Fix Windows Could Not Connect To Printer Error

There are many users of Windows who have reported that they can no longer connect to the network printer after installing the KB5006746 update on Windows 11. When trying to print something, affected users see a message error Windows could not connect to the printer.

The irony of this ongoing issue is that the update was supposed to KB5006746 would solve a lot of printer connectivity issues. However, users of Windows 11 problems continue to occur when connecting to their network printers.

And while this update was successful for the most part, a small segment of the user base ended up with a completely new issue where the network printer became completely unusable. If you want to learn more about this, keep reading.

How to fix Windows could not connect to the printer error

Fortunately for most of those affected by the Windows could not connect to the printer error, there are actually a number of potential solutions they can implement to get their network printer usable again.

Here is a list of fixes that other affected users have successfully used to fix network printer functionality after installing update KB5006746:

• Install the hotfix for update KB5006746: It turns out that Microsoft has recently announced that it has started rolling out the hotfix aimed at resolving the new issues introduced along with the KB5006746 update. If you've started dealing with a network printing problem Immediately after installing KB5006746, check back on WU and install any new updates that become available.
• Run the printer troubleshooter: In case the issue is due to a general inconsistency and the problem has nothing to do with the new update (KB5006746), you should start this troubleshooting attempt by running the printer troubleshooter and applying the recommended solution.
• Re-enable the Print to feature PDF: According to some affected users, the reason they can no longer connect to the network printer may also be an inconsistency caused by the Print to PDF feature. If the Print to PDF feature is currently stuck in a state of limbo, you can most likely resolve the issue by re-enabling it from the Windows Features menu.
• Uninstall update KB5006746: If you started experiencing this issue immediately after installing the KB5006746 update and the fix for the issue has not yet arrived, the quickest way to resolve the issue is to simply uninstall the problematic update and wait until Microsoft offers the 'revised' update within the WU screen.
• Apply the correction manually: If the 'reviewed' update still does not appear for you and you do not wish to roll back the KB5006746 update, an additional route you can take is to apply the fix manually by using the Registry Editor to create and set the RpcAuthnLevelPrivacyEnabled value.

Now that you know all the possible solutions that can allow you to finally connect your network printer to the Internet, try to try the following methods to fix the Windows could not connect to the printer error.

Install the 'fix' of the fix

Microsoft was quick to announce a fix for the solution (update KB5006746) that introduced this new set of problems for people using a network-connected printer.

If you had no problems connecting to your network printer and suddenly you can no longer do so after installing the KB5006746 update, the first thing you should do is check Windows Update to see if a new update is available.

Microsoft has already announced that it has started rolling out a hotfix for update KB5006746 to address the unexpected consequences.

If you are affected, follow the instructions below to install the hotfix for update KB5006746 and resolve your network-connected printer issue:

Nota: Because Microsoft releases these fixes in chunks, you may not have received the fix yet, while others may have. If a new update is not yet available, check back regularly or move on to the next solution below.

• Press the Windows key + R to open a dialog box Run. Then write 'ms-settings: windowsupdate' inside the text box and press Enter to open the tab Windows update from the menu Configuration on Windows 11.
• Once you are inside the screen of Windows Update, go down to the section on the right and click on Search for updates to check if the patch is ready to be installed.

• If there is a new update waiting to be installed, click Install Now and wait patiently until the new revision is installed locally.

• Once the update is installed, restart your PC and try connecting your network printer again after your computer restarts.

In case this method does not solve the problem or there is no new update available within WU, you can try the following method.

Run the printer troubleshooter

In case the problem is not really related to the update KB5006746, you are likely dealing with this issue due to a general inconsistency that is in no way related to this bad update that has everyone irritated.

If your particular problem has nothing to do with the update KB5006746s, the best thing you can do is run the Troubleshooter for la printer and apply the recommended solution.

Nota: When running the utility Troubleshooter for la printer, the tool will start scanning your current printing components for any inconsistencies it may find. If a recognizable issue is identified, the tool will suggest the appropriate automated solution that you can usually apply with a single click.

To do so, follow the instructions below for step-by-step instructions on how to run the printer troubleshooter and apply the recommended solution to the Windows could not connect to the printer error:

• First, open a dialog box Run by clicking Windows key + R. Then write ms-settings: troubleshoot inside the text box and press Enter to open the tab Solve problems of the application Configuration.
• Once you are inside the tab Solve problems, Click on Other solvers de problems in the menu on the right side.

• After you are inside the menu Other troubleshooters, click the button Run associated with the printer.

• At the initial screen, wait for the scan to complete. If a viable issue is identified, you will be presented with a screen where you can apply the recommended solution.
• If the troubleshooter prompts a recommended workable solution, click Apply this solution to enforce it.

