How to Fix Printer Error Code 0x00000bc4 in Windows 10/11?

Oct 07, 2026 2 min read 68 views

Fix Printer Error Code 0x00000bc4 in Windows 10/11

The error code 0x00000bc4 appears in Windows 10 and 11 when your computer cannot find any printers on the network. You may see the message "Operation could not be completed" or "No printers were found" when trying to add or use a printer. This error is commonly caused by a Windows update that changed how network printers are discovered.

Here are 5 methods to fix this error.

Method 1: Run the Printer Troubleshooter

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters (on Windows 11: Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters)
Find Printer and click Run the troubleshooter
Windows will automatically detect any printer issues
Follow the on-screen wizard to apply fixes
Restart your PC and check if the error is resolved

Method 2: Update the Printer Driver

Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager
Expand Print queues
Right-click your printer and select Update driver
Choose Search automatically for drivers and follow the instructions
Also check for optional updates: go to Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates
If optional updates are available, click View optional updates and install any driver updates
Restart your computer after updating

Method 3: Fix Using Registry Editor

This method changes how Windows communicates with network printers, which is often the root cause of the 0x00000bc4 error after a Windows update:

Press Windows + R, type regedit and press Enter
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT
Right-click on Windows NT, select New > Key, and name it Printers
Right-click the Printers key, select New > Key, and name it RPC
Right-click the RPC key, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value
Name the new value RpcOverNamedPipes
Double-click RpcOverNamedPipes and set the Value data to 1
Click OK and restart your computer

Warning: Be careful when editing the registry. Only create the keys and values described above - do not modify anything else.

Method 4: Reset the Print Spooler

Press Windows + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open Command Prompt as administrator
Type net stop spooler and press Enter
Type del /Q /F /S "%systemroot%\System32\spool\PRINTERS\*.*" and press Enter
Type net start spooler and press Enter
Close Command Prompt and restart your PC

Method 5: Manually Add the Printer

If Windows cannot find the printer automatically, add it manually:

Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers > Add a Printer
Click The printer that I want is not listed
Select Select a shared printer by name
Click Browse to locate and select the shared printer on your network
Follow the on-screen wizard to complete the setup

You can also add the printer by its IP address: select "Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname," enter the printer IP address, and Windows will install the correct driver automatically.

Printer Error 0x00000bc4 FAQ

Q1. What causes the 0x00000bc4 error in Windows 10/11? Ans: The 0x00000bc4 error is typically caused by a Windows update (specifically KB5006670 and later updates) that changed how Windows discovers network printers using RPC. After the update, Windows blocks certain RPC connections by default, which prevents it from finding network printers. The registry fix restores the old behavior by enabling RPC over Named Pipes.

Q2. Is the registry fix for 0x00000bc4 safe? Ans: Yes, the registry fix is safe as long as you follow the exact steps. You are only creating new keys and values - you are not modifying any existing registry entries. The change tells Windows to use Named Pipes for printer communication instead of the newer method that is causing the error. If you want to reverse it later, simply delete the RPC key you created under Printers.

Q3. Does this error affect USB printers or only network printers? Ans: The 0x00000bc4 error primarily affects network and shared printers. USB printers connected directly to your computer are usually not affected since they do not rely on network discovery or RPC communication. If you are getting this error with a USB printer, the issue is more likely a driver problem - try uninstalling and reinstalling the printer driver.