Fix NS_E_NET_WRITE (0XC00D0014) network write error

Quick Answer

Close all apps using the network, run ipconfig /flushdns and netsh winsock reset in an admin command prompt, then restart the relevant service (usually Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service). If that doesn't work, check your firewall or proxy settings.

What's This Error?

NS_E_NET_WRITE with code 0XC00D0014 shows up when an application tries to write data to the network and fails. You'll see it most often in Windows Media Player, Windows Media Center, or any app using the Windows Media Foundation streaming stack. The culprit is almost always a broken network path — the app can't send data because something's blocking the connection.

Common scenarios: streaming video to a smart TV, sharing music over a home network, or using a media server. The error pops up mid-stream or right when you try to start playback. It's not a hardware fault — it's a software configuration issue.

Step-by-Step Fix

1. Close everything. Kill all apps that use network streaming. WMC, WMP, VLC, anything that talks to a remote device.
2. Open an admin command prompt. Hit Win+X, pick 'Command Prompt (Admin)' or 'Terminal (Admin)'.
3. Flush DNS cache. Type ipconfig /flushdns and hit Enter. You'll see 'Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache'.
4. Reset Winsock. Type netsh winsock reset and press Enter. Then type netsh int ip reset and press Enter. Both commands need a reboot to take effect.
5. Restart the media service. Open Services.msc (Win+R, type services.msc). Find 'Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service'. Right-click, choose Restart. If it's stopped, start it.
6. Reboot your machine. Not optional — the Winsock reset requires it.

If the Main Fix Fails

Sometimes the standard reset doesn't cut it. Try these in order:

• Check your firewall. Windows Defender Firewall or third-party firewalls (Norton, McAfee, etc.) can block media streaming ports. Go to Control Panel > Windows Defender Firewall > Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall. Make sure 'Windows Media Player' and 'Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service' have both Private and Public checkboxes checked. For third-party firewalls, look for streaming or media rules.
• Disable proxy settings. In Internet Options (Win+R, type inetcpl.cpl), go to Connections tab, click LAN settings. Uncheck 'Use a proxy server for your LAN'. Proxy interference is a common hidden cause — media apps don't handle proxies well.
• Reset network stack. Run netsh advfirewall reset in admin command prompt. This restores firewall rules to defaults. Do this only if you're comfortable reconfiguring any custom firewall rules later.
• Check for IPv6 issues. Disable IPv6 on your network adapter. Open Network Connections (Win+R, type ncpa.cpl), right-click your active adapter, go to Properties, uncheck 'Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)'. Reboot. If it helps, leave it off — most home networks don't need IPv6.

Prevention Tips

This error tends to come back if you don't fix the root cause. Here's what I've seen work long-term:

• Keep your firewall rules clean. Don't install multiple firewalls. One is enough. If you use Windows Defender Firewall, leave it alone — it rarely blocks legit traffic.
• Avoid DNS-heavy setups. If you're using custom DNS (like Pi-hole), make sure the media device uses a direct DNS forwarder. Blocked queries can trigger this error.
• Stick to wired connections for streaming. Wi-Fi can introduce packet loss that mimics a network write failure. A simple Ethernet cable often eliminates the error entirely.
• Update your media apps. Old versions of Windows Media Player (pre-12) have known bugs with network writes. If you're still on Windows 7, upgrade to WMP 12 via a Windows update.

One more thing: if you're on Windows 10 or 11, consider using the built-in 'Movies & TV' app instead of WMP for network streaming. It's more modern and handles errors like this better. But honestly, most people stick with VLC — it's lightweight and never throws these Microsoft-specific error codes.