Step-by-step fixes for Windows printer errors, blank test pages, stuck queues, and offline printers.
Try our free test page instead →Press Win + R, type services.msc, find Print Spooler, right-click → Restart. This fixes most stuck queue issues.
Open Settings → Printers & Scanners → select your printer → Open print queue → cancel all documents.
In the print queue, click Printer menu and ensure "Use Printer Offline" is NOT checked.
Remove the printer from Settings → Printers & Scanners, download the latest driver from the manufacturer's website, and reinstall.
Our test page bypasses the Windows print spooler — it opens a browser window and prints directly from the browser, avoiding driver and spooler issues.
| Error Code | Description | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| 0x0000011b | Network printer access denied after Windows Update | Set RpcAuthnLevelPrivacyEnabled registry key to 0 (see FAQ below) |
| 0x00000709 | Cannot set default printer | Delete the Device key in HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows |
| 0x0000007c | Printer driver error / incorrect print processor | Reinstall the printer driver using the manufacturer's latest installer |
| 0x00000006 | Invalid handle — spooler or driver mismatch | Stop Print Spooler, clear the spool folder, restart Print Spooler |
| 0x0000007e | Printer driver not found | Download and reinstall the correct driver from the printer manufacturer's site |
| 0x00000057 | Parameter is incorrect — driver/ OS mismatch | Remove the printer, download the correct 32 or 64-bit driver, reinstall |
Error 0x0000011b was introduced by Windows Update KB5005565 and KB5006670. It blocks network-shared printers. Here's the registry fix:
Press Win + R, type regedit and press Enter to open Registry Editor.
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print
Right-click in the right pane → New → DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Name the new value: RpcAuthnLevelPrivacyEnabled
Double-click it and set the Value data to 0, then click OK.
Press Win + R, type services.msc, find Print Spooler, right-click → Restart.
Try printing your test page again. It should now work.
A corrupted or overloaded print spooler is the most common cause of test pages failing. Here's how to clear it:
# Run these commands in Command Prompt as Administrator:
net stop spooler
del /Q /F /S "%systemroot%\System32\spool\PRINTERS\*.*"
net start spooler
After running these commands, try printing a test page again.
Common causes include a stuck print spooler, a corrupt printer driver, an outdated KB5005565 or KB5006670 Windows Update causing error 0x0000011b, or a misconfigured default printer.
Error 0x0000011b is caused by a Windows Update that changed network printing security. Fix: Open Registry Editor → HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print → create a DWORD value named RpcAuthnLevelPrivacyEnabled and set it to 0. Restart the Print Spooler service.
Open Services (services.msc), stop the Print Spooler service. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and delete all files inside (not the folder). Restart the Print Spooler service. Your queue will be cleared.
A blank test page usually means the printer is printing but the ink or toner is not reaching the page. Check ink/toner levels, run a head-cleaning cycle, and ensure the protective tape has been removed from a new cartridge.
Error 0x00000709 means Windows cannot set the default printer. Fix: Open Registry Editor → HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows → find the Device key and delete it. Then set your default printer again in Settings → Printers & Scanners.
Go to Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & Scanners → select your printer → Open print queue → Printer menu → uncheck 'Use Printer Offline'. If that doesn't work, remove and re-add the printer.
Print a free test page to confirm your printer is working correctly after the fix.
Print a Free Test Page →