Resolve Printer Installation Error 0x00000c1 on Windows 11 and 10

2024/10/28

The error code 0x00000c1, which indicates the inability to install a printer, is commonly encountered when upgrading or performing a clean installation of Windows 10/11. This issue can prevent you from printing from a Network Printer and may even lead to the printer showing an offline status in some situations.

This article will explore the potential causes of this error and offer practical solutions to help you resolve the issue. Implementing the suggested workarounds will enable you to successfully print over any network.

Unable to install Printer error 0x00000c1

What Leads to Printer Error 0x000000c1?

Several factors can trigger error 0x000000c1 in Windows 10/11, such as unstable network connections, incompatible device drivers, disabled Print Spooler service, and corrupted registry entries. To rectify this error, consider the following solutions:

Update all printer drivers
Restart the Print Spooler service
Remove problematic registry entries

If these solutions do not work, attempt to manually reconnect your printer and resolve the issue.

How to Resolve Unable to Install Printer Error 0x00000c1

If you’re facing challenges printing over a network, follow the solutions outlined below:

1. Perform a Full Scan with Windows Security

Printer problems often stem from malware infections that can compromise system files and hinder performance. Therefore, it’s essential to execute a thorough scan of your PC using Windows Security before attempting other fixes.

To do this, follow these steps:

Click on the Windows Security icon in the Taskbar’s navigation pane.
Double-click on Virus & threat protection, and then select Scan.
Choose the Full scan option and click Scan now to initiate the process.

Wait while Windows Defender identifies and addresses any found viruses.

After that, restart your computer and reconnect the printer.

2. Verify the Printer Connection

If you still can’t connect to the printer post-scan, the issue may be with the printer’s power connection. Check that all cables are securely connected. For shared printers, ensure all connected devices, including power outlets, switches, and routers, are functioning correctly.

If you’re using a wireless printer, ensure that the device’s wireless option (indicated by a blue icon) is enabled. If problems persist, continue to the next solutions.

3. Utilize the Printer Troubleshooter

The built-in Windows Troubleshooter detects and resolves issues related to files, drivers, and other system components. To use this tool, follow these steps:

Right-click on the Start menu and choose Settings.
Select the Update & Security category, then click on Troubleshoot from the left-hand panel.
In the right pane, locate and click on Printer.
Finally, hit Run the troubleshooter to start the process.

Follow the on-screen prompts until the process is complete.
Afterward, restart your computer and check if error 0x00000c1 has been resolved when connecting to the network printer.

4. Restart the Print Spooler Service

At times, Windows Updates may inadvertently disable the Print Spooler service, causing various errors when trying to connect to a printer. To re-enable this service, follow these instructions:

Search for services.msc in the Windows Search box.
Select the top result to open the Services window.
Scroll to find the Print Spooler entry in the list.
Right-click it and select Properties.

Set the startup type to Automatic and start the service if it’s currently off.
Click OK to save the changes and exit any running applications.

Lastly, restart your computer to implement the modifications.

5. Update the Printer Driver

Incompatible or outdated drivers may also be the cause of the Unable to install Printer error 0x00000c1. To fix this, check the Device Manager for any drivers marked with a yellow exclamation mark, indicating an issue.

If you find any, make sure to delete the spooler files before updating the printer driver. Here’s how:

In the Taskbar, select the File Explorer icon.
Navigate to the following directory:

C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Printers

Right-click the printers folder and select Delete.

Next, navigate to this path and delete the w32x86 folder:

C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Drivers\w32x86

After clearing the directories, proceed to update the printer driver:

Right-click the Windows icon and choose Device Manager.
In the next window, find the printer driver and right-click it.
Select Update Driver from the context menu.

Click on Search automatically for updated driver software.

After the update, restart your computer and check if you can connect to the printer successfully. If problems persist, consider the following solutions.

6. Edit the Registry

Another approach to resolve the Printer error 0x00000c1 in Windows 10 involves modifying registry values. To do this, follow these steps to delete certain registry entries:

Press Win + R to launch the Run dialog.
Type Regedit and click OK.
If prompted by UAC, select Yes.
Once the registry editor is open, navigate according to your system’s architecture:

For 32-bit systems:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows NT x86\Drivers\Version-x

For 64-bit systems:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows x64\Drivers\Version-x

Select all key values in the registry, right-click, and choose Delete.
Repeat this for all values present.
Finally, restart your computer to apply the changes.

7. Remove and Reconnect the Printer

If the error remains unresolved after trying all previous steps, disconnect the printer by unplugging its cable. Restart your computer, plug the cable back into the appropriate USB port, and turn on the printer. Here’s how to reinstall the printer software:

Steps to Reinstall Printer Software:

Open the Settings window and click on Devices.
From the left pane, go to Printer & Scanners.
Select Add a printer or scanner on the right side.
If no devices are visible, click on “The printer that I want isn’t listed.”
Select the radio button next to “Add a local printer or network printer using manual settings” and click Next.