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The error 'Windows cannot connect to the printer' mainly occurs on Windows 7. There are various reasons for the error, such as printer drivers, causing the computer to be unable to connect to the printer. Explore further in the Mytour article to learn how to fix the 'Windows cannot connect to the printer' error.
Causes and solutions for the 'Windows cannot connect to the printer' error
Error: 'Windows cannot connect to the printer'
Error Windows cannot connect to the printer often comes with error codes 0x0000007e, 0x00000002, or 0x0000007a.
Guide: How to Fix 'Windows cannot connect to the printer' Error
Here are some methods to fix the Windows cannot connect to the printer error that you can refer to:
Method 1: Restart Print Spooler Service
Step 1: Press Windows + R to open the Run command window.
Step 2: Type services.msc and press Enter or click OK.
Step 3: In the Service window, in the Name field, find and double-click the Print Spooler service.
Step 4: In the next window, under Service Status, click the Stop button.
Step 5: Next, click the Start button to restart the service.
Step 6: Finally, click OK and re-add the printer to see if the error persists.
If the error persists, refer to some additional troubleshooting methods below.
Method 2: Create a New Local Port
Follow the steps below to create a new Local Port and fix the 'Windows cannot connect to the printer' error:
Step 1: Open Control Panel.
Step 2: Under View by, set it to Large icons, then find and click on Devices and Printers.
Step 3: Click on Add a printer located at the top corner of the window. Note, you'll need to log in to the computer with Admin rights.
Step 4: Choose Add a network, wireless, or Bluetooth printer.
Step 5: Select Create a new port, set the Type of port to Local Port, and then click Next.
Step 6: Enter the port name in the field, where the port name is the printer's address, then click OK.
Step 7: Select the printer type and then click Next.
Step 8: Follow the on-screen instructions to complete adding the printer and check if the Windows cannot connect to the printer error persists.
Method 3: Delete Printer Driver
Sometimes the error may be caused by the printer itself. Try deleting the printer driver and reinstalling it to see if the error persists.
Step 1: Open the Run command window by pressing Windows + R.
Step 2: Type printmanagement.msc and press Enter or click OK.
Step 3: In the left pane, find and click All Drivers.
Step 4: In the right pane, find and right-click on the printer driver, then choose Delete.
Perform similar steps to remove other printer drivers.
Step 5: Finally, re-add the printer driver and check if the 'Windows cannot connect to the printer' error persists.
Method 4: Manually Copy 'mscms.dll'
Step 1: Open C:\Windows\system32 and locate the file named 'mscms.dll.'
Step 2: Copy the file to the path below:
C:\windows\system32\spool\drivers\x64\3\ if you are using 64-bit windows
C:\windows\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\ if you are using 32-bit windows
Step 3: Attempt to connect to the printer and check if the error persists.
Method 5: Delete Subkey
Warning: Incorrectly modifying the Registry key can cause serious system issues, so make sure to back up the registry before proceeding.
Step 1: Stop the Print Spooler service.
Step 2: Open the Run window by pressing Windows + R.
Step 3: Enter regedit and press Enter.
Step 4: On the next window, navigate to the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Print\Providers\Client Side Rendering Print Provider
Find and right-click on Client Side Rendering Print Provider, then choose Delete.
Step 5: Restart the Print Spooler service.
Step 6: Reboot your computer and re-add the printer to see if the error persists.
This Mytour article provides guidance on fixing the 'Windows cannot connect to the printer' error. If you have any questions or concerns, such as troubleshooting printers not receiving print commands on the computer, readers can share their opinions in the comments section below the article.
