It can happen that while you are watching your favorite content on Netflix, the DRM error shows up uninvited, and stops the video from streaming. But don’t worry, because in this Techspirited article, we will show you how to solve the Netflix DRM error easily.
Did You Know?
The Netflix DRM error usually occurs when Microsoft Silverlight gets updated to a newer version. A few of the old version utilities get left behind during the update, and subsequently cause an error in the new updated version.
The Beatles sure did understand the sorrow of the working man. It certainly was a hard day’s night, and I truly had been working like a dog! So finally, when I got back home, the only thing I wanted to do (other than to sleep like a log), was to kick off my shoes and cozy up in my comfort chair to watch the next episode of my favorite TV series on Netflix. The outside world and the happenings of the day didn’t matter anymore. This is all my mind was on, at least for now.
Now, imagine my frustration, when, instead of the episode that I wanted to watch, the following message showed up on the screen,
Digital Rights Management (DRM) Error
Error Code: N8156-6013
We’re sorry, but there is a problem playing protected (DRM) content. The date on your computer is set to (12/24/14), which may be incorrect. Please correct the date on your computer and try again.
I freaked out! I tried everything I knew to fix the problem – I reset the system clock, refreshed the page several times, and tried opening the URL in different browsers. Heck, I even restarted the computer a couple of times, but to no avail. Tired and defeated, that night I went to sleep without my daily dose of entertainment. But the next morning I woke up determined to find a solution.
After a lot of trial and error, I was able to resolve this issue. In the following lines, I shall teach you how to fix the DRM error on Netflix, so that you don’t have to suffer like I did, and miss out on your well-deserved daily dose of entertainment.
How to Fix Netflix Error Code N8156-6013
The following are the methods which you can use to easily fix the Netflix DRM error in Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, and in MAC.
For Windows 7 and 8
1) Close the Netflix tab in your browser, and exit the Windows Media Center.
2) Open the computer or a browse to, or copy paste the following address – C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\PlayReady\”.
3) In the folder that opens up, locate the mspr.hds file. You have to get rid of this file. The most straightforward way would be to delete it from your system. However, you might want to have a backup copy of it, so instead of deleting it, you can rename it to mspr.hds.old.
4) Now, open Internet Explorer and log into your Netflix account again. If you have performed all the above steps correctly, your Netflix should start streaming again.
For Windows XP
The same procedure as the one detailed above can be used to set the problem right in Windows XP. However, the location of the mspr.hds file is different in XP. If you are using Windows XP, follow the following steps to locate this file.
1) Open My Computer and copy-paste the following path in the address bar – C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\PlayReady\mspr.hds, to find the mspr.hds file. If the file doesn’t show up, then probably it is hidden, and you will be required to enable its visibility.
2) In the My Computer window, click on Tools, and from the drop-down menu, select Folder Options. In the new window that opens up, click on the View tab. Select the Advanced Settings option, and scroll down to deselect the Hide Protected Operating Systems Files. A confirmation window will show up asking you if you really want to do this. Click on Yes.
3) After that, again try copying and pasting the above URL. After you hit Enter, the file should show up. If it is still not showing, then you can try looking for it in the following path – C:/Documents and Settings/All Users/DRM.
Once you have located the mspr.hds file, all that is left to do is follow steps 3 and 4 highlighted in the Windows 7 and 8 section, and the Netflix streaming DRM error in your system should be fixed.
For MAC
On MAC too, the mspr.hds file has to be located and then either deleted or renamed. The following are the steps involved in doing this.
1) Double-click on the Macintosh HD icon to open a Finder window.
2) Navigate to the following location – Library/Application Support/Microsoft/PlayReady, and locate the mspr.hds file.
3) Once you find this file, either rename it as described in the Windows 7and 8 section, or drag and drop it into the trash.
Alternate Solution
If the above methods fail to solve the problem, then simply close all the browsers and software that you use for streaming Netflix, and uninstall and reinstall Microsoft Silverlight. This will definitely fix the error
Thus, simply by renaming or deleting the mspr.hds file, the Netflix DRM error can be resolved. When Silverlight is unable to locate the old file, it creates a fresh one right from scratch, which effectively clears up the playback issue.
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