Fix DRM Error 0XC00D2731 on Windows 10/11

What's happening and how to fix it

You're trying to play a song or video in Windows Media Player and you get error 0XC00D2731. It's frustrating because that file should just work. The short version: Windows Media Player's DRM system can't create a file it needs. The fix is to re-register the DRM components.

This error usually pops up when you're playing older WMA or WMV files that have DRM protection. It also shows up after a Windows update messes with the DRM settings. I've seen it on Windows 7, 8, 10, and even Windows 11 if you're running the old Media Player.

The fix: Re-register the DRM DLLs

You don't need to download anything. These are built-in Windows files that just got unregistered somehow.

Press Windows key + R to open the Run box.
Type cmd and press Ctrl+Shift+Enter to open Command Prompt as administrator. You'll get a UAC prompt — click Yes.
In the black Command Prompt window, type this command and press Enter:
```
regsvr32 %windir%\system32\blackbox.dll
```
After you press Enter, you should see a pop-up that says "DllRegisterServer in blackbox.dll succeeded."
Next, type this command and press Enter:
```
regsvr32 %windir%\system32\drmv2clt.dll
```
You should see the same success message.
Finally, type this and press Enter:
```
regsvr32 %windir%\system32\wmpdrm.dll
```
Again, you should get the success pop-up.
Close the Command Prompt.
Try playing the file again in Windows Media Player.

If the file plays without the error, you're done. If not, try a full restart of Windows — sometimes the DRM service needs to restart after the re-register.

Why this works

The DRM system in Windows uses several DLL files to handle license validation and content protection. When one of those DLLs gets unregistered (often after a Windows update or a third-party app cleanup), Windows Media Player can't create the "individualization object" it needs to verify your rights to the file. The error code NS_E_DRM_UNABLE_TO_CREATE_INDI_OBJECT literally means the DRM system failed to create that object.

Re-registering those three DLLs puts them back in the Windows Registry where they belong. After that, Windows Media Player can create the object and play the file. It's the most reliable fix because it addresses the root cause — not just a workaround.

I've seen people suggest deleting the entire DRM folder in %appdata%, but that's risky. It wipes your license cache and can break other DRM-protected content. Stick with the DLL re-register.

Other variations of this problem

Sometimes the same error shows up with slightly different messages. Here's what to do for those cases.

Error 0xC00D2731 in Windows Media Center or other apps

If you see the error in Windows Media Center, Zune software, or an old Windows Media Player plugin, the same DLL re-register usually works. But if it doesn't, the problem might be that the DRM files are missing entirely. Check if the three DLLs exist in C:\Windows\System32. If any are missing, you might need to run a System File Checker scan:

sfc /scannow

Let it finish (it takes 15-30 minutes). It will replace missing or corrupted system files. After that, repeat the re-register steps above.

Error only with specific files

If the error only shows up with one or two files, those files might have expired or corrupted DRM licenses. That's not a system problem — it's a file problem. The only fix is to re-download those files from the original source. If the source is gone (like an old online store), you're out of luck. That's the downside of DRM.

Error after a fresh Windows install

On a clean install of Windows 10 or 11, Windows Media Player might not be fully set up. Open Control Panel > Programs and Features > Turn Windows features on or off. Check Media Features then Windows Media Player. Click OK and let it install. Then run the DLL re-register commands.

How to prevent this error from coming back

There's no permanent fix because Windows updates can unregister DRM DLLs again. But you can make it less likely.

Don't use registry cleaners. Tools like CCleaner (when used for registry cleaning) can strip DRM entries. Stick to manual cleanup if you need it.
Set Windows Update to notify you about updates instead of installing automatically. Before you install an update, create a restore point. If the DRM error shows up after the update, just roll back the restore point. Then manually install the update and run the re-register steps after.
Keep your media files backed up. If a file gets corrupted and the license is tied to your account, you might not be able to re-download it. Store your purchased WMA/WMV files in a safe place.
Stop using Windows Media Player for DRM content. I know that's a tough sell if you have a library of old DRM music. But newer players like VLC can't play DRM-protected files at all. The real solution is to convert those files to unprotected formats if you have the license. Tools like Windows Media Player's own "Copy to CD" feature can burn the files to audio CD and rip them back as unprotected MP3s — if you have the license.

If you follow the re-register steps, you'll fix the error in under 5 minutes. Save this guide — you might need it again next time Windows does a major update.