Some Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 users are reporting that they always end up seeing the 0x0000052E error code (Windows cannot connect to the printer) when trying to connect a new printer on their PC.

How to Fix ‘Error 0x0000052E’ on Windows 10 - 1

Error 0x0000052E on Windows

After investigating this particular issue, it turns out that there are several different underlying causes that might be triggering this error code. Here’s a list of potential culprits that might be responsible for this issue:

  • Common Printer protocol glitch – If you’re encountering this issue on a Windows 10 computer, chances are you’re dealing with a common glitch that can be resolved simply by running the built-in Printer Troubleshooter and applying the recommended fix.
  • Corrupted Dymo driver installation – A lot of users that were only encountering this issue when attempting to connect Dymo devices have managed to fix the issue by uninstalling the entire driver + support software infrastructure before clean installing it again.
  • System File Corruption – As it turns out, it’s also possible to experience these types of issues due to some kind of system file corruption that’s affecting Windows files responsible for handling printing dependencies. In this case, you can hope to fix the issue with a procedure like clean installing or repair install.

Now that you know every potential underlying cause for this error, here’s a list of verified methods that other affected users have successfully used to fix this error code:

Method 1: Running the Printer Troubleshooter (Windows 10)

If you’re looking to fix the issue the easiest way possible, the first thing you should do is run the built-in Printer Troubleshooter and apply the recommended fix. This is not guaranteed to work, but a lot of affected users have reported that this utility managed to fix the 0x0000052E error in their case.

This troubleshooter essentially contains a collection of automated fixes that can be deployed with a single click if the culprit of this issue is identified.

When you run the Printer Troubleshooter , this tool will automatically analyze the current situation and determine if any of the pre-determined repair strategies are applicable to your current situation. If a viable fix is identified, you will be presented with a choice to apply this fix.

If you haven’t tried running the Printer Troubleshooter yet, follow the instructions below to do so:

  1. Open up a Run dialog box by pressing Windows key + R . Next, type ‘ ms-settings:troubleshoot’ and press Enter to open up the Troubleshoot tab of the Settings app. Accessing the activation troubleshooter
  2. Once you’re inside the Troubleshooting tab, scroll down to the Get up and running tab, then click on Printer from the list of available options. Next, click on Run the troubleshooter from the context menu that just appeared. Running the printer troubleshooter
  3. If a viable fix is identified, click on Apply this fix if a repair strategy is recommended. Applying the recommended fix
  4. Once the operation is complete, restart your computer and attempt to connect your printer once again once the next startup is complete.

If the same problem is still persisting even after applying the fix or the utility wasn’t able to find a viable fix for your issue, move down to the next potential fix below.

Method 2: Reinstalling the Dymo Connect Dymo software (if applicable)

If you’re encountering this issue while attempting to connect a Dymo device to your windows computer, keep in mind that you’re not the only one. We’ve managed to discover a lot of user reports facing the same 0x0000052e when attempting to connect their Dymo device to multiple computers.

After investigating this issue, it turns out that this issue is occurring due to an issue with the supporting driver software that comes with the vast majority of Dymo devices.

Since this is caused by corrupted installation files, the only way to fix this problem is to uninstall the current Dymo drivers and remove and remove any traces from them before reinstalling the latest driver equivalent from scratch.

If this scenario is applicable and you’re looking for step by step instructions on how to do this, follow the instructions below:

  1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Next, type ‘appwiz.cpl’ inside the text box and hit Enter to open up the Programs and Features menu. Accessing the Programs and Features menu
  2. Once you’re inside the Programs and Features menu, scroll down through the list of applications and locate the DCD installation.
  3. When you manage to locate it, right-click on it and choose Uninstall from the context menu that just appeared. Uninstalling the Dymo software +, driver
  4. Next, follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation, then restart your computer and wait for the next startup to complete.
  5. Once your computer boots back up, visit the official driver download page of Dymo and click on the Support tab.
  6. Inside the Support tab, click on the latest version of Dymo Connect for Desktop (under Drivers & Downloads) to begin the download of the latest driver version. Downloading the latest version of Dymo connect
  7. Once the download is complete, double-click on the executable, provide admin access at the User Account Control prompt, then follow the on-screen prompts to install the requirements necessary for the Dymo suite to work. Installing the Dymo requirements
  8. Once every requirement is installed, complete the installation of the newer driver version before restarting your computer once again.
  9. After the newer version of the Dymo driver is installed, attempt to connect your printer once again and see if the same problem is still occurring.

