The main cause is a stopped or unresponsive Print Spooler service; additional triggers include corrupted spooler files, outdated drivers, or side effects from Windows updates such as KB5005565 or KB5016616, which introduced security changes that disrupted remote and network printing for many users, especially in enterprise environments. These updates may indirectly trigger the 0x000006BA error by interfering with RPC-based printer communication Now that you know the common causes of the error, here are some solutions that can help you in solving this error.
1. Run the Printer Troubleshooter
If this is your first time troubleshooting the problem, start by running the built-in Printer Troubleshooter in Windows 10 and applying any recommended fixes. Microsoft regularly updates these troubleshooters to solve common problems. If this specific issue is already recognized by Microsoft, the Printer Troubleshooter may fix it automatically.
2. Restart the Print Spooler Service
If the Printer Troubleshooter couldn’t fix the issue, the next recommended step is restarting the Print Spooler service using the Services screen—a widely effective solution for these kinds of printing errors.
3. Verify RPC and Dependent Services
Since the 0x000006BA error directly involves the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) mechanism, it’s important to confirm that all essential services for RPC and the Print Spooler are running properly. These services must be active to allow communication between the system and the printer—especially when connecting over a network.
4. Clear the Printers Folder
You may see the 0x000006BA error if old printers left behind partially installed or corrupted files that are now blocking new printers from working with the spooler service. This often happens after a failed printer driver installation or when Windows was interrupted during the process.
5. Run SFC and DISM Scans
Some system-level issues that interfere with the Print Spooler or RPC services may be caused by corrupted or missing Windows files. Microsoft provides two tools to help with this: SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management). Begin by running an SFC scan, which checks the integrity of critical system files and replaces any corrupted ones with healthy versions stored locally. After the SFC scan, restart your system. Once you’re back in Windows, proceed with a DISM scan. While SFC uses local cache, DISM goes further by checking the Windows component store and using Windows Update to download and replace damaged system files—especially useful if local repair files are also corrupted.
6. Enable Printer Sharing
If this error appears when you try to use a printer shared over your local network, printer sharing might not be turned on for the computer hosting the printer. Several users have solved this by enabling printer sharing on the host computer using the Printers & Scanners interface. Remember, these steps must be completed on the host PC—which means the computer that is directly connected to the printer via USB or installed as the main printer-sharing device. This is not the computer you’re using to send the print command over the network.
