How to Fix 0x000006BA Error on Windows 10

Some Windows 10 are encountering the 0x000006BA error code when trying to print new documents on Windows 10. Other users are experiencing this error code when attempting to connect a printer to their computer using the Add Printer functionality included with Windows 10.

As it turns out, there are several different causes that might be responsible for this error code. Here’s a list of potential culprits that might be responsible for this error:

Now that you know every potential culprit and the most common underlying causes that might cause the 0x000006BA error, here’s a list of confirmed fixes that other affected users have successfully used:

Method 1: Running the Printer Troubleshooter

If you’re experiencing this issue on Windows 10 and you haven’t started troubleshooting yet, the ideal way to start is by running the built-in printer troubleshooter included in Windows 10 and applying the recommended fix.

Keep in mind that Microsoft regularly updates these troubleshooters with new automated fixes to cover the most common issues. So if Microsoft is already aware of this issue, chances are you can already use the Printer Troubleshooter to fix your issue automatically.

If you’re not exactly sure how you can run the Printer Troubleshooter, follow the instructions below for step-by-step instructions:

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Inside the text box, type ”ms-settings:troubleshoot” and press Enter to open up the Troubleshooting tab of the Settings app in Windows 10.

   

2. Once you’re inside the Troubleshooting tab, scroll down to the right-hand side and click on the Printer icon (under Get up and running section)

   

3. From the context menu that just appeared, click on Run the Troubleshooter.
4. Once the utility is opened, start by selecting your printer from the list of options, then wait for the initial scan is complete. If a viable repair strategy is identified, click on Apply this fix to automatically deploy the fix.

   

   Note: Depending on the issue that you’re dealing with, you might need to follow some additional steps.

5. Once the fix is successfully deployed, restart your computer and wait for the next startup to complete. Once your computer boots back up, repeat the action that was previously triggering the 0x000006BA error and see if the issue is now fixed.

In case the same problem is still occurring, move down to the next potential fix below.

Method 2: Restart the Print Spooler Service

If the Printer Troubleshooter was not able to identify the problem that’s causing the 0x000006BA printer error on your computer, the next thing you should do is implement a universal fix that is known to fix these types of scenarios: Restarting the spooler service from the Services screen.

This fix was confirmed to be effective by a lot of affected users that were previously unable to print documents.

If you find yourself in a similar scenario, follow the instructions below to restart the Print Spooler service via the Services screen:

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Inside the Run box, type ‘services.msc’ and press Enter to open up the Services screen. When you’re prompted by the UAC (User Account Control) prompt, click Yes to grant admin access.

   

2. Once you’re inside the Services screen, move over to the right-hand side and scroll down through the list of services until you identify the Print Pooler service. After you locate it, right-click on it and choose Properties from the context menu.

   

3. Inside the Properties screen of the Print Spooler service, access the General tab at the top, then change the Startup type to Automatic and click Apply to save the changes.
4. Finally, if the Service status of the service shows as Stopped, click on Start and wait until the service is successfully started.
5. Once you manage to restart the Spooler Service, repeat the action that was triggering the error and see if the issue is now fixed.

In case you’re still getting the same 0x000006BA error even after following the instructions above, move down to the next potential fix below as you’re most likely dealing with some type of corruption.

Method 3: Clearing the Printers Folder

As it turns out, you can expect to encounter the 0x000006BA error in instances where your previously connected printers ended up leaving behind partially installed/corrupted files that are preventing new printers from using the spooler service on Windows 10.

Most commonly, this scenario is encountered after a botched printer driver installation or after an unexpected interruption while the Windows installer was in the middle of installing the printer driver.

If you find yourself in a similar scenario, the fix, in this case, is to disconnect every connected printer and access the PRINTERS folder inside System32 and delete every file inside in order to remove any roadblocks that newly connected printers might have.

To make matters easier for you, we’ve put together step by step instructions on how to do this:

1. Start by disconnecting every printer that is wirelessly connected or connected via USB / ethernet cable.
2. Open File Explorer and navigate to the following location:

   C:\Windows\System32\spool

3. When you attempt to access the System32 folder, you’ll be prompted by a UAC (User Account Control) prompt. When this happens, click Yes to give yourself admin access.
4. Once you’re inside the spool folder, double-click on the PRINTERS folder.

   

5. Inside the PRINTERS folder, press Ctrl + A to select everything inside, then right-click on a selected item and choose Delete from the context menu or simply press the Del key.
6. Finally, confirm the deletion of the printer files, then restart your computer once the operation is complete.
7. After your computer boots back up, retry the installation of your printer and see if the problem is now fixed.

If you still end up seeing the 0x000006ba when trying to print a document or connect a printer to your Windows 10 computer, move down to the next potential fix.

Method 4: Running SFC and DISM scans

If the first 3 potential fixes above didn’t work for you, it’s very likely you’re dealing with some kind of system file corruption that is affecting the spooler service. Keep in mind that this printing component of Windows 10 is one of the most sensible aspects that are prone to be affected by corruption (especially if the Windows 10 copy resulted from an upgrade from an older Windows version).

In case you find yourself in the same situation, running SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) scans in quick succession should allow you to fix the problem if the corruption is superficial.

For the best results, start with a simple SFC scan and don’t close the elevated CMD window until the scan is completed. This operation uses a locally cached folder to replace corrupted system files with healthy equivalents.

Once the SFC scan is complete, restart your computer and initiate a DISM scan once the next startup is complete. But since this type of scan realizes on Windows Update to download healthy copies for the corrupted files that need to be replaced, ensure that your Internet connection is stable.

After the second scan is complete, restart your computer one final time and see if the issue has been fixed.

If you’re still encountering the same 0x000006BA error, and you’re trying to use the printer sharing functionality, move down to the next potential fix below.

Method 5: Enable Printer Sharing

If you’re encountering this issue while attempting to use a printer over your local network, it’s possible to see the 0x000006ba error due to the fact that printer sharing functionality is not enabled on the Windows computer that acts as the host.

Several affected users have reported that they managed to fix this particular issue by using the Printers & Scanners interface on the affected computer to enable the printer sharing functionality on your computer.

But keep in mind that this needs to be done on the host PC, not the PC that is trying to use the printer over your local network.-

To fix this problem, follow the instructions below to use the Classic Control Panel interface to enable the printer sharing functionality on the host computer:

1. On the host computer, press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Inside the text box, type ‘ms-settings:printers’ and press Enter to open up the Printers & Scanners interface of the Settings app.
    

   

2. Once you’re inside the Printers & Scanners window, move over to the right-hand side menu, click on the printer that you want to share, and click on Manage from the context menu.

   

3. From the next menu, click on the Printer Properties hyperlink.
4. Once you’re inside the Printer Properties screen, access the Sharing tab, and select Share this printer.

   

5. Click Apply to save the changes, then press Windows key + R to open up a Run command. Inside the text box, type ‘control.exe /name Microsoft.NetworkAndSharingCenter‘ and press Enter to open up the Network and Sharing Center.

   

6. Once you’re inside the Network and Sharing Center, click on Change advanced sharing settings hyperlink menu from the left-hand side menu.

   

7. Once you’re inside the Advanced sharing settings menu, scroll down to the File and printer sharing and set the associated toggle to Turn on file and printer sharing.
   

   

8. Finally, click Save changes and click Yes at the UAC (User Account Control) prompt before finally restarting your computer.
9. Repeat the action that was previously triggering the 0x000006BA error and see if the problem is now fixed.