,
If you are experiencing the printer error “Operation failed with error 0x0000011b” when trying to install or print to a shared printer on the network, then this guide will help you fix the problem.
The error 0x0000011b when trying to connect or install a shared network printer is caused by the security update KB5005565, which fixes the Windows Print Spooler spoofing vulnerability – CVE-2021-1678 by increasing the RPC authentication level.
However, after installing the KB5005565 update to fix the vulnerability, many users have reported that they encounter the printing error 0x0000011b when printing to network printers or when trying to connect and install a shared printer.
In this tutorial you’ll find two (2) methods to fix the 0x0000011b network printing error on Windows 10/11 OS.
How to FIX: Printer Error 0x0000011b on a Network Shared Printer.
Method 1. Add the ‘RpcAuthnLevelPrivacyEnabled’ value in Registry.
According to Microsoft, the KB5005565 update does not automatically protect devices from the vulnerability and requires administrators to increase the level of RPC authentication by enabling Enforced Mode through Registry.* To do that:
* Source: Managing deployment of Printer RPC binding changes for CVE-2021-1678
1. Press Windows 
+ R keys to load the Run dialog box.
2. Type regedit and press Enter, to open the Registry Editor.
3. In Registry Editor, navigate to this key:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlPrint
4. Right-click on the Print button and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
5. Rename the “New Value #1” to “RpcAuthnLevelPrivacyEnabled” and hit Enter.
6. Then open the RpcAuthnLevelPrivacyEnabled value, type “1” in value data box and hit OK.
* Note: A value of “1” in “RpcAuthnLevelPrivacyEnabled” enables Enforcement and increases the authorization level for the printer’s IRemoteWinspool RPC interface (Source). However, if you still encounter error 0x0000011b when connecting to a shared network printer, set this value to “0” to decrease the RPC authorization level, restart the PC and try to install the printer again.
7. Close the Registry Editor and restart the computer.
8. After restarting, open Explorer, explore Network and then double click on the network computer with the shared printer.
9. Right-click on the shared printer and select Connect.*
* Note: If you face again the error 0x0000011b, then change the RpcAuthnLevelPrivacyEnabled value to “0“, or follow the instructions in Method-2 below.
10. Finally, click Yes to install the printer driver and you’re done!
Method 2. Add or Re-Add the Shared Printer Manually.
The second method to solve the error 0x0000011b in network printing, is to install the printer manually as instructed below. *
* Note: If you encounter error 0x0000011b when printing to an already installed printer, go ahead and uninstall it before proceeding below.
Step 1. Find the Network Path of the Shared Printer.
1. In Windows Explorer, open Network and then double click on the network computer which shares the printer.
2. Then click on the address bar, and after the computer’s network path (e.g. “\desktop10” in this example), type “” and then the name of the shared printer (e.g. “EPSON_3250“.
3. Now copy the full network path of the shared printer in notepad. (e.g. “\desktop10EPSON_L3250” in this example). When done, proceed to next step.
Step 2. Add a New Printer using a LOCAL PORT.
1. Navigate to Control Panel > Device and Printers and click Add Printer.
2. At the next screen, select The printer that I want isn’t listed, (or “Add manually” in Windows 11).
3. Now select Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings.
4. Now select Create a new port, leave Local Port as type of port and click Next.
5. At Enter a port name prompt, type the full network path of the shared printer in notepad. (e.g. “\desktop10EPSON_L3250” in this example) and click OK.
6. At the next screen select the printer model and click Next to install the printer.*
* Note: If you are installing the printer for first time, then you’ll not find the required driver for it. To bypass this issue, you can do one the following:
-
Download and install the printer drivers from the printer’s manufacturer support site and then repeat the above steps to install the printer.
-
Temporarily decrease the RPC Authentication Level (RpcAuthnLevelPrivacyEnabled=0), and install the printer as instructed in Method-1 above. At next, manually add the printer using a Local Port (Method-2), and then increase again the RPC Authentication Level.
That’s it! Which method worked for you?
Let me know if this guide has helped you by leaving your comment about your experience. Please like and share this guide to help others.
