Fix Windows Cannot Connect to the Printer Error in Windows 10

Sometimes while trying to add a network shared printer you may get the error message “Windows cannot connect to the printer, Operation failed with error 0x0000007e. This error mostly occurs because, after the printer is installed, Windows 10 or Windows 7 incorrectly looks for the Mscms.dll file in a subfolder different than the windows\system32 subfolder. Also sometimes corrupted print spooler or improper printer Driver installation result cannot connect to printer operation failed with error 0x00000c1. If you are also struggling form this error, unable to connect to the network printer here some solutions to apply.

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Windows Cannot Connect to the Printer

Before applying anything, sometimes power cycling your printer can resolve the issue. Turn off your printer and unplug it, wait 30 seconds, plug your printer back in, and then turn the printer back on.

Restart Print spooler service

Press Windows + R, type services.msc and ok to open service console,
Scroll down and look for print spooler service,
Right click on print spooler and select restart
If the service not started, Right click on print spooler select properties,
Change the startup type automatic and start the service next to service status.
Click ok and apply to save changes.
Now try to connect to the network printer.

Copy mscms.dll manually

Manually copy the mscms.dll file to the driver installation folder is the best working solution to fix this issue. As we discussed the main Reason For this Windows Cannot Connect to the Printer Error Mscms.dll file. This mscms.dll is a color module that may be failing to reach its destination folder. You Can copy this mscms.dll file manually to fix this issue.

Navigate to the following folder: C:\Windows\system32\
Look for mscms.dll in the above directory and right-click then select copy.

If you have a 32 bit Windows installed, navigate to the following folder and paste the previously copied mscms.dll file in it:

C:\windows\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\

And, If you have a 64 bit Windows installed, navigate to the following folder and paste the previously copied file in it:

C:\windows\system32\spool\drivers\x64\3\

Reboot your windows computer to save changes and again try to connect to the remote printer again. If it doesn’t connect, re-add the printer and test.

Create a New Local Port

Open control panel,
Search for and select Devices and Printers
Click Add a printer from the top menu.
Windows will scan for available shared printers on the local network.
If you don’t see your printer listed click the link which says “The printer that I want isn’t listed.“
Here From the next screen select “Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings” and click Next.

Select Create a new port

Then from type of port drop-down select Standard TCP / IP Port and click Next.

Here Type the printer’s address in Printers port name field in the following format:

\\IP address or the Computer Name\Printers Name

For example \\192.168.1.50\HP LaserJet Pro M1136

Note: Type the IP address or computer name where the shared printer physically installed. For the network, printer type the IP address of the printer.

If you don’t know the IP Address of the computer where the printer is physically connected to and shared from,

Press Windows + R, type cmd and ok
Now type ipconfig and press enter key.
Look for IPv4 Address for the computer’s IP in the black window.

Now click OK and then click Next.
Select your printer model from the directory to install its drivers, Click Next.
If you have a disk, insert the disk, click “Have Disk” and browse to the driver’s location in the disk.
Click OK. Type in a name for your new printer.
Click Next. Print a test page to check its connection. And click Finish.

Delete Incompatible Printer Drivers

Some Times The problem can be caused due to incompatible printer drivers. Also, the installation of previous printer can prevent the printer spooler from adding new printers. So you can try to remove these outdated drivers and re-install them again.

Press Windows + R, type printmanagement.msc and hit Enter key.
This will open print management, here From the left pane, click All Drivers.
Now in the right window pane, right-click on the printer driver and click Delete.
If you see more than one printer driver names, repeat the above steps.
Then Restart windows and Again try to add the printer and install its drivers.

Tweak Windows Registry

First of all, stop the print spooler service from services console,
Now Press Windows + R, type regedit and ok to open registry editor,
Backup registry database, and Navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Print\Printers\*YOUR PRINTER’S NAME*\CopyFiles

Delete the “ICM” folder which is under the “CopyFiles” folder. Then close the registry editor and restart windows to take effect the changes you have made. Now again try connecting to the printer see the problem fixed this time.

Registry Tweak

If the first option failed to fix then here another registry Tweak, First open windows services and stop the print spooler service. Then navigate to the following key.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Print\Providers\Client Side Rendering Print Provider

Here right-click on Client Side Rendering Print Provider and select Delete. again start Printer Spooler service and reboot your PC to save changes.

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