How to fix Printer error 0x00000709 in Windows 10

What is Printer error 0x00000709

In recent days, a growing number of users started facing issues with setting up their printers by default. The problem has been spotted to happen in Windows 10 with the following message – Operation could not be completed (error 0x00000709). Double check the printer name and make sure that the printer is connected to the network. After this, many get stuck and do not have any idea how to get around the issue. The most common reasons for its appearance are wrong registry values, corrupted settings, and malfunctioned or outdated drivers. Luckily, you should not be worried about any of those because we have prepared a complete guide to address the popping-up error. Make sure to follow each proposed step until the error gets resolved.

1. Launch Printer Troubleshooter

Our first recommendation to try is a basic, yet sometimes effective Windows Troubleshooter. This is an in-built utility offering automatic repair for many Windows services and apps. Run it using the manual below:

1. Press Windows Key + I and navigate to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
2. On the right pane, locate Printer and click Run the troubleshooter.
3. Finish the process following the on-screen instructions and restart your PC.

2. Change Printer Value in Registry Editor

If you experience problems whilst trying to set your printer by default, it is possible to change it directly in Registry Editor. We will guide you through the entire process, so follow the steps listed below:

1. Press Windows Key + R buttons, copy-paste regedit and click Enter to open it up.
2. The navigate to this path of folders HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Windows.
3. After reaching Windows folder, move your eyes to the right pane and double-click on entry called Device.
4. Under Value Data, make sure you have the name of a printer that you wish to work by default. If not, adjust it changing only the name of the printer (PrinterNAME,winspool,Ne01:). To find the name of your printer, type Control Panel in search, go to Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers. You will be able to see all memorized printers.

Also, if you are wondering what the “Ne01” thing is, then this is the port number of your printer randomly assigned when you have your printer connected. Keep it the same as you had written already.

5. After adjusting the necessary values, click OK and try to use your printer again.

Important note: Some users may be restricted to change the above-mentioned values because they are permission-limited. An error message will pop and not let you apply the written adjustments. In order to change it, you have to do the following:

1. Right-click on Windows folder that we reached throughout the path from above and choose Permissions.
2. Under Group and user names, find and select RESTRICTED.
3. Then, mark all the checkboxes next to Full Control and Read. Click Apply and OK afterwards.
4. As a result of these steps, you will be able to change the Device value without restrictions.

After running all of these steps, check if our main problem persists. If yes, move on to other solutions presented below.

3. Stop Windows from managing your default printer

Initially, this option is meant to alleviate the process and let Windows memorize what printer you used most recently to set it by default. However, there are cases when Windows goes off the rails and does not perform its features correctly. This is why it is advised to turn off this option and see if some post-effect happens. Here is how:

1. Press Windows Key + I and navigate to Devices > Printers & Scanners.
2. Look at the right pane and disable the Let Windows manage my default printer feature.
3. Close the window and reboot your PC to apply the affected changes.

Now you can try to set up any printer by default you want.

4. Update Printer drivers

1. Left-click on the Start Menu button and choose Device Manager.
2. Find Universal Serial Bus Controllers and expand it.
3. Then right-lick on USB composite device and choose Update driver.
4. Let Windows search for new drivers and download them by following the on-screen instructions.

You can also use the IOBit Driver Booster utility that is able to scan your device for the lacking drivers and immediately replace them with the newest. This is a very useful utility that will maintain all existing drivers with fresh and tested updates throughout your PC usage. Download it using the button below.


Driver Booster start screen

Driver Booster scan results

Driver Booster tools section
Download Driver Booster

5. Delete KB5006670 update patch

If you began receiving the error after installing Oct 2021 security patch on Windows 10 21h1, 20h2, or 2004 versions, then it may be corrupted. Despite the true value and usefulness of updates, some of them may come with bugs and flaws causing disruption in other parts of the system. If you are unsure whether such an update has been installed, we encourage you to check and remove it.

1. Press Windows key + I and go to Update & Security.
2. In Windows Update tab, choose View update history.
3. Then click Uninstall updates.
4. Control Panel will open and display all updates installed in your system.
5. Find and right-click on the KB5006670 update choose Uninstall.
6. This will delete the installed update and hopefully remove the printer issues.

6. Remove ghost printers

Sometimes people may see unconnected printers like they are connected. Such a phenomenon usually goes by the name of “ghost printer”, which shows up despite it being unplugged already. It is also possible that ghost printers will prevent your system from identifying your printers correctly. The same can lead to problems while setting up printers by default. Below, you will find two methods to remove ghost printers that got stuck in your system.

Restart Print Spooler Service and clear its folders:

1. In the searching tab next to the Start Menu type cmd.
2. Then right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
3. In the opened window paste these commands one-by-one and click Enter after each command:


net stop spooler
del /Q /F /S "%systemroot%\System32\Spool\Printers\*.*"
net start spooler


4. Now check if the problem faded away.

Access Print Management utility:

1. Press Windows Key + R buttons like we did previously, copy-paste printmanagement.msc and click Enter to open it up.
2. On the left, expand option named Custom Filters and choose All Printers afterwards.
3. Then find the ghost printer you want to delete on the right pane, right-click on it and choose Delete.
4. After doing these steps, ghost printers should no longer appear.

Summary

This was the last solution to end our guide. We hope you are now able to configure your printer by default and have no troubles using the device. If you have some other issues bothering you, use our search on the website to find the ones you need by keywords. Also, feel free to contact us for other problems you face throughout the PC experience.