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The article explains how to Fix Unable to Connect to Printer Error in Windows 11. You receive the error message “Windows cannot connect to the printer” when your Microsoft Windows computer cannot connect to the printer. This prevents you from printing documents or managing your printer. Follow the steps are given below.
You’d think Microsoft would have joined in when they declared Windows 11 to be groundbreaking in terms of perfection. However, the bugs are back and this time they are worse. If you came to this page because Windows 11 couldn’t find or connect to your printer, we bet you’d be just as pissed off as we were when we wanted to print my pitch deck and found that Windows 11 has started a new round of hard to work with. Don’t vent your anger at your printer because she’s not to blame. The following workarounds we used should help you too, and many other people have complained about this issue. Here is the article to resolve cannot connect to printer error in Windows 11.
8 Ways to Fix Cannot Connect to Printer Error in Windows 11
Run the Printer Troubleshooter
After verifying that the printer is securely connected, that there is paper in the printer tray, and that the printer is not out of ink or toner cartridge, troubleshooting will likely resolve your general software issues. All you need to do is open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other Troubleshooters. Here you will find the Printer troubleshooter from the list of Windows troubleshooters. click on the Run button next to activate it. If there is a problem that prevents the printing process, the troubleshooter will show how to fix it.
Update relevant drivers
Running the troubleshooter should be your main step whenever an error or issue arises. However, it is very rare to diagnose, let alone resolve, the problem. As a result, the next reasonable first step is to check for driver updates.
Step 1: Right-click Start menu button and select Device Manager from the list.
Step 2: Scroll down and expand the print queues menu.
Step 3: Right-click on Print to PDF from Microsoft and select update driver. This prompt will open another window.
selecting Automatically search for updated driver software in Windows 11 runs a check on your PC for updates. If it shows the best device driver ever installed, you can still try the manual option. To do this:
Step 1: right click Print to PDF from Microsoft and select properties in the drop-down menu.
Step 2: I go to the Details panel.
Step 3: Select Device instance path in the drop-down list at Property and then copy the Value that shows.
Step 4: Go to the DriverPack database.
Step 5: Paste the copied value into the search box, download a suitable driver and install it.
Restart the print spooler
Occasionally, printer problems are caused by unresponsive devices and driver settings, not outdated drivers.
Step 1: Press win + R to launch the Run dialog box.
Step 2: Model “services.msc” and press enter.
Step 3: Under services, find print spooler and double click on it.
Step 4: Proceed by clicking Stop.
Step 5: So follow the path C:Windowssystem32spoolsv.exe and delete all files present in the folder.
Step 6: Now all you have to do is go back to services and manually start the print spooler service again.
Step 7: Restart your PC.
Recheck your default printer
Improper printer and scanner setup is often the main cause of printing problems. The most common reason why you experience printer problems is that you have not chosen your PDF printer as your default printing device or that you have set it to the wrong port. It can be solved simply by:
Step 1: Open Control Panel via the windows search menu
Step 2: Click View devices and printers under hardware and sound.
Step 3: Under printers panel, right-click your PDF printer and select Set as Default.
Step 4: So head over Properties > Ports.
Step 5: Scroll through the list and select the port type that matches your connection.
Step 6: Select Configure Port > Apply > OK.
Disable Firewall
If your issue is still not resolved, the most likely culprit is Windows Defender Firewall. It is possible that your firewall has been configured too restrictively, preventing the printer from interacting properly. As a result, turning off Firewall is a viable option. You can even permanently disable your firewall and switch to another firewall alternative.
Step 1: Go to Start > Settings > Privacy & Security > Windows Security > Firewall and Network Protection.
Step 2: Turn off Windows Defender Firewall.
Step 3: Go back and repeat the same for private network and Public network.
Check for new Windows updates
Sometimes a newly available Windows update can be the key to resolving Windows 11 printer issues and errors. It is possible that you have not been notified about the latest Windows update, so it is worth checking to see if one new version is available manually.
Step 1: tighten To win key and click button Definitions icon.
Step 2: Go to windows update
Step 3: click in Check updates.
Windows will automatically check for updates and if there is any new version available then it will be installed thus resolving the printer error.
Remove your latest Windows 11 update
Ironically, a new Windows update can also attract bugs that make your printer useless. If you noticed that your printer stopped working shortly after a recent Windows update, you will need to delete the update from your computer. To do this, go to Settings > Windows Update > Update History. Here you must select uninstall updates situated under related settings. This action will ask you to open a list of Windows updates where you have to select the latest one and click on uninstall. If the latest Windows 11 update was to blame, rolling it back should do the trick. trick restart the printer once more.
Run System Restore
If the problem started as soon as you upgraded to Windows 11 and exhausted all other alternatives, there is a final solution – Windows System Restore. Using this method restores Windows to a previous restore point where you know your printer was working without any errors. To go back to a restore point:
Step 1: tighten windows key and type Control Panel.
Step 2: Click your icon, search Recovery in the Control Panel search box and choose OSystem Restore pen from the search results.
Step 3: The System Restore dialog box will open. click in Next to move forward.
Step 4: Select the restore point to restore your computer to when your printer was working fine.
Step 5: Again, click Next and then finish to confirm your restore point.
Step 6: It will confirm one last time whether you want to proceed with the system restore process. Move the cursor to Yea and click.
Conclusion
Here they are final from our article how to Fix Error Cannot Connect to Printer in Windows 11/10. Typically, a technical issue causes the error “Windows cannot connect to the printer”, which you can resolve using the techniques mentioned above. You should be able to restart your pending print jobs after applying these adjustments to your printer and PC. The article is now complete and you know how to fix Unable to connect to printer error in Windows 10/11.