Troubleshooting Network Printer Error 0x00000bcb on Windows 11 and Windows 10

Step 1: Manually Connect the Printer

Ensure your PC recognizes the printer by manually connecting it:

• Open the Control Panel.
• Select Devices and Printers.
• Click on Add a device.
• Allow the system to identify available devices.
• If your printer isn’t found, select “The printer that I want isn’t listed.”
• Choose “Add a local printer or manual printer with manual settings” and click Next.
• Select “Create a new port” and choose Local port.
• Enter your local port number, then click Next.
• Choose Windows Update to update available printer drivers.
• Click Next to complete the process and try printing again.

Pro Tip: Ensure the printer is properly connected and turned on before starting.

Step 2: Run Printer Troubleshooter

If manually connecting doesn’t resolve the issue, run the Printer Troubleshooter:

• Go to Settings (Win + I) > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
• Click “Additional troubleshooters, ” then expand the Printer option and press “Run the troubleshooter.”
• Select your non-functioning printer and click Next, following the on-screen prompts.
• Restart your PC after troubleshooting is complete to apply the changes.

Pro Tip: The path varies slightly in Windows 11, so ensure you’re following the correct steps for your OS version.

Step 3: Update Print Queues Drivers

Outdated drivers can often be the culprit. Here’s how to update them:

• Right-click the Windows icon and choose Device Manager.
• Expand Print queues, right-click each driver, and select Update driver.
• Don’t forget to check under “Network Adapters” for any needed updates.
• Reboot your PC after the updates are installed.

Pro Tip: Regularly check for updates to avoid similar issues in the future.

Step 4: Repair Print Spooler Service

A malfunctioning Print Spooler service can impair printing. Repair it by following these steps:

• Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
• Type cd /Windows/System32/spool and press Enter.
• Run the command: cacls.exe PRINTERS /E /G administrator:C.
• Close the window and restart your PC.

Pro Tip: It’s advisable to reboot after any service changes.

Step 5: Restart the Print Spooler Service

Restarting the Print Spooler service can resolve many issues:

• Press Win + R to open Run.
• Type services.msc and click OK.
• Find Print Spooler, double-click, and click Stop.
• Change Startup type to Automatic, then click Start.
• Press Apply and then OK.

Pro Tip: Make note of the service status, ensuring it’s running after restarting.

Step 6: Configure LAN Manager Authentication Level

Adjust the network security settings to fix connectivity problems:

• Press Win + S and search for group policy.
• Select Edit group policy.
• Navigate to Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options.
• Locate “Network security: LAN Manager authentication level” and change it to “Send LM & NTLM – use NTLMv2 session security if negotiated”.
• Press Apply then OK to save changes.

Pro Tip: Ensure you are logged in with an account that has administrative privileges.

Step 7: Modify the Default Network Security Setting

Windows Home users can modify the registry for proper configuration:

• Open Run with Win + R and type regedit.
• Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa.
• Create a new DWORD and name it “ LmCompatibilityLevel ”.
• If it already exists, modify it to 1 and click OK.

Pro Tip: Always back up the registry before making changes.

What does printer error code 0x00000bcb mean?

How can I check if the Print Spooler service is running?

Will updating drivers automatically fix the error?