NS_S_WMP_LOADED_PNG_IMAGE (0x000D1041) – Not an Error
That code isn't a real error. It's just Windows Media Player saying it loaded a PNG image file. Here's why you see it and what to ignore.
You're sitting there trying to play a song or a video in Windows Media Player, and bam – a popup says NS_S_WMP_LOADED_PNG_IMAGE (0x000D1041). Looks scary, right? That hex code feels like something's broken.
But here's the thing – this isn't an error. It's a status code. Windows defines success codes with an S_ prefix. NS_S_WMP_LOADED_PNG_IMAGE literally means “successfully loaded a PNG image.” It's like your car's check engine light turning on because you filled the gas tank. Nothing's wrong.
Had a client last month who called me panicked because her kid's school project wouldn't play. She had this code up on screen. I showed her it was just WMP bragging about loading a photo. She laughed.
Why You See This Code
This happens when Windows Media Player tries to read a media file that includes a PNG image – like album art embedded in an MP3, or a video thumbnail. WMP loads the PNG fine, reports success, but some third‑party tool or a buggy codec wrapper displays that status as an error. Common triggers:
- Using an old version of Windows Media Player (Windows 7 or 8 era)
- Installed a codec pack like K‑Lite or CCCP that messes with how WMP reports events
- A corrupted metadata file in your music folder – often a hidden
AlbumArtSmall.jpgorFolder.jpg - Playing a file with high‑resolution album art (like a 4000x4000 PNG)
What This Code Actually Means
Think of it like this: Windows Media Player has a list of possible return values. Most are errors. But some start with NS_S – those are successes. NS_S_WMP_LOADED_PNG_IMAGE is one of them. The number 0x000D1041 is just the hex version of that success.
If your media actually plays after you see this, ignore the code completely. It's a false alarm. If the media doesn't play, the real problem is something else – a broken codec or a corrupt file.
Step‑by‑Step Fix (It's Not a Fix, Really)
Because this isn't an error, you don't need to “fix” it. But if you want to stop seeing the popup, here's what to do:
- Update Windows Media Player. On Windows 10, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check for updates. Microsoft patched this display bug in later builds.
- Remove codec packs. If you installed K‑Lite or CCCP, uninstall them from Control Panel. They sometimes cause WMP to show success messages as errors. After uninstall, restart your PC.
- Clear album art cache. Open File Explorer, go to
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Media Player\and delete everything in that folder. WMP rebuilds it. This removes corrupted thumbnail data. - Rebuild the media library. Open WMP, press Alt to show the menu, go to Tools > Options > Library, and click “Configure sharing” (or just clear the library and rescan).
- Check the media file itself. If a specific file always triggers the code, try stripping its metadata. Use a tool like MP3tag to remove all images from the file. Then try playing it again.
If It Still Shows Up
Look – this code is harmless. If your video or song plays fine, stop chasing it. I've seen people waste hours trying to “fix” something that's not broken. If the media won't play, the real issue is a missing codec or a damaged file. Install the Media Feature Pack for Windows N if you're on a European version of Windows. Or use VLC instead – it never shows this nonsense.
Pro tip: Don't judge a code by its color. Red doesn't always mean danger. In WMP, NS_S codes are green lights in disguise.
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