‘Windows Cannot Connect to the Printer’: How to Fix It

The message Windows cannot connect to the printer usually appears while adding a shared printer or network printer. The printer itself may be fine; the failure often comes from the way Windows handles sharing, drivers, permissions, or point-and-print security.

Does this affect you?

This guide fits if Windows sees a shared or network printer but fails while connecting, installing, or opening it from another PC. It is especially common after Windows updates, printer driver changes, or when one computer is sharing the printer for the rest of the network.

Add the printer using its IP address instead

Adding by IP avoids many shared-printer driver and permission problems because Windows talks directly to the printer.

1. Find the printer IP address from the printer screen under a network or wireless status menu, or print a network configuration page from the printer control panel.
2. On Windows, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners. On Windows 10, use Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
3. Click Add device, then choose Add manually or The printer that I want is not listed.
4. Select Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname and click Next.
5. Enter the printer IP address. Leave the port name as Windows fills it in, then continue.
6. Let Windows detect the device type, choose the correct manufacturer and driver, and use Windows Update in the driver list if your exact model is missing.
7. Print a test page before sending a real document.

Fix a shared printer connection

Use these steps when the printer is physically connected to, or shared from, another Windows computer.

1. On the computer sharing the printer, open Printers & scanners, select the printer, open Printer properties, and confirm Share this printer is enabled under Sharing.
2. On that sharing computer, press Windows key + R, type services.msc, open Print Spooler, and choose Restart.
3. On the computer trying to connect, open File Explorer and type two backslashes followed by the sharing computer name or IP address in the address bar. Open the shared printer from that view.
4. If it still fails, make sure both computers have matching driver architecture, such as 64-bit drivers on 64-bit Windows. Use Additional Drivers in the printer sharing properties when needed.

More control

Error 0x0000011b

Error 0x0000011b is tied to Windows print-sharing security changes. Because Microsoft has adjusted the guidance over time, look up that exact code on Microsoft Support before applying registry edits. Old registry instructions can create different printing problems.

Restart the spooler on both computers

Restarting the Print Spooler only on the sharing PC may not be enough. Restart it on the connecting computer too, then try adding the printer again.

Use direct Wi-Fi when possible

If the printer supports its own Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection, adding it directly by IP address is usually more reliable than sharing it through another PC.

Sources

• Microsoft Support – Fix printer connection and printing problems in Windows (2025)
• Microsoft Support – Error 0x0000011b when connecting to a printer (2025)
• Microsoft Support – KB5005010: Restricting Installation of New Printer Drivers (2025)

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