Printer Error 0x8007007e on Windows: Fix Driver Setup

Printer error 0x8007007e usually appears as “Operation could not be completed (error 0x8007007e)” when you try to add a printer in Windows, or when you print from certain apps. The code means “the specified module could not be found”: Windows went looking for a driver file and it was missing or did not match. The printer itself is fine. The fix is to clear out the broken driver and set the printer up again cleanly, which is why this belongs with setup rather than hardware repair.

Work through the steps in order and test after each one. Most people are done after step 2.

Why it happens

Common triggers are:

• A Windows feature update that left an old third-party driver partly installed.
• Installing a driver meant for a different Windows version or architecture (for example a 32-bit driver on 64-bit Windows, or an x64 driver on an Arm PC).
• Several printers from the same maker sharing one damaged driver package.
• A corrupted Windows system file used by the print system (less common).

Step 1: remove the printer

1. Open Settings, Bluetooth & devices, Printers & scanners.
2. Select the affected printer and choose Remove. Confirm.

Step 2: remove the driver package

Removing the printer leaves its driver behind. Delete it too:

1. In Printers & scanners, scroll down to Related settings and select Print server properties.
2. Open the Drivers tab and select Change Driver Settings if the button is shown.
3. Select the driver used by your printer (it usually has the maker and model in its name).
4. Choose Remove, then Remove driver and driver package, and confirm.

If Windows says the driver is in use, restart the PC and try again, or restart the Print Spooler (step 3) first. On Windows Pro editions you can also use the Print Management console (printmanagement.msc) to remove drivers.

Now add the printer again, following how to add a printer in Windows 11. For network printers, letting Windows use the built-in Microsoft IPP Class Driver avoids third-party driver files altogether. If you need the maker’s software, download the latest full package for your exact Windows version from the maker’s own website.

Choosing the right driver for the reinstall

Because a mismatched driver is a common cause of 0x8007007e, it pays to check what you are installing before you add the printer again.

Check your PC’s architecture. Open Settings, System, About and look at System type. It says whether the PC has an x64-based or an Arm-based processor. A driver built only for x64 will not install correctly on an Arm laptop, and 32-bit drivers do not work on 64-bit Windows 11.

Then pick the simplest driver that does the job:

Driver option	When it suits	Notes
Microsoft IPP Class Driver (built in)	Network printers that support IPP, which covers most recent models	No download. Windows picks it automatically when you add the printer by IP or through Add device.
Driver from Windows Update	USB printers and older network models	Offered when you add the printer; check optional updates in Windows Update if it is not found.
Maker’s full software package	When you need scan buttons, ink alerts or special paper settings	Download only from the maker’s own site, for your exact Windows version and architecture.
Maker’s basic driver	When the full package will not install	Some makers offer a smaller print-only driver alongside the full package.

Our guide to installing a printer driver in Windows 11 walks through each option, including switching an existing printer to a different driver without removing it.

Step 3: restart the Print Spooler

The Print Spooler service manages print jobs and drivers. Restarting it clears stuck files:

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc and press Enter.
2. Find Print Spooler, right-click it and choose Restart.
3. Check its Startup type is Automatic (double-click to see).

Then try adding or printing again.

Step 4: repair Windows system files

If the error continues with a clean driver, repair the system files the print system depends on:

1. Right-click Start and choose Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and wait for it to finish (it can take a while).
3. Run sfc /scannow.
4. Restart the PC and add the printer again.

Step 5: install Windows updates

Open Settings, Windows Update and install pending updates, including optional driver updates if your printer’s maker is listed. Restart and test.

An advanced fix you may see online

Some guides suggest copying a file called PrintConfig.dll from the Windows driver store into the spool drivers folder by hand. That can work on some systems where a specific Microsoft driver is affected, but copying system files manually is easy to get wrong. Try the driver package removal, spooler restart and DISM/SFC steps first; they address the same problem safely.

Avoiding the error next time

• Prefer the built-in IPP driver for network printers when you do not need extra features.
• Remove old printers you no longer use, along with their driver packages.
• After a major Windows update, if printing breaks, start with steps 1 and 2 above.

If the printer is on the network but never appears in Windows at all, the issue is discovery rather than drivers; see the wireless printer setup guide or Ethernet printer setup. If several PCs need the same printer, see sharing a printer on your network.