NS_E_DRM_NO_RIGHTS (0XC00D2720) fix for WMA/WMV

Quick answer for pros: Delete the local DRM license store (C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Media Player) and re-acquire licenses if the file still has an active license server — but if it's an old file from a defunct store (like MSN Music or Y2K-era downloads), you're stuck. Convert the audio to MP3 or FLAC using a DRM-stripping tool like SoundTaxi or NoteBurner.

What's going on with this error

The error code 0XC00D2720, also called NS_E_DRM_NO_RIGHTS, happens when Windows Media Player (or any program that uses Windows Media DRM) tries to open a file that's locked by digital rights management. You've got the file, but you don't have the license — the little permission slip that says “you can play this.”

This mostly hits people with older WMA (Windows Media Audio) or WMV (Windows Media Video) files they bought from stores like Napster, MSN Music, or even some old subscription services. The problem got much worse after Microsoft shut down the DRM license servers for several partners back in 2008. If your file's license server is dead, you can't get a fresh license no matter what you do.

I've seen this on Windows 10 and 11, not just old XP boxes. The error pops up when you double-click a file, and WMP shows a dialog that says “The requested operation cannot be performed on this file because the rights management has not been installed.” Or sometimes it just silently fails.

Fix 1: Re-acquire the license (if the server still exists)

1. Close Windows Media Player completely. Check the system tray — right-click the WMP icon and choose Exit.
2. Press Win + R, type %localappdata%\Microsoft\Media Player, and hit Enter. This opens the folder where WMP stores your licenses.
3. You'll see two folders: Sync Settings and Permissions. Delete everything inside the Permissions folder. Don't worry — WMP will rebuild it.
4. Open Windows Media Player again. Go to Tools → Options → Privacy tab. If you don't see the menu bar, press Alt to show it.
5. Check the box that says Download usage rights automatically when I play a file.
6. Click OK and play the file again. WMP should try to contact the license server and download a fresh license. After clicking Apply you should see a status message in the WMP library saying “Acquiring license…” — if that doesn't appear, the server is down and you need Fix 2.

When this works: Only if the original store's license server is still running. That's rare now. Most old services are gone. But if you bought from a store that's still active (like some audiobook stores or niche music retailers), this might save you.

Fix 2: Convert the file and strip the DRM (works 95% of the time)

This is the real fix for 99% of people. You need a tool that can capture the audio while it's playing and save it without DRM. Note: I'm not talking about cracking or hacking — you already paid for this file. You just need to get it into a format you can actually use.

1. Download a demo of SoundTaxi (version 7.0 or newer) or NoteBurner (version 4.0+). Both have free trials that let you convert a few files. I prefer SoundTaxi because it handles WMA files directly without needing to install extra codecs.
2. Install the software. It will ask you to install a virtual audio driver — say yes. This driver is what captures the sound.
3. Open SoundTaxi. Add your WMA/WMV files by dragging them into the window.
4. Choose output format. Pick MP3 (320kbps) for music, or FLAC if you want lossless. Avoid WMA — you're trying to get away from that format.
5. Click Convert. The software will play the file in the background (you'll hear it) and record it. After converting you should see a new MP3 file in the output folder you selected.
6. Delete the original DRM-protected file. It's useless now.

Why this works: These tools don't crack DRM — they just record the audio output. Since the DRM check happens at playback, and the file plays fine on your machine (once the license is acquired or during the trial), the captured audio has no DRM. It's legal because you own a legitimate copy.

Alternative if those tools don't work

You can also use Audacity with the Windows WASAPI loopback. Here's the short version:

1. Install Audacity.
2. Set the audio host to Windows WASAPI and the input device to your speakers (loopback).
3. Play the WMA file in WMP. Hit record in Audacity. Stop when the file ends.
4. Export as MP3 (you need the LAME encoder installed separately).

This method is free but clunky. You have to record in real-time, and you'll get any system sounds mixed in if you don't mute everything else. I'd only use Audacity if the paid tools are not an option.

Prevention for the future

Stop buying DRM-locked media. Seriously. If you buy music or movies from stores that still use Windows Media DRM, you're setting yourself up for this exact headache in a few years when they shut down. Instead:

• Buy from stores that sell DRM-free tracks: Bandcamp, 7digital (some catalog), Amazon Music (some older MP3s are DRM-free), or directly from artists.
• If you must buy from a store that uses DRM (like some audiobook shops), immediately convert the file to MP3 after purchase. Don't wait.
• Keep a backup of the original file AND the converted version, on an external drive and a cloud backup.

One last thing: if you're dealing with a file that you didn't pay for, stop there. The tools I mentioned won't help you rip stolen files — the license server won't give you a license, and the conversion tools require the file to play first. You need a valid license to even start playback. If you can't get that license, nothing will work.

For everything else — files you legitimately bought but can no longer play — the conversion route is the only reliable way out. I've used SoundTaxi on dozens of old WMA files from 2005-era subscription services, and it's never let me down.