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Error 0x000006B3 means “The RPC server is not listening.” When it appears while printing, Windows cannot complete communication with the Print Spooler, the printer driver, or a shared-printer connection. Start by clearing the print queue and restarting Print Spooler; if the error returns, reset the spool folder, remove duplicate drivers, and check RPC and firewall settings for shared printers. The same code can also affect a non-printing application, in which case the printer-specific fixes may not apply.
What does error 0x000006B3 mean?
Microsoft’s Win32 error reference defines 0x000006B3 as RPC_S_NOT_LISTENING: “The RPC server is not listening.” Remote Procedure Call (RPC) lets Windows components and applications request work from another service. The message does not identify one broken file or one universal repair; it says that the service expected to receive the RPC request is not accepting it.
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In a printing failure, the Print Spooler is the first service to investigate. It holds jobs, communicates with printer drivers, and, for shared printers, communicates with another Windows computer or print server. A stopped or crashed spooler, corrupt queue files, an incompatible driver, or blocked network RPC traffic can all produce the same code.
Why does 0x000006B3 appear when I try to print?
The exact cause depends on the printer connection and whether the failure is temporary or recurring.
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- Print Spooler interruption: If the service stops or crashes, jobs can remain stuck and applications may report that the printer is unavailable.
- Stale queue files: A damaged job in the spool directory can prevent the queue from clearing or the service from starting normally.
- Driver conflict: Old, duplicate, missing, or corrupted drivers can crash the spooler or prevent it from creating a usable print queue.
- Shared-printer RPC traffic: A Windows 11 22H2 or later client connecting to a shared printer may be unable to reach the server because a firewall or network policy blocks the required RPC ports.
- Non-printing RPC failure: If the code appears in another application, the failing service belongs to that application rather than to printing.
A restart can clear a transient service fault, but a recurring error usually requires queue cleanup, driver maintenance, or a network-side correction.
How do I fix error 0x000006B3 on Windows 11 and 10?
Work through these steps in order. After each step, print a test page or a small document. Stop when the printer works; changing drivers or network policy unnecessarily can create a second problem.
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Confirm the symptom and run the printer troubleshooter
Note whether the printer is connected by USB, directly to your local network, or shared from another computer or print server. That distinction determines whether the network checks later in this guide are relevant.
On Windows 11, open the Get Help app and run the printer troubleshooter. Follow its prompts and allow it to apply the suggested repair. The troubleshooter is an appropriate first check for a consumer PC because it can identify a stopped spooler or a basic queue configuration issue without changing advanced network policy.
If only one program fails while other programs print successfully, record the application and document type. That pattern points toward the application’s print settings or its own RPC call rather than a system-wide printer outage.
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Cancel every queued print job
A damaged or endlessly retrying job can keep Print Spooler from processing new work. Clear the queue before changing drivers.
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On Windows 10, use Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer, open its queue, and cancel all jobs. If a job remains in a cancelling state, continue to the spooler restart rather than repeatedly clicking Cancel.
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Restart Print Spooler
Press Windows key + R, type
services.msc, and press Enter. In the Services window, locate Print Spooler, right-click it, and choose Restart. If Restart is unavailable because the service is stopped, choose Start.Print Spooler manages print jobs and the queues exposed to applications. When it crashes, jobs may stay stuck and the printer can appear unresponsive. After the service starts, reopen the queue and submit a test page.
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Reset the spool folder when the queue will not clear
Use this step when jobs remain visible after a restart or Print Spooler repeatedly stops. It removes pending spool files, so any unsent documents in the queue will be lost and must be printed again.
- Open
services.msc, right-click Print Spooler, and choose Stop. - In File Explorer, enter
%WINDIR%System32spoolPRINTERSin the address bar. Approve an administrator prompt if Windows asks for one. - Delete the files inside the
PRINTERSfolder. Delete the contents only; do not delete thePRINTERSfolder itself. - Return to Services, right-click Print Spooler, choose Start, and confirm that Startup type is Automatic.
