Windows 10 Printer Error 0x0000011b: Connecting to a Shared Printer After Security Updates

You try to connect to a printer shared from another computer on your network, and Windows shows “Windows cannot connect to the printer. Operation failed with error 0x0000011b.” It may have worked for years before. When Windows 10 printer error 0x0000011b appears, it is usually the result of a security change Microsoft made to printer sharing.

In 2021, Microsoft fixed a serious vulnerability in the Print Spooler by requiring stronger authentication when one PC connects to a printer shared by another. If the two computers do not agree on the new security level, often because one is fully updated and the other is not, the connection is refused with this error.

The error is common in small offices where slot88 one Windows PC shares a USB printer with others.

Updating both computers or connecting to the printer directly over the network avoids the problem.

What Usually Triggers It

Error 0x0000011b appears for these reasons:

• The PC sharing the printer and the PC connecting to it have different update levels.
• The shared printer uses an older driver that needs reinstalling after updates.
• The connection uses Windows printer sharing instead of the printer’s own network address.
• Old workarounds were removed by later updates.

Printers with built-in Wi-Fi or Ethernet do not need sharing from another PC at all.

First Steps to Try

Update both computers.

1. On the PC that shares the printer, install all available Windows updates and restart.
2. Do the same on every PC that connects to it.
3. Remove the shared printer from Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners on the connecting PC.
4. Add it again by browsing to \\SharingPCName and double-clicking the printer.
5. Install the latest printer driver from the manufacturer on both computers.

If the Problem Continues

Connect directly instead of through sharing.

1. If the printer has a network port, print its configuration page to find its IP address.
2. On each PC, open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners and select “Add a printer or scanner.”
3. Choose “The printer that I want isn’t listed,” then “Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname.”
4. Enter the IP address and install the driver.
5. For USB-only printers, consider a network print server or a printer with built-in networking.

Registry changes that lower the security level were once suggested online, but they reopen a known vulnerability and may not work on fully updated systems.

Protect Your Data First

Do not disable print security protections permanently. Keep the sharing PC updated, since an unpatched Print Spooler can expose the whole network.

The Bottom Line

Error 0x0000011b comes from stricter printer sharing security. Update every PC, reinstall the shared printer and its driver, or connect to the printer directly by IP address.