If this method didn’t work in your case or this method was not applicable to your particular scenario, move down to the next potential fix below.

Method 3: Refreshing your Windows Components

If none of the methods above have worked in your particular scenario and you’re certain that you’re not dealing with a hardware issue, you can probably conclude that you’re dealing with some type of underlying system file corruption that is affecting your OS’s ability to install and manage printer protocols.

In this case, the best thing you can do is refresh every Windows component that might be causing this problem with a procedure like clean installing or repair installing:

  • Repair installing – If you are currently storing important information on your Windows drive, you should go for a repair install procedure since it will allow you to keep all your personal data. A repair install procedure will allow you to keep your personal media, apps, games, and even some user preferences associated with your current OS installation. The main drawback is that you will need to insert or plug in a compatible installation media in order to trigger a repair install procedure.
  • Clean installing – If you don’t care about losing personal data on your OS drive, the quickest and painless procedure is to go for a clean install. This operation will erase any personal data on the OS drive, but you will be able to trigger this procedure directly from the GUI menu of Windows without having to plug in a compatible installation media.

How to Fix “Printer is in an error state” Issue?

Some Windows users have been reaching us with questions after being unable to connect to their printer over the local network. The error code that comes up is 0x00000bcb and is most commonly reported to occur just right after Windows fails to connect to a printer that’s connected to the local network. As it turns out, the issue is not exclusive to a certain Windows version as it’s confirmed to occur on Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.

How to Fix ‘Error 0x0000052E’ on Windows 10 - 2

Printer Error 0x00000bcb on Windows

What’s causing the 0x00000bcb Printer error?

We investigated this particular issue by looking at various user reports and by testing out the various repair strategies that other affected users have successfully used to get to the bottom of this issue. As it turns out, several different scenarios will trigger this kind of issue. Here’s a shortlist with potential culprits that might be responsible for this problem:

  • Printer Queue is glitched – In certain situations, this issue can occur due to an interruption when the Spooling service was preparing to send the file to the printer. In this case, the problem might be created by several different dependencies that contribute to the printing chore. In this case, the easiest way to resolve the issue is to run the Printer Troubleshooter.
  • Glitched Print Spooler Service – This problem can also occur in a situation where the Print Spooler service has become glitched and it’s unable to facilitate the printing operation. If this scenario is applicable, you can resolve the issue by restarting the Print Spooler service using the Services screen.
  • Access Control issues – As it turns out, this particular error can also occur due to a problem with how your operating system recognizes the access control list of the Print Spooler service. In this case, you will be successful in resolving the issue by using the cacls.exe utility inside an elevated CMD prompt.
  • The improper printer prompts – As some users have confirmed, this problem can also occur due to inconsistent printer ports. Several users struggling to resolve the same issue have finally managed to restore the printing capabilities by reinstalling every printer port using Device Manager.

Method 1: Running the Printer Troubleshooter

Before we explore other more focused repair strategies, let’s see if your operating system isn’t capable of fixing the problem automatically. Several affected users have confirmed that they were able to get the 0x00000bcb fixed indefinitely by running a built-in utility capable of resolving most printer-related issues automatically via a series of predefined repair strategies.

The Windows Printer Troubleshooter will analyze your current printer driver and dependencies before determining if one of the repair strategies apply to the type of issue that is going on. As soon as you start this tool, it will begin to look for inconsistencies and will automatically apply the applicable one.

Here’s a quick guide that will help you fix the 0x00000bcb error using the Printer Troubleshooter app:

  1. Open up a Run dialog box by pressing Windows key + R . Next, type ” ms-settings:troubleshoot’ and press E nter to open up the Troubleshooting tab of the settings app. Accessing the Troubleshooting tab
  2. Once you manage to get inside the Troubleshooting tab, move over to the right-hand pane and scroll down to the Getup and running section. As soon as you get there, click on Printer, then click on Run the troubleshooter to launch the troubleshooting utility. Running the Printer Troubleshooter
  3. Once the utility is started, it will automatically scan all your printer components to try and identify the problem. If a viable repair strategy is found, the next screen will present you with a fix. To apply it, simply click on Apply this fix and wait for the repair strategy to be applied. Apply this fix
  4. Once the repair strategy is applied, restart your computer and see if the issue is resolved at the next startup by trying to connect to the same network printer once again.

If you’re still encountering the same 0x0000bcb, move down to the next potential fix below.

