Skip to content
Home » Error 0x000000c1 Fix: Unable to Connect Printer on Windows

Error 0x000000c1 Fix: Unable to Connect Printer on Windows

Having trouble connecting your printer on Windows due to error 0x000000c1? Find out how to fix it here.

Assess Printer Connections and Troubleshooting

Assessing printer connections and troubleshooting can help resolve the Error 0x000000c1 issue on Windows. First, check the physical connections between the printer and the computer. Ensure the printer is powered on and connected to the computer via USB or network connection. Verify that the correct printer driver is installed on the computer by accessing the Device Manager.

If the driver is outdated or corrupted, download and install the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website. Additionally, try restarting the Print Spooler service in Windows to clear any pending print jobs that may be causing the error.

Update Printer Drivers and Services

Printer driver update screen

To fix Error 0x000000c1 and connect your printer on Windows, update your printer drivers and services. First, open Device Manager by pressing Windows key + X and selecting it from the menu. Locate your printer driver, right-click, and select Update driver. If that doesn’t work, try uninstalling the driver and reinstalling it. You can also check if the Print Spooler service is running by typing services. msc in the search bar and restarting the service if necessary.

Modify System Registry Settings

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “regedit” and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
3. Navigate to “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows x64\Drivers”.
4. Right-click on the problematic printer’s driver key and select “Delete”.
5. Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Understanding Error Causes and Parameters

  • Check Printer Connection:
    • Make sure the printer is properly connected to the computer via USB cable or network connection.
    • Check for any loose connections or cables that may be causing the issue.
  • Update Printer Drivers:
    • Open Device Manager by pressing Win+X and selecting it from the menu.
    • Locate the printer in the list of devices, right-click on it, and select Update Driver.
    • Follow the on-screen instructions to update the driver software.
  • Restart Print Spooler Service:
    • Open Services by pressing Win+R, typing services.msc, and hitting Enter.
    • Locate Print Spooler in the list of services, right-click on it, and select Restart.
    • Check if the printer can now connect without any errors.
  • Run Windows Troubleshooter:
    • Open Settings by pressing Win+I and navigating to Update & Security.
    • Select Troubleshoot from the left-hand menu and choose Printer from the list of troubleshooters.
    • Follow the on-screen instructions to let Windows diagnose and fix any printer connection issues.

F.A.Qs

How do I fix error code 0x000000C1?

To fix error code 0x000000C1, you can restart the Print Spooler service, run the Windows troubleshooter, and update the printer driver in the Registry Editor.

When I try to add a printer, it says failed.?

When attempting to add a printer, if it fails, you can run the Printer Troubleshooter to diagnose and fix the issue. Open the Settings app, navigate to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters, and select the Printer troubleshooter to run. This will provide recommended fixes to resolve the problem.

Was this article helpful?
YesNo