Fix: Printer Error 0x00000bc4 or 0x00000709 in Windows 11 22H2

After updating Windows 11 to version 22H2, your network printers may stop working. Also, the error code 0x00000bc4 (Desc: ERROR_PRINTER_NOT_FOUND) or 0x00000709 (Desc: ERROR_INVALID_PRINTER_NAME) appears when adding a new network printer.

Operation could not be completed (error 0x00000bc4).

No Printers Were Found.

The printer name is invalid.

Cause

Windows 11 version 22H2 introduced a new group policy named “Configure RPC Connection settings.” This policy setting controls which protocol and protocol settings to use for outgoing RPC connections to a remote print spooler.

The default setting in 22H2 blocks Windows from finding your network printers. This causes your existing printers to be erased, and adding them manually causes the error 0x00000bc4.

Setting “Configure RPC Connection settings” to “RPC over named pipes” fixes the issue.

Solution

To fix the network printer error 0x00000bc4, try these steps:

  1. Launch the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)
  2. Go to the following section:
    Administrative Templates → Printers → Configure RPC connection settings
  3. Select “RPC over named pipes” from the dropdown, and click OK.
    0x00000bc4 22h2 - printer gpo rpc connection
  4. Exit the Group Policy Editor.

Registry Setting for the above GPO

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Printers\RPC]



There are 2 values that can be configured:

RpcUseNamedPipeProtocol REG_DWORD

0: RpcOverTcp (default)
1: RpcOverNamedPipes

Credits

The above solution was initially found by @thomas_forde, who tweeted about it recently.


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Ramesh Srinivasan is passionate about Microsoft technologies and he has been a consecutive ten-time recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award in the Windows Shell/Desktop Experience category, from 2003 to 2012. He loves to troubleshoot and write about Windows. Ramesh founded Winhelponline.com in 2005.

46 thoughts on “Fix: Printer Error 0x00000bc4 or 0x00000709 in Windows 11 22H2”

  1. IT WORKS!!! THANK YOU, BUDDY.

    IN THIS METHOD, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS ADD THE REGISTRY MANNUALLY!!!
    ENABLE THE GPEDIT.MSC ONLY WILL NOT WORK, SO PLEASE FOCUS ON THE 2ND STEP!!!

    Reply
  2. Hi I am using Windows 11 Home, I have tried manually creating the registry key folder and both dword string. But still, the same error exists. Not sure am I doing it correctly, please help in showing the actual step by step guide or a screenshot of the regedit

    Reply
  3. Okay I got it Windows 11 Home
    go to regedit
    create key until you have
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Printers\RPC]
    then create dword RpcUseNamedPipeProtocol
    Set Value to 1

    do not have to go through gpedit.msc

    Reply
  4. Thanks very muc bro
    i created folder manually cause nothing in my regedit
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Printers\RPC]
    and create these dword
    RpcUseNamedPipeProtocol
    Set Value to 1
    i very confuse for 2 days haha
    thank you

    Reply
  5. One simple and dump question : This registry process is to be done in the client computer (the one accessing a shared printer) or the host computer (the one sharing out the printer)?

    Reply
  6. Work for me
    1. Install Gpedit on Windows 11 home editions
    2. Enable Connection RPC set to over pipe names
    3. Insert key Printer/RPC in Regedit

    Reply
  7. i have windows 7 client and win 11 pro (fully updated).
    the win11 computer is connected via usb to a printer and i share the printer in win11 settings.
    they both (PC’s) connected to the same network (win11 pc connected using ethernet and win7 pc using wifi).
    how can i print from win7 pc in the printer connected to win11 pc?
    when i add printer in win 7 it finds the shared printer:
    https://i.imgur.com/InHgiAy.png
    but when i continue i get this error:
    https://www.tapuz.co.il/attachments/screenshot-2023-03-03-162412-png.72466/

    Reply
  8. with the printer sharing server is windows 11 home 22h2 .the client is windows 7 and windows 10 connect i get error 0x000000709 please help me

    Reply
  9. It works perfectly in windows 11 single-language. thank you very much. just change

    Windows 11 cant print error 0x0000709

    1. Go to Host PC and client at registry HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Printers\RPC
    2. If no Printer folder right click windows nt and add string key named Printers, and in Printers folder right click and add new string named RPC (Mind the Capslock)
    3. In RPC folder right click and add DWORD 32x name it to RpcUseNamedPipeProtocol and set value data to 1
    4. try access printer again

    Reply
  10. OH MY GOD this actually worked. You sir are a saint, That gpedit method worked perfectly. Although in [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Printers\RPC] i did not had to do anything since the dword value was already set to 1.
    I watched so many youtube “Tutorial / Fixed” video that none of them worked.
    THANK YOU SO SUCH posting this solution good sir. God Bless Your Soul.

    Reply
  11. The error changed. Now if I try to connect my windows 11 as a client shows error “Operation failed with error 0x0000011b”

    Anyone help please

    Reply
  12. I tried following the sting to change the registry for the 0x00000709 shared printer fault. It worked well until I got to WindoswNT. It didn’t have Printers in the key. It offered services/client not Printers/RPC.

    Reply

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