How to fix Error 1906 on Windows 11

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Why This Error Happens

Error 1906 typically occurs during printer driver installation or configuration when the Windows Print Spooler service cannot properly register the printer’s state due to corrupted spooler data or conflicting driver files. This often happens after a failed driver update, a corrupted registry entry related to the printer port, or insufficient permissions on the spooler directory. In many cases, leftover files from a previous printer installation interfere with the new configuration, causing Windows to report the printer state as “invalid.”

Step-by-Step Resolution Guide

Step 1: Stop and Restart the Print Spooler Service

  • Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
  • Locate Print Spooler in the list, right-click it, and select Stop.
  • Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and delete all files inside this folder (these are stuck print jobs and cached data).
  • Go back to services.msc, right-click Print Spooler, and select Start.

Step 2: Remove the Corrupted Printer Entry

  • Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
  • Select the problematic printer and click Remove Device.
  • Open Device Manager, expand Print queues, right-click the printer entry (if still listed), and select Uninstall device.
  • Restart your computer to clear any residual driver locks.

Step 3: Reinstall the Printer Driver Manually

  • Download the latest driver package directly from the manufacturer’s official website (avoid using outdated Windows Update drivers).
  • Run the installer as Administrator by right-clicking the setup file and selecting Run as administrator.
  • During installation, choose Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings if prompted, and select the correct port (usually USB001 or the assigned TCP/IP port).

Step 4: Check Registry Permissions (If Issue Persists)

  • Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
  • Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers.
  • Right-click the printer’s folder key, select Permissions, and ensure SYSTEM and Administrators have Full Control.
  • Close the Registry Editor and restart the Print Spooler service again.

Alternative or Verification Steps

  • To verify the fix, print a test page via Settings > Printers & scanners > [Your Printer] > Printer properties > Print Test Page. If it completes without an error prompt, the issue is resolved.
  • If the error persists, run the built-in Printer Troubleshooter via Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Printer, which can automatically detect and repair spooler-related conflicts.