Windows Cannot Connect to the Printer [SOLVED]

Seeing “Windows cannot connect to the printer. Operation failed with error 0x0000139f” (or 0x00000006, 0x0000011b, 0x000004f8, 0x00004005…) when you try to add a shared or network printer? This error almost always means one of four things: the Print Spooler is stuck, the printer driver is broken, Windows can’t sign in to the computer that shares the printer, or a Windows security update changed how the two PCs talk to each other. This guide, updated for Windows 11 (24H2/25H2) and Windows 10, walks you through step by step fix each fix Windows Cannot Connect to the Printer issue. 

Windows Cannot Connect to the Printer [SOLVED]

Method 1: Copy the mscms.dll

1.Navigate to the following folder: C:\Windows\system32\

2.Find the mscms.dll in the above directory and right-click then select copy.

3.Now paste the above file in the following location according to your PC architecture:

C:\windows\system32\spool\drivers\x64\3\ (For 64-bit)
C:\windows\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\ (For 32-bit)

4.Reboot your PC to save changes and again try to connect to the remote printer again.

This should help you Fix Windows Cannot Connect to the Printer issue,  if not then continue.

Method 2: Run the Printer Troubleshooter

Windows’ built-in printer troubleshooter now runs through the Get Help app, but it still restarts the spooler and fixes common driver problems automatically.

1. Open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
2. Next to Printer, click Run.
3. Allow the Get Help app to run its diagnostics and follow the prompts.
4. On Windows 10, go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Printer > Run the troubleshooter.

Method 3: Restart the Print Spooler and Clear Stuck Jobs

This is the most common fix for 0x0000139f and 0x00000006. Do it on the PC sharing the printer and on your PC.

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc and press Enter.

2. Scroll to Print Spooler, right-click it and select Stop.

3. Press Windows + R again, paste C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and press Enter. Click Continue if asked for permission.

4. Delete everything inside the PRINTERS folder (not the folder itself).

5. Go back to Services, right-click Print Spooler and select Start.

6. Double-click Print Spooler and make sure Startup type is set to Automatic, then click OK.

Tip: You can do the same thing from an admin Command Prompt with net stop spooler, then del /q /f %systemroot%\System32\spool\PRINTERS\*, then net start spooler.

Method 4: Update Windows on Both Computers

Many of these errors (especially 0x0000011b) appear when one PC has a newer security update than the other. Microsoft’s print security changes expect both sides to be patched.

1. On Windows 11, open Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates. Install everything, including optional driver updates under Advanced options > Optional updates.
2. On Windows 10, open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates.
3. Restart both PCs and try adding the printer again.

Note: Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. If the PC sharing the printer still runs Windows 10 without Extended Security Updates, it no longer gets fixes, and connection problems with fully updated Windows 11 PCs become more likely. Connecting the printer directly to your network (Method 12) avoids the problem entirely.

Method 5: Save the Sharing PC’s Credentials

If Windows can’t sign in to the computer that shares the printer, it shows a credential-related code. Saving the login fixes this.

1. On the sharing PC, note its computer name (Settings > System > About > Device name) and a username that has a password. A Microsoft account email and password works too.

2. On your PC, open the Start menu, type Credential Manager and open it.

3. Click Windows Credentials > Add a Windows credential.

4. In Internet or network address, type \\SHARINGPCNAME (for example \\OFFICE-PC).

5. In User name, type SHARINGPCNAME\username (or the Microsoft account email), enter the password and click OK.

6. If there was already an entry for that PC, click it and choose Remove first, then add it fresh.

7. Restart your PC and add the printer again.

Why 0x000004f8 happens: recent Windows 11 versions block “guest” connections to shared resources that have no password. Using a real account with a password, as above, is the safe fix.

Method 6: Delete Incompatible Printer Drivers

1. Press Windows key + R then type printmanagement.msc and hit Enter.

2. From the left pane, click All Drivers.

3. Now in the right window pane, right-click on the printer driver and click Delete.

4. If you see more than one printer driver names, repeat the above steps.

5. Again try to add the printer and install its drivers. See if you are able to Fix Windows Cannot Connect to the Printer issue, if not then continue with the next method.

Method 7: Add the Printer Using a Local Port

If double-clicking the shared printer keeps failing (including 0x00000709 and 0x00000bc4), adding it as a local port often works where everything else fails.

1. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Add device. Wait a few seconds, then click Add manually next to The printer that I want isn’t listed.

2. Select Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings and click Next.

3. Choose Create a new port, set Type of port to Local Port, and click Next.

4. Enter the port name as \\SHARINGPCNAME\PrinterShareName and click OK.

5. Pick your printer’s maker and model (or click Have Disk to use the downloaded driver) and finish the wizard.

Method 8: Connect the Printer Directly to the Network

If your printer has Wi-Fi or an Ethernet port, skip sharing through another PC. Every computer then connects to the printer directly and these error codes go away.

1. Connect the printer to your Wi-Fi using its control panel or the maker’s app (HP Smart, Canon PRINT, Epson Smart Panel, Brother Mobile Connect).

2. Print a network configuration page from the printer and note its IP address.

3. On Windows 11, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Add device. If the printer doesn’t appear, click Add manually, select Add a printer using an IP address or hostname, and enter the IP address.

4. Finish the wizard and print a test page.

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That’s it you have successfully Fix Windows Cannot Connect to the Printer issue but if you still have any questions regarding this article then feel free to ask them in comment’s section.