NS_E_WMP_WMDM_NOTCERTIFIED (0XC00D11A5) – Sync fails on old media players

When This Error Shows Up

You're trying to sync music or videos from Windows Media Player (WMP) to an older portable media player — maybe a Creative Zen, a SanDisk Sansa, or an old Android phone — and right when it starts the sync, you get:

NS_E_WMP_WMDM_NOTCERTIFIED (0XC00D11A5)

The device shows up in WMP, but the sync never finishes. You might also see a message saying the device isn't certified or the driver isn't trusted by the current Windows version. This is common after a Windows update (like from Win 7 to 10, or a big Win 10 feature update). Had a client last month whose old Sandisk Clip Sport wouldn't sync at all after a Windows 10 22H2 update. Same error.

Root Cause

Windows Media Player uses the Windows Media Device Manager (WMDM) to talk to portable devices. Microsoft requires device drivers to have a digital certificate from Microsoft before Windows trusts them. Old devices — especially ones from before 2010 — often have unsigned or expired drivers. When Windows updates, it tightens driver verification, and the old driver gets blocked. That's the 0XC00D11A5 error.

It's not a hardware failure. The device is fine. It's purely a driver certification issue.

Fix Steps

Step 1: Uninstall the current device driver

1. Plug in your device to the computer.
2. Open Device Manager (right-click Start > Device Manager).
3. Look for Portable Devices or Other Devices. Your device will be there, maybe with a yellow warning icon.
4. Right-click the device and select Uninstall device. Check the box that says Delete the driver software for this device if offered.
5. DO NOT restart yet.

Step 2: Disable driver signature enforcement temporarily

This lets Windows accept the old driver. It's safe — you're just allowing your own device.

1. Press Windows key + R, type msconfig, press Enter.
2. Go to the Boot tab.
3. Check Safe boot (minimal). Click OK and restart.
4. Once in Safe Mode, press Windows key + R, type shutdown /r /o, press Enter. This reboots to Advanced Startup.
5. Click Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
6. After restart, press F7 (Disable driver signature enforcement).
7. Windows will boot normally, but with signature checks off for this session.

Step 3: Reinstall the driver

1. Open Device Manager again.
2. Right-click on your device under Portable Devices and select Update driver.
3. Click Browse my computer for drivers.
4. Click Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
5. Select the driver (usually just one) and click Next. Windows will install it without checking the signature.
6. Restart your computer normally (no safe mode).

Step 4: Test the sync

Open Windows Media Player, connect your device, and try syncing a small file. It should work now. If the error comes back after a reboot, you might need to repeat step 2 permanently — but that's rare.

What If It Still Fails?

• Try a different USB port — USB 2.0 ports often work better with old devices than USB 3.0.
• Check for a manufacturer driver — some companies like Creative or SanDisk provide updated WMDM drivers on their website. Download and install that instead.
• Try a third-party sync program — like MediaMonkey or Winamp. They don't rely on WMDM and often work around this error.
• If the device is very old (pre-2005), it might use a proprietary protocol that WMP no longer supports at all. In that case, copy files manually via Windows Explorer (drag and drop to the device's storage).
• Last resort: Use a virtual machine with Windows 7 or XP to sync, then copy the files back. I've done this for a client who refused to give up their 2004 iPod Mini.

The 0XC00D11A5 error is annoying, but it's fixable. Nine times out of ten, the driver reinstall with signature enforcement off does the trick. Don't buy a new player unless you really want to.