Error 0x00000057: The parameter is incorrect
Error 0x00000057 (The parameter is incorrect) stops a printer driver from installing, usually because the driver package is damaged or mismatched.
What this error means
Windows reports 0x00000057, "the parameter is incorrect", when information passed to it during a printer or driver install doesn't make sense. With printers, that usually means the driver package is damaged, incomplete, or written for a different Windows version, or that an existing copy of the driver clashes with the one you're installing.
Common causes
- A corrupted or incomplete driver download
- A driver made for a different Windows version or architecture
- An existing copy of the driver that conflicts with the new one
- Damaged entries in the Windows driver store
How to fix it
Start with the first fix. They’re ordered from safest and quickest to most involved.
Fixes for Windows
0 of 6 steps tried
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Restart the Print Spooler
Open Command Prompt as administrator and run the command below, then try the installation again.
net stop spooler && net start spooler -
Download a fresh, matching driver
Delete the installer you used and download it again from the manufacturer's official support site, choosing your exact model and Windows version. Check whether your PC is x64 or Arm-based in Settings > System > About. A partial download or wrong-architecture package is the most common cause of this error.
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Remove existing copies of the driver
Remove the printer in Printers & scanners, then run the command below. On the Drivers tab, select the printer's driver and choose Remove > Remove driver and driver package. Restart before installing the fresh driver.
printui /s /t2 -
Install the driver manually with Have Disk
If the maker offers a basic driver (a folder containing an
.inffile) rather than only an installer, choose Add device > Add manually > Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings, pick the right port, then click Have Disk and browse to the extracted.inffile. This bypasses an installer that may itself be failing. -
Try the driver Windows provides
When you add the printer through Printers & scanners, let Windows choose a driver, or click Windows Update in the driver list to load a larger catalogue and pick your model. Many network printers also work with the built-in Microsoft IPP Class Driver.
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Clean up the driver store (Advanced)
In an administrator Command Prompt, run the command below and look for printer packages from your maker. Note the Published Name (such as
oem12.inf) and remove it withpnputil /delete-driver oem12.inf /uninstall. Only remove packages that are clearly for the printer.pnputil /enum-drivers
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
Is 0x00000057 caused by my user account?
Usually not, although you should install drivers from an administrator account. The problem is almost always the driver package or a conflicting copy already on the PC.
The same driver installs on another PC. Why not this one?
Each PC has its own driver store. The PC showing the error likely has an older or damaged copy that clashes with the new one, so removing it first usually solves the problem.