Error 0x0000007e when adding or connecting a printer
Error 0x0000007e means Windows couldn't load a file the printer driver needs. It is common with shared printers and 64-bit drivers. Here is the fix.
What this error means
The code 0x0000007e is Windows' way of saying "the specified module could not be found": a driver file, usually a DLL, that the printer needs couldn't be loaded. It typically appears when you connect to a shared network printer or right after installing a driver. Common triggers are a driver built for the wrong type of Windows, a universal driver that left a broken component behind, or a print processor the driver expects but can't find.
Common causes
- A driver built for a different architecture, such as 32-bit instead of 64-bit
- An incomplete driver copied from the host PC to a connecting PC
- Leftover components from an earlier version of the driver
- A missing or mismatched print processor
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 and try again
Open Command Prompt as administrator (search for cmd, right-click it and choose Run as administrator) and run the command below. Then try adding or connecting to the printer again.
net stop spooler && net start spooler -
Install the full driver for your type of Windows
Check whether your PC is x64 or Arm-based in Settings > System > About, next to System type. Then download the matching full driver package for your model from the manufacturer's official support site and install it before connecting. A driver for the wrong architecture is one of the most common causes of this code.
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Remove the old driver completely
Remove the printer in Printers & scanners. Then press Win + R, run the command below to open Print Server Properties on the Drivers tab, select the printer's driver, click Remove and choose Remove driver and driver package. If Windows says the driver is in use, restart the Print Spooler or the PC and try again, then reinstall the current driver.
printui /s /t2 -
Reconnect a shared printer through a local port
Choose Add device > Add manually > Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings > Create a new port > Local Port, and type the share path, for example
\\OFFICE-PC\Printer. When asked for a driver, pick the one you installed from the manufacturer. This avoids downloading the driver from the host PC. -
Connect directly by IP address
For a printer with its own network connection, add it on each PC with Add manually > Add a printer using an IP address or hostname. The PC then uses its own locally installed driver instead of one supplied by another computer.
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Repair Windows system files
If the error persists with a clean, correct driver, open Command Prompt as administrator and run
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, wait for it to finish, then run the command below. Restart when both are done.sfc /scannow
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
Does 0x0000007e mean something is missing from my printer?
No. The missing piece is on the computer: part of the driver software that Windows tried to load. The printer hardware is fine.
Why does it happen on one PC but not another?
Each PC keeps its own copy of printer drivers. The PC showing the error has an incomplete or mismatched copy, so cleaning out and reinstalling the driver on that PC is what fixes it.