Error 0x00000040: The specified network name is no longer available
Error 0x00000040 means the connection to a shared printer dropped or the host went away. Wake the host, steady the network and reconnect.
What this error means
0x00000040 is Windows error 64, "The specified network name is no longer available". With printers it means your PC found the shared printer, or the computer sharing it, but the connection disappeared partway through: while adding the printer, opening its queue or sending a job. The host PC going to sleep, a Wi-Fi drop, a firewall closing the connection, or the share being renamed or removed are the usual reasons. The printer itself is usually fine.
Common causes
- The host PC went to sleep, restarted or lost its network connection
- An unstable Wi-Fi or Ethernet link on either computer
- The printer was unshared or renamed on the host
- Security software or a VPN closing file and printer sharing connections
- Network adapter power saving switching the adapter off
How to fix it
Start with the first fix. They’re ordered from safest and quickest to most involved.
Fixes for Windows
0 of 7 steps tried
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Make sure the host PC is awake and online
Go to the computer that shares the printer and check it's switched on, awake and connected: open a website on it and print a page from it directly. If it can't print locally, fix that first. Then restart both PCs and try connecting again.
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Stop the host PC sleeping while you print
A sleeping host drops every shared connection. On the host, open Settings > System > Power & battery (Windows 10: Power & sleep) and, in the screen and sleep settings, set the sleep time when plugged in to Never or to a long enough period to cover when you print. The screen can still turn off; only sleep matters.
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Check the share on the host
On the host, open Printers & scanners, select the printer, choose Printer properties and open the Sharing tab. Confirm Share this printer is ticked and note the share name. If it was renamed or re-shared, remove the printer on your PC and add it again using the current name.
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Test the network connection
On your PC, open Command Prompt and run the command below, replacing HOSTPC with the host's name or IP address. It pings continuously; press Ctrl + C to stop. Occasional Request timed out lines point to a weak or dropping connection. Moving the host closer to the router, or connecting it by Ethernet, usually stops this error coming back.
ping -t HOSTPC -
Turn off power saving on the network adapter
On both PCs, right-click Start, open Device Manager, expand Network adapters and double-click the Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter. If there's a Power Management tab, clear Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power and click OK. Not every adapter shows this tab.
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Check the firewall, security software and VPN
On the host, open Windows Security > Firewall & network protection > Allow an app through firewall, click Change settings and make sure File and Printer Sharing is ticked for Private. If you use third-party security software, check its firewall rules too. Disconnect any VPN on either PC while you test, because many VPNs cut off local network traffic.
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Remove and re-add the printer, or connect directly
On your PC, remove the printer from Printers & scanners, restart, then press Win + R, type
\\HOSTPCand connect to the printer again. If the printer has its own Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection, adding it by IP address on each PC removes the dependency on the host altogether.
Did this fix it?
Good. To confirm everything is healthy, print a test page. It takes a minute and shows any quality problems early.
Still stuck? Our printer assistant can walk you through it by live chat, free. . Or the The troubleshooter asks a few questions and narrows it down. If your printer is under warranty, the manufacturer can repair or replace it at no cost. Find their official support site on our brand pages.
Common questions
Why does 0x00000040 only happen some of the time?
Intermittent failures usually mean the host is sleeping or its connection is unreliable. Keep the host awake, connect it by cable if possible, and reserve its IP address in your router so it doesn't change.
Does this error mean my printer is broken?
No. It describes a lost connection between two computers. If the printer prints from the PC it's attached to, the hardware is fine.
How is it different from error 0x00000035?
0x00000035 means your PC never found the network path. 0x00000040 means it found it and then lost the connection, which points more towards sleep or an unstable network.