Method 2: Restating the Spooler Service

According to dozens of user reports and our verifications, the 0x0000bcb error will often occur in situations where the Print Spooler service has become glitched and is no longer able to bridge the completion of this operation. If this scenario is applicable, you should be able to revert to the default behavior only if you restart this service.

Several affected users have confirmed that after going to the Services screen and restarting the Print Spooler service, they were able to initiate a printing sequence without receiving the 0x0000bcb error.

Here’s a quick guide on restarting the Print Spooler service via the Services screen:

  1. Open up a Run dialog box by pressing Windows key + R . Once you’re inside the run box, type “ services.msc ” and press Enter to open up the Services screen. When you see the UAC (User Account Control) prompt, click Yes to grant administrative privileges. Running Services Manager
  2. Once you manage to get inside the Services screen, move down to the right-hand pane and scroll down to the list of Service (Local). From there, locate the Print Spooler Service .
  3. When you finally see the Print Spooler service , right-click on it and click on Properties from the newly appeared context menu. Accessing the Properties screen of the Printer Spooler service
  4. Inside the Printer Spooler Properties menu, start by selecting the General tab from the list of available options. Once you are in the correct menu, change the startup type of this service to Automatic, then click Stop (under Service status). Restarting the Print Spooler service
  5. Wait a short while before clicking Start one again to essentially restart the Print Spooler service.
  6. Once the service is restarted, repeat the action that was previously triggering the 0x0000bcb error and see if the problem is now resolved.

If the same problem is still occurring, move down to the next method below.

Method 3: Repairing the Spooler Service

Another potential scenario that might end up triggering the 0x0000bcb error is some type of file corruption that ended up breaking the Print Spooler components. Whenever this occurs, you will not be able to establish connections with any printers (directly or over the network).

In this case, you should be able to resolve the issue by using an elevated Command prompt to modify the access control list of the Print Spooler Service. Several affected users that previously encountered the same error message have confirmed that this procedure has allowed them to establish a connection with their printer once again.

Keep in mind that this method is also recommended by MS specialists when it comes to mitigating the 0x0000bcb error. Here’s what you need to do to repair the Print Spooler service from an elevated Command Prompt:

  1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Next, type ‘cmd’ and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open up an elevated Command Prompt. When you see the UAC (User Account Control) , click Yes to grant admin access to the CMD utility. Running Command Prompt
  2. Once you’re inside the elevated command prompt, type the following command and press Enter to navigate to the location of the Spooling service: cd\Windows\System32\spool
  3. After you ensure that you’re in the correct location, type the following commands in order and press Enter to modify the access control of the Spooling service: cacls.exe PRINTERS /E /G administrator:C
  4. Once the command is processed successfully, restart your computer and see if the problem is taken care of at the next system startup.

If you’ve done this and you’re still encountering the same 0x0000bcb error, move down to the next method below.

Method 4: Reinstalling all Printer ports

If you’ve come this far and you’res still encountering the same 0x0000bcb error, the only viable fix for your type of issue likely is to reinstall all printer ports involved in the operation. We managed to identify users that confirmed this procedure to be effective on Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.

In most cases, users have managed to resolve the issue after using Device Manager to delete all ports created for this printer, then reinstalling the printer drivers (either generic or dedicated).

Here’s a quick guide on reinstalling all printer ports to resolve the 0x0000bcb error:

  1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Next, type ‘ devmgmt.msc’ inside the text box and press Enter to open up Device Manager. When you’re prompted by the UAC (User Account Control) , click Yes to grant administrative privileges. Running the Device Manager
  2. Once you’re inside Device Manager , scroll down through the list of installed devices and expand the menu associated with Print queues .
  3. Next, right-click on each installed printer driver that you found under Print queues and select Uninstall from the newly appeared context menu. Uninstalling the Printer Driver
  4. Once every printer driver has been uninstalled, expand the drop-down menu associated with Universal Serial Bus controllers . After you do this, scroll down through the list of install items and uninstall every Printer port by right-clicking on each one and choosing Uninstall from the context menu. Uninstalling Print ports
  5. As soon as every relevant printer driver is uninstalled, restart your computer. At the next system startup, your operating system will automatically install a generic set of printer drivers and ports to make the printer usable. Note: If the generic drivers aren’t enough, you can always install the dedicated driver counterpart.
  6. Attempt to reconnect with the printer once again and see if the operation is successful this time.