Microsoft’s advanced printing guidance identifies stale files under the system spool path as a possible reason for spooler problems. If the folder is empty but the service still stops, continue with driver checks instead of repeatedly deleting the same files.
- Open
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Remove conflicting drivers and install the exact model driver
A queue can fail even when the printer itself is powered on if Windows is loading an old or duplicate driver. Open Device Manager, expand Print queues or Printers, and look for unnecessary, old, or duplicate entries for the device. Remove entries you no longer use, following the prompts to uninstall the device or driver when offered.
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Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.Next, install the current driver supplied for the exact printer model and the Windows edition you are running. A driver for a similar model may not be interchangeable. Restart Windows after installation, then confirm that the queue points to the intended driver.
If the newest manufacturer driver still causes the spooler to fail, Microsoft’s advanced troubleshooting guidance suggests narrowing the cause by testing another print queue or a compatible generic in-box driver. A generic driver may provide basic printing but can omit model-specific features; use it as a diagnostic comparison, not as an assumption that every printer supports the same feature set.
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Do not install several vendor packages over one another while testing. Remove the failed duplicate first, reboot if requested, and then install one known-good package so the result is identifiable.
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Check RPC and firewall settings for a shared printer on Windows 11 22H2 or later
This branch applies when the printer is shared from another Windows computer or a print server. A USB printer connected directly to your PC does not normally need these network checks.
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Have the network administrator verify both directions required by the environment:
- The server is online and the shared printer still exists.
- The client can resolve and reach the server name.
- Windows Firewall or another network firewall is not blocking TCP 135.
- The permitted high-port range is reachable between the client and server.
- Security software or segmentation rules have not changed since the printer last worked.
RPC over Named Pipes is disabled by default in the documented Windows 11 configuration and is not recommended when TCP is available. Do not enable Named Pipes, alter registry values, or widen a port range casually. Those changes affect the network’s attack surface and should be made by an administrator who understands the organization’s security requirements.
After a network correction, remove and reconnect the shared printer or restart Print Spooler, then print a test page. If other users also fail, investigate the print server rather than changing each client’s driver independently.
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Verify the RPC dependency and identify non-printing failures
Microsoft’s advanced printing scenarios identify
RpcSs(the Remote Procedure Call service) as the default Print Spooler dependency. Inservices.msc, open Print Spooler > Properties > Dependencies and verify that the listed dependency is present and running. Check the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service itself before changing registry values or other service settings.If the error appears in a non-printing application, use the definition literally: an RPC server is not listening. Identify which application or Windows service was performing the failed action, check that service’s status and logs, and follow that product’s repair guidance. The printer queue, spool folder, and printer driver steps do not repair an unrelated RPC call.
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What is the difference between a local and a shared-printer failure?
| Connection | Most useful first checks | Additional checks | Typical recurring cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB or directly attached local printer | Clear the queue, restart Print Spooler, and reset the spool folder if needed. | Remove duplicate drivers and install the exact model driver. | A stale job, spooler crash, cable or device state, or driver conflict. |
| Printer connected to the same local network | Use the queue and spooler steps, then confirm the printer’s network address and availability. | Check the local firewall and the printer’s network connection. | Driver or queue problems, or loss of network reachability. |
| Printer shared from another Windows PC or print server | Check the client queue and spooler, then test whether other users can print. | Verify RPC over TCP, TCP 135, the high ephemeral-port range, server availability, and firewall policy. | Blocked RPC transport, server-side spooler failure, or mismatched client and server drivers. |
The table is a triage guide, not a rule that excludes other causes. For example, a shared printer can still have a corrupt local queue, and a USB printer can still be affected by a damaged driver package.
How can I tell whether the problem is a temporary service fault or a driver fault?
If restarting Print Spooler immediately restores printing and the problem does not return, the interruption may have been transient. If the service stops again whenever a particular document or printer is selected, suspect the queue or driver instead.
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- More consistent with a queue problem: one or more jobs cannot be cancelled, the queue repopulates after a restart, or clearing the spool directory restores normal operation.
