Fix ERROR_NDIS_INVALID_LENGTH (0X80340014) on Windows 10/11

What does this error mean?

You see ERROR_NDIS_INVALID_LENGTH (0X80340014) when your computer tries to send or receive data through the network, but the data packet is the wrong size. Think of it like trying to mail a package that's too big for the mailbox. Windows just rejects it.

This error usually pops up when you're browsing the web, downloading a file, or connecting to a VPN. It can also cause a blue screen of death (BSOD).

The 30-second fix: Reset your network adapter

This works about 60% of the time. It clears a temporary glitch in the network card.

1. Open Command Prompt as admin. Click Start, type cmd, right-click it, choose Run as administrator.
2. Type this command and press Enter:

   netsh int ip reset

   You should see Resetting, OK! after each part.
3. Then type:

   netsh winsock reset

   You'll see Reset the Winsock Catalog. That's good.
4. Finally, restart your computer. Do not skip this step.

After restart, check if the error comes back. If it does, move to the next fix.

The 5-minute fix: Update or reinstall the network driver

A corrupt or outdated driver is the most common cause of this error on Windows 10 and 11.

1. Press Win + X and choose Device Manager.
2. Expand Network adapters. You'll see a list of things like Realtek, Intel, or Qualcomm adapters.
3. Right-click your active network adapter (the one you're using for internet) and pick Uninstall device. A small box will pop up. Check the box that says Delete the driver software for this device.
4. Click Uninstall. Don't worry, Windows will reinstall it automatically after restart.
5. Restart your computer. After booting, Windows should detect the missing driver and install a fresh copy. This can take 2-3 minutes.

If the error still shows up, we need to go deeper.

The 15-minute fix: Check and replace the network cable or Wi-Fi adapter

Sometimes it's a physical problem, not software. Here's what to check:

• If using Ethernet: Unplug the cable from both your PC and the router. Look for bent pins, cuts, or kinks. Plug it back in firmly. Try a different cable if you have one. Cheap Cat5 cables can cause this error.
• If using Wi-Fi: Go near the router. Move away any big metal objects or microwaves. If you have a USB Wi-Fi dongle, try plugging it into a different USB port (preferably USB 2.0, not 3.0 — sometimes 3.0 ports cause interference).

Still no luck? Let's do a full network stack reset.

Full network stack reset (advanced)

1. Open Command Prompt as admin again.
2. Run these commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns

3. Then run this to reset TCP/IP:

   netsh int ip reset reset.log

4. Restart again.

If you see the error after all this, your network adapter might be physically dying. On a laptop, that means a motherboard repair. On a desktop, you can buy a new PCIe network card for $20–$30.

When none of this works

One last thing: check Windows Update. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Check for updates. Install any optional driver updates you see. Microsoft sometimes fixes NDIS bugs through these updates.

If you're still stuck, run the Network Troubleshooter: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status. Click Network troubleshooter. It's not perfect, but sometimes it finds the problem.

That's it. You started with a 30-second command, moved to a driver reinstall, and ended with hardware checks. One of these should kill 0X80340014 for good.