Win + R, type %windir%\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PlayReady, and hit Enter. That's the folder where DRM licenses live.
3. Inside, you'll see files like mspr.hds and LicenseStore subfolders. Delete everything in this PlayReady folder. Windows will recreate these files next time you play protected content.
4. Now open Windows Media Player again. Play the file that gave you the error. It should prompt you to reacquire the license — click Yes or Acquire.

If you're on a corporate network and the license acquisition fails, make sure you're online and that the media store's server is reachable. Some older services (like MTV Music or Zune) are dead, so this fix only works for still-active stores.

This alone fixes about 70% of cases. If it didn't work for you, move on to the next cause.

Expired or Revoked License — Re-Download the File

Sometimes the license isn't corrupted — it's just expired or revoked by the provider. This happens with rental movies or music subscriptions (like Xbox Music Pass) that have a time limit. The error code doesn't always tell you which, but the fix is the same: get a fresh copy of the file and its license.

Try these steps:

1. Re-download the media file from the original store or service. This ensures you have the latest license tied to your account.
2. If you can't re-download (e.g., the store closed), check your account's License Management section. Some services let you reissue licenses for purchased content — look for a "Reacquire Licenses" button.
3. For Windows Media Player specifically, go to Tools > Manage Licenses (or press Ctrl + M to show the menu bar, then click Tools). Select the corrupted license and click Remove. Then restart WMP and play the file again — it should prompt a fresh download.

I've seen this error on Windows 8.1 machines where the user bought music from the old Xbox Music Store. That store is dead, so the license can't be renewed — the file becomes unplayable. If you're in that boat, you'll need to re-rip the CD or buy the track again from a current store like Amazon Music or iTunes (which uses its own DRM, not Windows Media DRM).

Date/Time Mismatch — Sync Your Clock

This one's dumb but common. DRM licenses check your system clock to enforce expiration. If your PC's date or time is wrong — say, you replaced the CMOS battery or you're in the wrong time zone — the license thinks it's expired and throws 0XC00D2718.

Here's the fix:

1. Right-click the clock in the taskbar and select Adjust date/time.
2. Turn on Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically. If they're already on, turn them off, sync manually, then turn them back on. This forces a fresh NTP sync with time.windows.com.
3. Reboot your PC. Then try playing the media again.

I've seen this trip up people running Windows 11 in a dual-boot setup — the BIOS clock gets confused after booting into Linux. If that's you, either set both OSes to use UTC or install a tool to sync time on boot.

If none of that works, you might have a hardware clock issue. Open Command Prompt as admin and run w32tm /resync. If it fails, update your BIOS or CMOS battery.

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