- More consistent with a driver problem: the spooler crashes when that model is selected, multiple duplicate printer entries exist, or printing works with a generic queue but not with the vendor package.
- More consistent with a shared-network problem: local printers work, several users lose access to the same shared printer, or the client cannot reach the server’s RPC ports.
Keep a note of which change restored printing. That record prevents reintroducing a driver or network setting that was already shown to fail.
Does the repair differ on Windows 10?
The core repair is the same on Windows 10 and Windows 11: clear jobs, restart Print Spooler, reset stale spool files, and correct the driver or network path. The main interface difference is the printer settings path: Windows 10 uses Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, while Windows 11 uses Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
Microsoft support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025. That means free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes are no longer provided for the supported Windows 10 release. If a repair depends on a newer Windows feature or a vendor driver that no longer supports your edition, verify compatibility with the printer manufacturer and consider the security implications of continuing to operate an unsupported system.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should I do if none of these steps fixes 0x000006B3?
Separate the remaining possibilities before making deeper changes:
- Print to a different queue or another printer. If the second printer works, concentrate on the original model’s driver, connection, or server share.
- Ask another user to print to the same shared printer. A failure affecting everyone points toward the server, firewall, or network; a failure affecting only one PC points toward its queue or driver.
- Recheck the exact spelling of the server and share name and confirm that the server has not been renamed or taken offline.
- Review recent changes, such as a driver replacement, Windows configuration change, firewall policy update, or migration to a new print server.
- For a non-printing error, record the application, action, and time of failure so the owner of that RPC service can inspect its own logs.
Avoid broad registry edits or permanently disabling the firewall as a “fix.” Those actions can conceal the real cause and weaken the computer or network. The safe stopping point for a personal PC is the queue, spooler, driver, and documented connectivity checks; advanced RPC policy belongs to a qualified administrator.
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Frequently asked questions
Can error 0x000006B3 damage my printer?
The code describes a failed RPC communication path, not physical damage. It can leave jobs stuck or make the printer appear unavailable, but restoring the service, queue, driver, or network connection addresses the software condition.
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Why does only one application show the error?
Applications can use different print queues, drivers, or RPC calls. If other programs print normally, compare the failing application’s selected printer and update or repair that application before changing system-wide printer settings.
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No. Microsoft’s documented Windows 11 setup uses TCP-based RPC with port 135 and a defined high-port range. Ask the network administrator to permit only the traffic required by the organization’s print architecture rather than disabling firewall protection.
Will reinstalling the printer always remove a stuck queue?
Not necessarily. Queue files can remain in the spool directory even after a device is removed, so stop Print Spooler and clear the folder contents when ordinary cancellation and a restart do not work.
Is upgrading from Windows 10 required to clear this error?
No; the queue, spooler, driver, and RPC procedures can be performed on Windows 10. However, Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, so weigh the security and driver-support consequences of remaining on that platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can error 0x000006B3 damage my printer?
The code describes a failed RPC communication path, not physical damage. It can leave jobs stuck or make the printer appear unavailable, but restoring the service, queue, driver, or network connection addresses the software condition.
Why does only one application show the error?
Applications can use different print queues, drivers, or RPC calls. If other programs print normally, compare the failing application’s selected printer and update or repair that application before changing system-wide printer settings.
Should I open every RPC port to make a shared printer work?
No. Microsoft’s documented Windows 11 setup uses TCP-based RPC with port 135 and a defined high-port range. Ask the network administrator to permit only the traffic required by the organization’s print architecture rather than disabling firewall protection.
Will reinstalling the printer always remove a stuck queue?
Not necessarily. Queue files can remain in the spool directory even after a device is removed, so stop Print Spooler and clear the folder contents when ordinary cancellation and a restart do not work.
Is upgrading from Windows 10 required to clear this error?
No; the queue, spooler, driver, and RPC procedures can be performed on Windows 10. However, Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, so weigh the security and driver-support consequences of remaining on that platform.
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