Nota: Depending on the recommended solution, you may need to perform some manual steps; just follow the on-screen instructions.

• Restart your PC and see if you can now connect to your network printer.

In case no viable printer solution was recommended or you have already applied one and did not see any improvement in the printer's network connectivity, please move on to the next solution.

Re-enable the Print to PDF feature

It turns out that you can also expect to see this particular issue due to an add-on feature (Print to PDF) that was unexpectedly affected by the latest update you installed.

According to some affected users, their inability to connect to a network printer could be related to the feature Print in PDF which ended up disabled after the update was installed.

If this scenario is applicable, follow the instructions below to re-enable the Print to PDF feature from the Windows Features screen:

• Press the Windows key + R to open a dialog box Run. Then write appwiz.cpl inside the text box and press Enter to open the menu Programs and Features.
• Once you are inside the menu Programs and Features, use the menu on the left to click on Turn Windows features on or off.

• When you are asked for the User Account Control (UAC), Click on Yes to grant administrator access.
• After you are inside the screen Windows features, scroll down to Microsoft Print to PDF and enable the associated check box before clicking Accept To save the changes.

• In the confirmation message, accept the change and wait until the Microsoft Print to PFF component is enabled.
• Restart your PC and see if you still can't connect your network printer.

If the same error Windows could not connect to the printer continues to occur, try the following method.

Uninstall update KB5006746

If none of the above methods have proven effective in your case, one way to ensure that you eliminate the effects caused by the bad Windows 11 update is to simply uninstall the problematic update. KB5006746 a through the Update History tab.

However, doing this will probably not be enough, as the Windows Update component will surely end up reinstalling the problematic update once again. Because of this, you will also need to use the Microsoft Show or Hide troubleshooter to hide the update that is causing you this problem.

Nota: Please note that if the update KB5006746 It was installed weeks ago, you probably can't uninstall it right now. In this case, the only thing we can do is follow the instructions below to uninstall and hide the update KB5006746 In order to resolve the issue related to your network printer:

• Press the Windows key + R to open a dialog box Run. Then write appwiz.cpl inside the text box and press Enter to open the screen Programs and Features.
• Once you are inside the menu Programs and Features, use the vertical menu on the left to click on View installed updates.

• Now when you are inside the screen Update installed, right click on the update KB5006746 and select uninstall in the context menu.

• In the confirmation message, click Yes, then wait until the uninstallation is complete.
• Once the KB5006746 update is uninstalled, do not restart your computer. Instead, visit the Microsoft Show or Hide Troubleshooter Official Download Page.

Nota: The download should start automatically.

• After the download is complete, open the file .diagcab and click on the button Advanced in the first message. Then check the box associated with Apply repairs automatically before clicking Next.

• Wait until the utility scans your system to find out which pending updates are not installed. Once the following screen appears, click Hide updates from the list of available options.

• On the next screen, check the box associated with the update KB5006746, then click Next to hide it; this will prevent Windows Update Please try to install the update again.
• Restart your PC one last time and see if you can now connect your network printer without receiving the same Windows could not connect to the printer error message.

If the same type of problem still occurs or this method was not applicable to you, move on to the next method.

Apply the fix manually via Registry Editor

In case you were unable to follow the above method because the installation of the problematic update KB5006746 was more than 2 weeks old, you will no longer be able to uninstall it.

However, what you can still do is apply the same type of fix that the hotfix already does for the failed update.

This can be done by opening an elevated message from the Registry Editor and creating a new 32-bit DWORD key called RpcAuthnLevelPrivacyEnabled and setting it to 0.

Follow these instructions for step-by-step instructions on how to do this:

• Press the Windows key + R to open a dialog box Run. Then write 'regedit' inside the text box and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open the Editor of the Register with administrator access.
• When you are asked for the User Account Control, click  Yes to grant administrator access.
• Once you are inside the tool Editor of the Register, use the vertical menu on the left to navigate to the following location:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print

Nota: You can navigate there manually or you can paste the full path above directly into the navigation bar at the top and press Enter to arrive instantly.

• Next, move to the section on the right: once you're there, right-click on an empty space and choose New > Dword (32-bit) Value
• Finally, set the name of the newly created DWORD value to RpcAuthnLevelPrivacyEnabled, then double click on it and set the basis for Hex un decimal and the value data a 0 before clicking Accept To save the changes.
• Close the elevated Registry Editor utility and restart your computer to allow the changes to take effect.
• Once your PC restarts, try connecting your network printer once again and see if the problem is now fixed.

We are sure that with each of these recommendations you will be able to resolve the error. Windows could not connect to the printer. We can only thank you for your visit, until next time.