Error 0x000006ba: RPC server is unavailable
Error 0x000006ba means the RPC server is unavailable. For printing, that almost always means the Print Spooler service has stopped or keeps crashing.
What this error means
The code 0x000006ba translates to "the RPC server is unavailable". When it appears while printing, opening printer settings or adding a printer, it nearly always means the Windows Print Spooler service, which manages every printer and print job, isn't running. The spooler may have been stopped or disabled, or it may be crashing because of a damaged job in the queue or a faulty driver.
Common causes
- The Print Spooler service is stopped or set to Disabled
- A corrupted job in the print queue crashes the spooler
- A faulty or incompatible printer driver
- Damaged Windows system files
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
-
Start the Print Spooler service
Press Win + R, type
services.mscand press Enter. Double-click Print Spooler, set Startup type to Automatic, click Start and then OK. The status column should now read Running. Try printing again. -
Restart it from Command Prompt
If the service shows as running but printing still fails, open Command Prompt as administrator (search for cmd, right-click it, choose Run as administrator) and run the command below.
net stop spooler && net start spooler -
Clear stuck print jobs
In an administrator Command Prompt, run
net stop spooler, then run the command below to delete the queued job files, then runnet start spooler. Only delete the files inside thePRINTERSfolder, never the folder itself. This cancels every pending job, so you will need to print those documents again.del /Q /F "%systemroot%\System32\spool\PRINTERS\*.*" -
Let the spooler restart itself after a crash
In
services.msc, open Print Spooler and go to the Recovery tab. Set First failure and Second failure to Restart the Service and click OK. This keeps printing available while you track down what is crashing it. -
Remove a faulty driver
If the spooler stops every time you print to one particular printer, its driver is the likely cause. Remove that printer in Printers & scanners, run the command below, select its driver on the Drivers tab and choose Remove > Remove driver and driver package. Then install the current driver from the manufacturer's official support site.
printui /s /t2 -
Repair Windows system files
If the spooler won't start at all or reports an error when you click Start, open Command Prompt as administrator and run the command below, then restart. If problems remain, also run
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealthand repeat the scan.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? 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
Should I restart the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service?
No. That core Windows service can't be stopped safely and is almost never the problem. For printing errors, focus on the Print Spooler service.
Why does the Print Spooler keep stopping?
Usually a corrupted job or a faulty driver crashes it each time it starts. Clearing the queue and removing recently added or outdated drivers fixes most cases.