This guide will also help if you encounter the Windows cannot connect to the printer 0x0000011b error or if you received the Operation failed with error 0x0000011b message. That said, let’s move on to the solutions for the Windows cannot connect to the printer error in Windows 10 & 11. Follow along!

How to fix Windows cannot connect to the printer?

1. Check if your printer is an Unspecified Device and update the drivers

1.1 Find out if your printer is listed as an Unspecified Device

We recommend performing the next step if you see your printer in the Unspecified section.

1.2 Update drivers

If you updated or upgraded to Windows 10, you might have to update your current printer driver. Downloading and installing the driver manually is also an option to consider. Do this if Windows doesn’t automatically find a driver update for your printer or you don’t have an installation disk. You can check the manufacturer’s website and find your printer’s latest driver. And if you have the installation disc, it may contain the software for installing a driver for your printer. Another method you can use to update your drivers is a tool such as DriverFix. Install it, and you’ll automatically update all outdated drivers with just a few clicks. This method is perfect if you don’t want to search and download drivers manually, so be sure to try it out.

2. Uninstall and reinstall your printer

2.1 Uninstall the printer

In case you see Windows cannot connect to the printer in Windows 10, this solution will help. If you have problems with this step, we also have an article on what to do if you can’t remove the printer in Windows 10.

2.2 Reinstall the printer

To connect to a local printer, plug in the printer’s USB cable to an available USB port on your computer, then turn on the printer.

3. Temporarily disable your antivirus security software

In this solution, we have explained how to turn off the essential protection from your system, Microsoft Windows Defender. However, if you have a third-party antivirus installed, the Windows Defender protection is already bypassed, and you will have to disable that antivirus instead. Try looking for the disable feature in the main window of your antivirus or on its settings window. Don’t worry; all of them have an option to injure themselves. Another option is to uninstall third-party software on your PC, such as computer cleaners or antivirus tools. When protecting your PC – use an antivirus- temporarily disable it because you need it to prevent your computer from security threats. Immediately after fixing the connection error, you can enable it back. However, if the antivirus is indeed causing this issue, perhaps this is a good moment to consider switching to a different one.

4. Check Default printer settings

If your printer keeps switching from the default one, you can change this setting on Windows 10 from the current printer to the one you want to use.

5. Perform a Windows Update

You must keep updating Windows with the latest system updates and drivers for a healthy computer. This also helps resolve any issues or difficulties you may be experiencing. If you have trouble updating your OS, we have an excellent guide explaining what to do if the Windows Update is not working correctly.

6. Clear spooler files and restart spooler service

6.1 Stop the Print Spooler service

6.2 Delete the contents of the Spool folder and restart the Print Spooler service

We also have a helpful article that will guide you on what to do if the Print Spooler keeps stopping on Windows 10.

7. Use the built-in Printer troubleshooter

The Windows built-in troubleshooter is specialized in finding printer issues and offering fixes to those errors. Thus, it is one of the most efficient and fast solutions you can try if you come across Windows cannot connect to the printer in Windows. We recommend that you look at our post on the seven best printers compatible with Windows 11 in case you are looking for an extra one.

Why does my computer say it Cannot connect to the printer?

There are many causes for the Windows not connecting to the printer issue. It’s possible that your USB cable is broken or your computer just isn’t recognizing your printer. Moreover, there might be an issue with the driver for your printer, or your Windows operating system needs an update. The antivirus software you’re using is another possible cause since it might interfere with your printer. Note that our users reported many similar issues with their printer, which we will cover below. Some of the most common ones are the following: SPONSORED

Operation failed with error 0x00000a Windows cannot connect to the printer – This problem manifests itself due to the fact that the CryptFindOIDInfo method returns a null pointer. Windows cannot connect to the printer in network – Turn on the function on the computer that is called the Internet Printing Client. No printers were found, Windows cannot connect to the printer – This issue is most commonly brought on by a clogged print queue on the computer where the printer is installed. Windows cannot connect to the printer there is not enough memory – This happens when the computer does not have enough memory available for the All-in-One to print. This can happen when there is not enough free space on the hard drive. Access is denied, Windows cannot connect to the printer – Your user account does not have the appropriate permissions to establish a connection to the printer. Windows cannot connect to the printer 0x0000011b – It’s possible that the print spooler service is frozen. Shared printer, Windows cannot connect to the printer – Remove your printer’s installation and then reinstall it. Windows cannot connect to the printer 0x0000007c – As it turns out, this issue is purportedly triggered by an update that was provided by Microsoft; as part of their security updates. Microsoft has released this update as part of their security updates.

If your Windows 11 shared printer is not working, then check out our dedicated guide for more help.

What to do if I get the Windows cannot connect to printer 0x0000011b error?

There are various printer errors on Windows, but most can be fixed by running a troubleshooter or updating your driver. Some errors, such as printer error 0x000003e3, might require you to adjust your configuration; and ensure that your device is properly connected and configured. If you’re unable to install the printer, you might have a driver problem; but it’s also possible that your device is damaged somehow.

How to make sure that my printer is working?

We have a couple of troubleshooting steps to perform to ensure that the printer and other components are working. Many issues regarding the connection to the printer come from simple problems like a cable not being plugged in completely or other basic settings. Although they seem evident to many of you, it’s no harm to check them out before getting into more complicated things. ➡ Make sure that your printer is powered and turned on Ensure that the printer’s power cable is plugged into an electrical outlet. Also, ensure the printer is turned on from the power button. It should be a light or an indication on the screen. ➡ Connect the data cable properly Sometimes, the data cable between your printer and computer may not be completely plugged in, so check both ends for proper connection. You may also try another cable if you have any reason to believe the current one might have suffered any damage. For wireless printers, turn on the wireless option from your printer, then run the wireless connectivity test from the menu option (if you have one). ➡ Turn on all network components If you’re on a shared printer or network, ensure that all the components needed are turned on as well. For instance, if a printer is shared through a PC in the network, then that PC should be turned on. Also, the router that connects the computer must be functioning correctly. ➡ Reboot your computer Although this is not directly related to solving the problem with your printer, a reboot may solve many issues with Windows. Just click the Start button, select the Power icon and choose Restart. Then, wait for the PC to reboot and see if there are any changes.

How do I know what IP address my printer is on?

How to access the printing preferences in Windows 10?

If the printer comes with its software for printing, scanning, and management, it’s all simple, but configuring the printer may be tricky if you don’t have it anymore. You can go to the manufacturer’s support webpage, look for your printer and download the software if available. If not, you can follow our little tip on changing the printing preferences. If none of our solutions worked, contact your printer’s manufacturer for more troubleshooting and support based on your specific issue. Of course, trying other cables for your printer might also be helpful, including the power, data, and network cables that may be connected to your printer. From our experience, cables can be affected by wear and tear and may cause many problems, including complete disconnection. If your PC runs on Windows 10 S, some printers may not work well with it, or you may experience limited functionality with your printer. We hope our solutions helped you solve this printer connection problem, and now you can continue your work without any issues. The fixes here will also work if Windows cannot connect to the printer in Windows 7 Because the main problem when it comes to such an issue is a malfunctioning driver, we also recommend consulting our guide on how to remove a corrupted printer driver. Share with us your experiences in the comments section below, and write us any questions or suggestions you might have.

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