Fix NS_E_WMPCORE_NO_PLAYABLE_MEDIA_IN_PLAYLIST 0XC00D10B5

When does this error pop up?

You double-click a music file or try to play a playlist in Windows Media Player (WMP). Instead of music, you get a pop-up box with error code 0XC00D10B5. The message says something like "Windows Media Player cannot play any items in the playlist." This happens most often when you've downloaded music from a friend, ripped a CD years ago, or tried playing a file you just moved from an old computer.

Why does this happen?

The short answer: Windows Media Player doesn't know how to decode the file. It's missing the right codec — that's the little piece of software that tells the player how to read the file format. The error also shows up if the file itself is damaged, if the file extension doesn't match what's inside, or if the playlist file (.wpl or .m3u) points to files that have been moved or deleted.

Here's a real example I see all the time: someone saves an .mp3 file that's actually an MPEG-4 audio file (like .m4a) but renamed the extension. WMP tries to open it as an mp3 and fails. Or a user has FLAC files (lossless audio) that WMP can't handle without extra codecs.

Another common trigger: you downloaded a playlist file from an old website, and the files it references are no longer on your hard drive. The playlist exists, but the actual music files don't.

Fix 1: Check if the files still exist

1. Right-click the playlist file (ends in .wpl or .m3u) and choose Open with > Notepad.
2. Look for lines that start with a file path, like C:\Users\YourName\Music\song.mp3. If you see URLs from the internet, that's your problem — WMP can't play remote files without permission.
3. Go to the folder where the files should be. If you don't see them or they've been renamed, that's your culprit. You'll need to find the original files or re-download them.
4. If the files are there but still won't play, move on to Fix 2.

Fix 2: Install the K-Lite Codec Pack

This is the fix that works 9 times out of 10. Windows Media Player is ancient — it doesn't support modern formats like FLAC, Opus, or even some MP4 audio variants. The K-Lite Codec Pack gives WMP the ability to play almost anything.

1. Open your web browser and go to codecguide.com.
2. Download the "K-Lite Codec Pack Basic" — you don't need the mega pack with 50 tools. Basic is enough for WMP.
3. Close Windows Media Player completely.
4. Run the installer. When it asks about installation type, pick Normal.
5. It will ask if you want to set preferred decoders. Leave the defaults. Click Next and finish the install.
6. Restart your computer. Yes, you need to restart — some codecs won't work until you do.
7. Try opening the playlist again. If it works, you're done. If not, go to Fix 3.

Fix 3: Repair Windows Media Player

Sometimes the player itself is broken. This happens after Windows updates or if some system files got corrupted.

1. Press Windows key + R on your keyboard.
2. Type appwiz.cpl and hit Enter.
3. In the list, look for Windows Media Player — it might not be there. If not, click Turn Windows features on or off on the left side.
4. Scroll down to Media Features. Uncheck the box next to Windows Media Player. Click OK.
5. Restart your computer.
6. Go back to the same place and re-check the box to re-enable WMP.
7. Restart again.
8. Try the playlist.

Fix 4: Convert the files to a format WMP likes

If you're still stuck, the files might be in a format that even codecs can't fix. Some old DRM-protected files (like from a long-closed music store) won't ever play in WMP. Your best bet is to convert them.

1. Download VLC Media Player from videolan.org. It's free and plays almost every file format without extra codecs.
2. Open VLC, go to Media > Convert / Save.
3. Click Add and select the file that won't play.
4. Click Convert / Save at the bottom.
5. Under Profile, pick Audio - MP3.
6. Pick a destination folder and filename. Click Start.
7. Once done, open the new MP3 in WMP. It should work.

What if it still fails?

If none of these worked, the file might be completely corrupted. Try playing the same file in VLC — if VLC also can't play it, the file is dead. You'll need to download it again or find a different copy.

Another thing: check if your antivirus blocked the codec installation. Some over-zealous security programs flag codec packs as potentially unwanted. Temporarily disable your antivirus and reinstall the K-Lite pack. Re-enable the antivirus right after.

One last tip: if you're on a work computer, system administrators sometimes disable WMP entirely. In that case, there's no fix — use VLC instead. It's better anyway.