A new security patch released by Microsoft may have caused printers shared over the network to malfunction, resulting in the operation failed 0x0000011B error. The error has primarily affected Windows 10 21H1 build running computers. However, you may also experience it on Windows 11 systems.

You can fix the error by installing the latest patch for the bug in the Windows update section. If not, here are other troubleshooting steps to fix the error and get your printer working again.

Note that all the fixes must be applied to the host system that has the printer connected to it.

1. Restart the Print Spooler Service

A common troubleshooting step to fix issues with your printer is to restart the print spooler service. It is an essential service that handles the print job between your computer and printer. If the print spooler service is not running, you can manually start it from the Services snap-in. Here’s how to do it.

  1. Press Win + R to open Run.
  2. Type services.msc and click OK.
  3. In the Service snap-in, locate the Print Spooler service.
    print spooler service properties
  4. Next, right-click on the service and select Properties.
    print spooler service startup type automatic
  5. In the Properties dialog, open the General tab.
    restart print spooler service 1
  6. Click the Startup type drop-down and set it to Automatic.
  7. Click Apply and OK to save the changes.
  8. Right-click on Print Spooler again and click Restart.
  9. Once the Print Spooler service is up and running, create a new print job and check for any improvements.

2. Install All the Pending Windows Updates

check windows 10 updates

If it’s a widespread issue, you’ll likely receive a bug fix via Windows update. So, begin with checking if a new Windows update is available. These are often small hotfixes released to fix widespread issues.

To check and install Windows updates:

  1. Press Win + I to open the Settings app.
  2. In the left pane, open the Windows Update tab. Open Update & Security on Windows 10.
  3. Click on Check for updates. Windows will look for pending updates and list them here.
  4. Click on Download & install to install the updates.
  5. Once installed, restart your PC and check for any improvements.

3. Install the Printer Manually via the Local Port

A little complicated, yet a working solution to fix the operation failed error 0x0000011B is to add your printer manually to Windows for the local port. Here’s how to do it.

  1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
  2. Next, click on Devices and then open the Printers & scanners tab.
  3. Next, click on Add a printer or scanner. Windows will scan for available printers.
    the printer that i want isnt listed
  4. Click on the The printer that I want isn’t listed option. If you don't see the option immediately, wait for a few seconds after clicking on the Add a printer or scanner option.
  5. In the Add Printer dialog, select Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings.
    add local printer network printer
  6. Under Choose a printer port, select Create a new port.
    create new port local port add printer
  7. Click the drop-down for Type of port and select Local Port.
  8. Click Next.
    enter port name printer
  9. Type your network printer file path and the network printer name in the Enter a port name field. You can use the username or the IP address for the computer name and then the printer name you want to share.
  10. Click OK to save the printer.
  11. Next, select your printer manufacturer from the list to install the printer driver.
  12. Next, select the correct printer driver under the Printers column.
  13. Click Next.
  14. Choose a name for your printer driver and click Install.
  15. Click Next and wait for the installation to complete.

Your newly added printer will now appear under Device and Printer in Control Panel and the Settings app. Give a new print job to see if the error is resolved.

4. Disable the CVE-2021-1678 Registry Fix

The problematic security update included a security fix to patch the Printer Spooler Spoofing vulnerability dubbed CVE-2021-1678. However, the new changes seem to have triggered the 0x0000011B operation failed error.

To fix the error without uninstalling the security update, you’ll need to create a new registry entry to disable the feature. Here’s how to do it.

Note that modifying your Windows Registry involves risk. We recommend you back up your Windows registry and create a system restore before proceeding with the steps below.

Next, follow these steps to disable CVE-2021-1678 mitigation:

  1. Press Win + R to open Run.
  2. Type regedit and click OK to open Registry Editor.
  3. In Registry Editor, navigate to the following location. Copy and paste the registry path for quick navigation: 
            Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print
  4. Next, right-click on Print > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
    create new dword 32 bit value registry editor
  5. Rename the DWORD value as RpcAuthnLevelPrivacyEnabled.
    registry editor modify rpcauthlevelprivacyenabled
  6. Right-click on the RpcAuthnLevelPrivacyEnabled value and select Modify.
  7. Type 0 in the Value data field and click OK to save the changes.
    registry editor modify rpcauthlevelprivacyenabled 0 disabled
  8. Close Registry Editor and restart your PC to apply the changes.
  9. After the restart, try to use your shared printer and check if the error is resolved.

5. Uninstall Recently Installed Updates

Assuming the issue is triggered after you installed a Windows security update, uninstalling the update should undo the changes and fix the error. You can uninstall some individual updates from the Windows updates section. This feature is specifically available to undo issues that may have occurred after installing an update.

Note that the concerned update (KB5005565) was released to fix a print spooler vulnerability on Windows OS. Uninstalling the update can leave your computer vulnerable again. Use this as a last resort if none of the above methods helped resolve the error.

To uninstall Windows updates:

  1. Press Win + R to open Run.
  2. Type control and click OK to open Control Panel.
    control panel uninstall programs
  3. Next, click on Programs.
    control panel uninstall programs view installed updatges
  4. Click on View installed updates under Programs and Features. This will open the Uninstall updates section in the Settings app. Alternatively, go to Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates to access the same.
    uninstall windows updates
  5. Locate the problematic update (KB5005565) and click on Uninstall.
  6. Click Uninstall again to confirm the action. Wait for the update to uninstall and restart your PC to apply the changes.

Fixing the 0x0000011b Printing Error on Windows

This error has largely affected Windows 10 computers. To fix the issue, try to install all the pending Windows updates that may include a hotfix. You can also add the printer manually to a local port or edit the registry entry to disable the problematic setting. If nothing works, uninstalling the security update may be the last resort. However, doing so can put your computer at risk of print spooler spoofing vulnerability.