NS_E_DVD_NO_DECODER (0XC00D116D) – Fix in 2 Minutes

What Causes NS_E_DVD_NO_DECODER (0XC00D116D)?

This error pops up when Windows Media Player tries to play a DVD but can't find a licensed MPEG-2 decoder. Microsoft stopped including one in Windows 8 and later versions — it's a licensing cost thing. You'll see this on Windows 8, 10, and 11. The fix is simple: give Windows Media Player a decoder or use a player that already has one built-in.

Fix #1: Install a Free Codec Pack (The Quickest Fix)

The direct fix is installing the Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Decoder or a third-party codec pack. Don't bother hunting down a standalone decoder — codec packs bundle it with everything else you might need.

1. Download the K-Lite Codec Pack Basic from codecguide.com. Skip the Mega version — Basic covers DVD playback.
2. Run the installer. Accept defaults but make sure you check “DVD playback support” in the installer options.
3. Restart Windows Media Player. Try your DVD again.

If you're on Windows 10 N (the European version without Media Player), grab the Media Feature Pack from Microsoft's site instead. That adds back the missing decoder officially.

Fix #2: Use VLC Media Player Instead (No Codecs Needed)

Honestly, this is the better long-term solution. VLC has its own MPEG-2 decoder built in. It can play damaged discs, encrypted DVDs, and weird region codes without extra software. No setup needed.

1. Download VLC from videolan.org.
2. Install it — defaults are fine.
3. Open VLC, go to Media > Open Disc, select your DVD drive, and hit Play.

If VLC can't read the disc either, your DVD drive might be failing or the disc is scratched. Try a different disc first.

Fix #3: Re-register Windows Media Player Components (Rarely Works)

Some forums tell you to re-register DLLs for Windows Media Player. I've seen this fix work maybe 5% of the time. Only try it if you're stuck on an old Windows 7 machine that lost its decoder somehow.

regsvr32 msdxm.ocx
regsvr32 wmp.dll
regsvr32 dxmrtp.dll

Run Command Prompt as administrator, type each line, and hit Enter. You'll get a success message for each. Then restart Windows Media Player. If it still doesn't work, move back to Fix #1 or Fix #2.

Summary Table

One More Thing

If you're on Windows 11 and the error appears even after installing a codec pack, check your DVD drive's region code. Go to Device Manager > DVD/CD-ROM drives > Properties > DVD Region. Set it to your region. A wrong region code can trigger this error too.