Windows Media Player Does Not Transcode DRM Files to Your Portable Device

Windows Media Player does not transcode media files to a lower bit rate when they are protected by Digital Rights Management (DRM). Even if you manually set Windows Media Player to transcode files to a lower bit rate, the setting is ignored when the media is protected by DRM.

This behavior is by design.

This behavior occurs to maintain the copy protection on the media file (or content). To manually set Windows Media Player to transcode files to a lower bit rate:

1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Devices tab.
2. Click the appropriate portable device, click Properties, and then change the speed setting.
3. Click OK, and then click OK.