Fix: “Another Computer Is Using the Printer” Error on Windows 10/11

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This article will show you how to Fix “Another Computer Is Using the Printer” Error on Windows 10/11. When you try to print on your Canon printer, you may get the message “Another computer is using the printer.” This message usually appears if you try to use the print command while the printer is already printing. This error usually happens on a network printer, but it can also happen on a local printer. When more than one computer uses a printer, it could get stuck for a while.

When you try to print a file and get the error message “Another computer is using the printer on Windows 11/10,” you’ll know this is the case. It’s hard to say for sure what caused this error message, but a clogged print queue, a print spooler service that doesn’t work, or a problem with a driver could be to blame. When this happens, there are some easy things you can do to Fix “Another Computer Is Using the Printer” Error on Windows 10/11.

What is the “Another Computer Is Using the Printer” error?

If more than one computer is using a printer at the same time, the printer may be locked for a while. When you try to print a file with this printer, you might get the message “Another computer is using the printer.” This means that the lock was not opened by the last step. You could also get this message if the driver is broken or if something else makes the printer not work. For many users, printing documents and pictures is a must.

Some users’ printers, on the other hand, don’t work because a Windows error message says, “Another computer is using the printer.” Users have said that this error message shows up when they choose to print in Windows programs. This error message means that the printer can’t print because another computer is already using it. But the error also shows up for people who use their printers at home and don’t share them with other computers on organization networks.

How to Fix “Another Computer Is Using the Printer” Error on Windows 10/11

Doing a Full Power Cycle

Fix: “Another Computer Is Using the Printer” Error on Windows 10/11: Another solution that works for a lot of people is to turn off your computer, printer, and Wi-Fi and then turn them back on. Power cycling means turning something completely off and then back on again. Power cycling is done to make an electronic device reset its configuration parameters or recover from a state or module that is not responding. It is also used to reset all the network settings, which are lost when the device is turned off completely.

1. Turn off your printer, Wi-Fi, and computer.
2. Take out the main power cable and let them stay idle for a couple of minutes (~5).
3. After the required time, plug in the cables.
4. Turn on both devices.
5. Try connecting them.

Changing WSD Timeout Setting

WSD, which stands for “Web Services for Devices,” is a way to control how devices are found, controlled, and set up. The WSD Timeout settings are known to have a problem. We can try making the settings bigger and see if that works.

1. Access the IP address of your printer through your website.
2. Navigate to the settings section.
3. Locate the WSD Timeout Setting option.
4. Change the setting from the default to 10 minutes.
5. Save your changes.
6. Ensure that all running jobs are cancelled before making any changes.

Creating a Batch File

This is a longer part of the first solution. If the solution works for you and the problem keeps happening, you can make a batch file that will do all of the above steps with one click. This will save you time because the next time the error comes up, you won’t have to do all the steps above.

1. To open File Explorer, press Windows + E, click View, press Options, and then click Change folder and search options.
2. Uncheck the box that says “Hide file extensions for well-known file types.” This will make it possible for us to turn the text file into a batch file, which we will make later.
3. Make a new text file on your Desktop and type in the commands shown in the picture below. You can save the text file for later.
   • net stop spooler
   • net start spooler
   • exit
4. Now, change the file’s name so that “.txt” is replaced by “.bat.” You might see a pop-up window that says the following. Click “Yes.”
5. When you double-click the icon from now on, spooler service will run without you having to do anything else.

Installing the Latest Drivers for your Printer

If none of the above solutions work, the problem is probably with the drivers you have installed on your printer. When your printer drivers are out of date, they stop working with other programs and make your device useless. You should go to the website of the printer’s maker and download the most recent drivers. Make sure to download the drivers that your printer needs. You can find your printer’s model number on the front of the machine or on the box it came in.

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run box.
2. Type “devmgmt.msc” in the box and press Enter to continue.
3. This will bring up the device manager on your computer.
4. Move through all the hardware, open the submenu “Print queues,” right-click on your printer hardware, and choose “Update driver.”
5. Now, Windows will ask you in a dialogue box how you want to update your driver. Choose the second option, “Browse my computer for driver software,” and continue.
6. Start your computer up again and see if the problem goes away.

Resetting Print Spooler Service

The spooler service is a piece of software that keeps track of all the print jobs that are sent to the computer printer. Most of the time, users can see the print spooler service and can also stop a print job that is being processed. It also lets them take care of jobs that are on the waiting list. We can try to fix the problem by restarting this service and seeing if that works.

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run app.
2. In the dialogue box, type “services.msc” and press Enter.
3. In the list of services, find the “Print Spooler” service.
4. Double-click the “Print Spooler” service to open its properties.
5. Click “Stop” under “System Status” and click “Ok” to save your changes.
6. Press Windows + E to open the quick access menu.
7. Click “This PC” in the navigation pane on the left.
8. Navigate to the following route: [C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS].
9. Once you’re in the folder, delete all the files in the PRINTERS folder.
10. Close the window.
11. Start up your computer again.
12. Make sure the printer is properly connected.

Why does this “Another Computer Is Using the Printer” error occur?

1. Printer Sharing: If the printer is shared over a network, another computer may be currently using it. This can happen if someone else is printing a document or if the printer is set up to be shared among multiple devices.
2. Print Queue: If there are pending print jobs in the print queue, the printer may be busy processing those jobs, which can result in the error message when you try to print.
3. Connection Issues: Problems with the network connection or printer connectivity can also cause this error. For example, if the printer is connected to a computer that is turned off or not properly connected to the network, it may result in the error message when you try to print from your computer.

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