NS_E_OUTPUT_PROTECTION_LEVEL_UNSUPPORTED 0XC00D2904 Fix

Yeah, I know. You're trying to watch a video or play some music you bought, and Windows Media Player slaps you with NS_E_OUTPUT_PROTECTION_LEVEL_UNSUPPORTED (0XC00D2904). It's frustrating because the file is yours, but the player won't touch it. Let's get this fixed quickly.

First thing to try: update your video driver

The real culprit here is almost always the graphics driver. The content has a flag saying "you need at least this much copy protection," and your current driver isn't reporting that capability correctly.

1. Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Display adapters. You'll see something like NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 or Intel UHD Graphics 620.
3. Right-click your video card and choose Update driver.
4. Pick Search automatically for drivers. Windows will fetch whatever it finds.
5. After the update finishes, restart your computer. Don't skip this — the driver won't take effect until you do.

After restarting, try playing that file again. If the error goes away, you're done. If not, move to the next step.

Manually install the latest driver from the manufacturer

Windows Update often gives you an old or generic driver. You want the real one.

• NVIDIA users: Go to nvidia.com/drivers. Enter your card model. Download the latest Game Ready driver. Install it with a custom clean install (check the box).
• AMD users: Hit amd.com/support, pick your product, download Adrenalin Edition, and do a factory reset during install.
• Intel users: Download the Intel Driver & Support Assistant from Intel's site. It'll scan and grab the right driver for your integrated graphics.

I've seen this error on a Dell XPS 15 with an Intel Iris Xe graphics card. The stock Windows driver was 2 versions behind. Updating fixed it in 10 minutes.

Check if your display is HDCP compliant

Newer video cards won't play protected content through an old monitor or cable that doesn't support HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection). Most monitors made after 2010 do, but some budget ones don't, especially over VGA or DVI.

Quick test: plug the same computer into a different monitor or TV using an HDMI cable. If the error disappears, your original display or cable is the problem. Replace the cable first — it's cheaper and more common than a bad monitor.

One guy I helped was using a DVI-to-HDMI adapter from 2007. That adapter didn't support HDCP 2.2. A $9 cable from Amazon solved it.

Disable and re-enable your video card

Sometimes HDCP gets stuck in a bad state. Resetting the card can shake it loose.

1. Open Device Manager again.
2. Right-click your video card and choose Disable device. Yes, your screen might flicker — that's normal.
3. Wait 10 seconds, then right-click and Enable device.

Try playing the content now. This won't fix a bad driver, but it's a quick test that costs nothing.

Less common variations

I've run into a few edge cases that still cause this error:

• Virtual machines: If you're running Windows Media Player inside a VM (like VirtualBox or VMware), the emulated graphics rarely support HDCP. You'll almost always get this error. Play the content on the host machine instead.
• Remote Desktop: Connected via RDP? Same problem. The remote session doesn't pass HDCP flags. Disconnect and play locally.
• Multiple monitors with different capabilities: One monitor supports HDCP, another doesn't. Windows Media Player sees the weakest link and blocks playback. Disconnect the non-HDCP monitor. On Windows 10 and 11, go to Display Settings > Advanced display and check if each monitor says "HDCP: Supported."
• Old content with insane protection flags: Some early Blu-ray files or Windows Media DRM tracks ask for output protection levels that even modern hardware can't match. In those rare cases, you might need to find a different player (VLC with libdvdcss, or MPC-HC) that ignores those flags. Legality varies by content, so use your judgment.

Prevention for next time

You don't want to see this error again. Here's how to stay ahead of it:

• Keep your video driver updated. Set a monthly reminder to check the manufacturer's site for new drivers. Or use NVIDIA GeForce Experience, AMD Adrenalin, or Intel Driver Assistant to auto-notify.
• Use high-quality HDMI cables. Cheap cables degrade over time and can drop HDCP support. If you start seeing flickering or black screens alongside this error, replace the cable.
• Check monitor specs before buying a new one. Look for "HDCP 2.2" support in the manual. Most monitors include it, but cheap office models sometimes skip it on VGA or DVI ports.
• Don't use adapters. HDMI-to-DVI, DisplayPort-to-HDMI — these are common weak points. Use direct HDMI connections when possible.

The error code 0XC00D2904 is annoying but almost always fixable without buying new hardware. Start with the driver. If that doesn't work, check the display path. You'll be watching your content in 15 minutes.