NS_E_DRM_INDIV_SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE (0XC00D2845) Fix
Windows Media Player DRM upgrade can't reach Microsoft's server. Usually a blocked URL or old media player component. Fix it with a registry tweak or URL whitelist.
Quick answer for the impatient
Delete the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Services\Individualization and restart Windows Media Player. If that doesn't work, whitelist *.microsoft.com and msft-drm.com in your firewall or proxy. Done.
What actually causes this error
This error pops up when Windows Media Player tries to run a DRM individualization upgrade but can't reach Microsoft's upgrade server. I see it most often in corporate environments with locked-down proxies or in homes with aggressive security suites. The culprit is almost always a firewall rule, proxy filter, or a stuck DRM state on the local machine. Microsoft retired the old DRM individualization server years ago, but WMP still tries to connect to it for certain protected content — usually older WMA files from services that went defunct. The error code 0XC00D2845 specifically means the HTTP request to the DRM server timed out or got blocked.
Fix steps (in order of effectiveness)
- Clear the DRM individualization cache
Open regedit, go toHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Services\Individualization. Delete the whole key. Then restart WMP. This forces WMP to re-download the DRM component from scratch. Nine times out of ten, this is all you need. - Check your firewall or proxy
If step 1 didn't work, something's blocking the connection. Temporarily disable Windows Defender Firewall (or your third-party AV). Try playing the file again. If it works, re-enable the firewall and whitelist these URLs:*.microsoft.com,*.windowsmedia.com,msft-drm.com. In corporate environments, you'll need to talk to your network team — DRM traffic goes over HTTPS on port 443, so it's usually a proxy filtering by hostname. - Run the DRM reset tool
Microsoft has a dedicated tool for this. Download thedrmreset.exefrom Microsoft's support site (search for KB929773). Run it as admin, reboot, then try the file again. This nukes the entire DRM store, not just the individualization piece. - Disable IPv6
Yeah, I know, sounds like a long shot. But I've seen cases where IPv6 DNS resolution for Microsoft's DRM servers fails silently. Right-click your network icon, open Network & Internet settings, click Change adapter options, right-click your adapter, uncheck Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6), and restart.
When none of that works
If you're still stuck, the file itself might be broken. Some old WMV or WMA files from services like MSN Music or Yahoo Music Unlimited had DRM that's literally unreachable now because the licensing servers are gone. In that case, there's no fix — the file is a brick. You can try converting it with a tool like ffmpeg (which sometimes bypasses DRM checks), but I'm not legally advising that. For most modern content, switch to a different media player. VLC handles DRM-free files fine, and Windows 10/11's built-in Movies & TV app uses a different DRM system altogether.
How to prevent this from happening again
First, make sure Windows Media Player is fully updated. Go to Windows Update and install all pending updates — there was a rollup in 2023 that fixed some DRM individualization issues on Windows 10 22H2. Second, if you're using a proxy or VPN, exclude Microsoft's DRM domains from the tunnel. A PAC file with shExpMatch(host, "*.microsoft.com") or shExpMatch(host, "msft-drm.com") set to DIRECT will save you headaches. Third, avoid relying on DRM-protected media for anything important. The old PlayReady and WMDRM systems are being phased out — Microsoft hasn't officially killed them, but they're on life support.
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