How to fix
Printer error 0x00000003
on Windows

When trying to access my printer as I usually do, I ran into error 0x00000003. Everything was working just fine yesterday.

Understanding printer error 0x00000003 in Windows

Printer error 0x00000003 in Windows stops people from using a printer. This problem appears when Windows fails to locate the necessary printer driver files or when the printer setup contains issues. Maybe you attempted to install a new printer, connect to a shared printer on a network, or reinstall a printer driver.

When and why the error occurs

The error appears during activities like connecting over a network to a shared printer or after updating Windows. Usually, 0x00000003 error code means the system cannot find certain files or permissions it needs. This could happen due to missing or broken drivers, wrong access permissions, or problems with the print spooler, which handles print jobs in Windows.

Another possible cause is when someone tries to reinstall or connect to a printer that was already installed. Old driver files may create conflicts with new ones. Also, the print spooler might still look for old settings, leading to the error. 

What happens when the 0x00000003 error occurs?

When this error happens, Windows blocks adding or accessing the printer. Sending print jobs to the printer is not possible anymore, so nothing gets printed. A message might pop up that says "Windows cannot connect to the printer," followed by error code 0x00000003. This stops people from printing tasks, especially when connecting to shared or network printers. 

Potential Solutions for printer error 0x00000003

Fixing the error may need actions like reinstalling or updating printer drivers, changing printer permissions, restarting the print spooler service, or resetting network settings. These steps help solve the underlying causes, such as driver conflicts or spooler service problems. For an overall computer health check and fixes, we recommend employing automatic PC repair application [d1].

Fix 1. Restart the print spooler service

The print spooler service manages print jobs, and restarting it can resolve issues caused by service errors or conflicts. Restarting this service refreshes the printing process.

• Type Services in Windows search and press Enter.
• Scroll down and locate the Printer Spooler service.
• Right-click on it and select Restart.
• Try to connect to the printer again after the service restarts.

Fix 2. Reinstall the printer driver

• Type Device Manager in Windows search and hit Enter.
• Expand the Printers section.
• Right-click on your printer and select Uninstall device.
• Mark the Delete the driver software for this device tickbox and click Uninstall.
• Follow the on-screen instructions and restart your computer.
• Alternatively, you can employ automatic software such as [rev id="DriverFix"].

Fix 3. Clear the spool folder

Sometimes, clearing out old print jobs from the spool folder can resolve printer errors.

• Type Services in Windows search and press Enter.
• Find the Print Spooler service in the list, right-click on it, and select Stop.
• Once the service has stopped, press the Win + R.
• Type %WINDIR%\system32\spool\printers and press Enter. This should open the Printers folder.
• Delete all files within this folder.
• After clearing it, go back to the services window, find the Print Spooler service, right-click on it, and select Start.
• Close the services window and attempt to print your document again.

Fix 4. Adjust printer permissions

Incorrect permissions can prevent Windows from accessing the necessary files to connect to the printer. Adjusting these permissions can fix access issues.

• Open Control Panel and go to Devices and Printers.  
• Right-click on your printer and pick Printer properties.  
• Find the Security tab. Are the right permissions given to your user account?  
• Save the changes and restart your computer.

Fix 5. Add the printer manually

Manually adding the printer through the settings can bypass errors caused by automatic detection issues.

• Click on Start and select Settings.
• Go to the Devices section.
• Select Printers & scanners.
• You should see the connected printers here - click Remove device.
• When done, you should then click Add device and follow the prompts to finish the installation process.

Fix 6. Run the printer troubleshooter

• Type in Troubleshoot in Windows search and hit Enter.
• Go to Additional Troubleshooters/Other troubleshooters.
• Select Printer and click Run the troubleshooter/Run.
• Wait till the scan is finished, and then apply the suggested fixes.
• Restart your computer.

Fix 7. Update Windows

• Type Updates in Windows search and press Enter.
• In the new window, click Check for updates.
• Wait till all the necessary files are downloaded and installed.
• If optional updates are available, install them as well.
• When done, reboot your system to apply updates.

Fix 8. Reset the TCP/IP settings and flush DNS

• Type cmd in Windows search.
• Right-click on the Command Prompt result and select Run as administrator.
• Copy and paste each of the following commands, pressing Enter every time:
  ipconfig /flushdns
  ipconfig /registerdns
  ipconfig /release
  ipconfig /renew
  netsh winsock reset
• Reboot your device.