Error code
Error 0x0000007e: Windows cannot connect to the printer
Error 0x0000007e means a driver file Windows needs to connect to a printer couldn’t be found or loaded. Remove the driver cleanly, reinstall it, connect again.
Windows message
What it means
Code 0x0000007e is Windows’ general “the specified module could not be found” error. In printing, it means that while adding or connecting to a printer, Windows tried to load a file belonging to the printer driver and the file was missing or wouldn’t load. The message usually reads something like Windows cannot connect to the printer. Operation failed with error 0x0000007e. It is a driver installation problem on a PC, not a fault in the printer.
When you’ll see it
- Connecting to a printer shared from another Windows PC or a print server
- Re-adding a printer after removing it or after a Windows update
- Installing a printer on a Windows on Arm laptop
- Using a driver package copied over from another computer
Usually caused by
- Most commonThe driver package on your PC is incomplete or damaged
- SometimesAn older version of the same driver was left behind
- SometimesThe sharing PC has no driver for your type of Windows
- SometimesA Windows on Arm PC is trying to use an x64-only driver
- Less commonSecurity software blocked part of the driver install
How to clear it
Work down the list in order. Tick off each step as you go: your progress is saved on this device.
Windows 11 and 10
0 of 6 tried
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Remove the printer and its driver package
In Printers & scanners, select the printer and choose Remove. Then open Print server properties under Related settings, go to the Drivers tab, select the driver for this printer, click Remove and choose Remove driver and driver package. If Windows says the driver is in use, restart the PC and try again.
You should see: The driver no longer appears on the Drivers tab.
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Restart the print spooler
Open Command Prompt as administrator and run the command below so the spooler lets go of any half-loaded driver files before you reinstall.
net stop spooler && net start spooler -
Install the full driver from the manufacturer
Download the current driver for your exact model and your version of Windows from the manufacturer’s official support site, run the installer and let it finish before you add or connect the printer. With the driver installed locally, Windows doesn’t have to copy driver files across from a sharing PC, which is where 0x0000007e most often starts.
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Connect to the printer again
For a network printer, add it by IP address from Add device > Add manually > Add a printer using an IP address or hostname. For a printer shared from another PC, choose Select a shared printer by name and type
\\PCNAME\ShareName; Windows should now use the driver you installed.You should see: The printer is added without the error and prints a test page.
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Add matching drivers on the sharing PC
If several PCs get the error from the same share, go to the PC that shares the printer, open the printer’s Printer properties, select the Sharing tab and click Additional Drivers. Tick the processor type the other PCs use (x64 for most PCs, ARM64 for Windows on Arm) and point it to the manufacturer’s driver for that type when asked.
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Use the built-in driver on Windows on Arm
Many older printer drivers exist only for x64 PCs and won’t load on an Arm-based Windows laptop. Check the manufacturer’s support site for an ARM64 driver; if there isn’t one, add a network printer by IP address and let Windows set it up with its own built-in driver (often listed as Microsoft IPP Class Driver), which handles everyday printing on most recent network printers.
You should see: The printer installs without asking for a manufacturer driver and prints a test page.
Common questions
What does “the specified module could not be found” mean here?
A module is a program file, usually part of the printer driver. Windows looked for it while connecting and it was missing or wouldn’t load, so a clean driver reinstall is the usual cure.
Will a driver from Windows Update work instead?
Often, yes. Windows Update and Windows’ built-in printer driver are both sound sources. Avoid third-party driver download sites and update utilities, which commonly supply the wrong or a damaged package.
Is 0x0000007e related to 0x0000011b?
They can turn up on the same shared-printer setup, but they mean different things. 0x0000007e is a missing driver file, while 0x0000011b is the sharing PC refusing the connection for security reasons.