What does HRESULT 0xC0262349 (ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED) mean?

Status / error code:

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Description:

Multi-sampling is not supported on the respective VidPN present path.

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ERROR_GRAPHICS_GAMMA_RAMP_NOT_SUPPORTED	ERROR_GRAPHICS_MODE_NOT_IN_MODESET

ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED

Interpret the result in its owning layer: graphics multisampling not supported

The useful interpretation of ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED (0xC0262349) starts at the vidpn boundary: the path cannot scan out the requested multisampled primary surface arrangement. In practical terms, inspect VidPN present-path multisampling mode before changing application-wide graphics settings.

Resolve before scan-out when required

Multisampling can be valid for an application render target while unsupported for the primary surface used on a specific present path. Record sample count, sample quality, source format and whether a resolve operation occurs before presentation. The focused control renders into the same multisampled resource, resolves to a single-sample surface and presents that surface. Success demonstrates a scan-out restriction rather than absence of multisample rendering support.

ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED: VidPN handles and subobjects are generation-bound. For ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED, A monitor hot-plug, docking action, session switch or mode commit can invalidate an otherwise well-formed cached object. For ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED, the built-in one-line message identifies the immediate result; diagnosis also needs the producing API, object ownership and the display generation current at the time.

Capture before recreating objects

Capture item	Why it matters for `ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED`
Rejected boundary	the path cannot scan out the requested multisampled primary surface arrangement
Decisive capture	sample count, sample quality, source format, path support and resolve behavior
Current graph state	VidPN, topology, source and target mode sets, and the present path connecting them
Supporting trace	source and target IDs, topology generation, path descriptors, pinned modes, mode-set handles and monitor timing data
Object identity	VidPN present-path multisampling mode

For ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED, preserve the unsigned HRESULT, symbolic name, first failing API and timestamp in one record. If cleanup later fails too, keep that secondary result separately from ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED.

Reproduce one variable at a time

Freeze the ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED generation. Record sample count, sample quality, source format, path support and resolve behavior. Before diagnosing ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED, do not resize, hot-plug, recreate or release the object under examination.
Run the narrow ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED comparison. resolve into a single-sample presentation surface and compare. During the ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED comparison, keep every driver, monitor, resource format and unrelated policy unchanged.
Observe the layer after ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED. For ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED, if the exact check passes, record the next HRESULT or visible outcome. A different downstream result shows that the ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED boundary was crossed.
Repeat ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED through a lifecycle transition. For ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED, exercise one relevant resize, mode switch, device recreation, hot-plug or session change and confirm that this result does not reuse stale handles.

The comparison with ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELFORMAT is especially useful: ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELFORMAT concerns the source format independent of sample count. For ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED, recording both names prevents a broad “graphics error” label from merging distinct ownership, capability and lifetime problems.

Recovery contract

Perform multisampling in the render target and resolve before presentation when required. Repair of ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED is complete only when the original call succeeds or returns its documented nonfatal status and the same lifetime test remains correct after a second display transition.

The ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED trace identifies one producing API and one current graphics object, rather than only the final UI symptom.
The passing run changes exactly the condition described for ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED; unrelated adapter, monitor and application state remains unchanged.
For ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED, debug-layer, ETW or driver diagnostics no longer report the rejected VidPN present-path multisampling mode contract during the same scenario.
The application handles recurrence of ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED without an unbounded retry loop, leaked resource, duplicate composition target or stale topology handle.

Implementation notes for `ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED`

For ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED, log source and target IDs, topology generation, path descriptors, pinned modes, mode-set handles and monitor timing data. When the ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED path returns a count, size, status flag or replacement object, retain it even on a nonfatal result because it can direct the next call.

A production fallback for ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED should be explicit: pause rendering, re-enumerate, rebuild one cache entry, recreate a device, or decline a protected path only when this layer calls for that action. Reinstalling every display component, deleting all caches or forcing a resolution change is not an evidence-based fix for ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED.

Technical references

Microsoft: Introduction to Video Present Networks — background for the VidPN present-path multisampling mode boundary involved in ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED.
Microsoft: VidPN objects and interfaces — background for the VidPN present-path multisampling mode boundary involved in ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED.
Microsoft: Enumerating cofunctional VidPN modes — background for the VidPN present-path multisampling mode boundary involved in ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED.
Microsoft: Determining VidPN support — background for the VidPN present-path multisampling mode boundary involved in ERROR_GRAPHICS_MULTISAMPLING_NOT_SUPPORTED.

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