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🖨️ Printer Error 0x00000040 – Causes, Troubleshooting Steps & Solutions - ITSolution4U

🖨️ Printer Error 0x00000040 – Causes, Troubleshooting Steps & Solutions

🖥️ Are you facing Printer Error 0x00000040 – The specified network name is no longer available while connecting to a shared network printer?

This Windows error indicates that a network resource connection has been interrupted or is no longer accessible. When it occurs during printer sharing, the client computer may be unable to communicate reliably with the computer hosting the printer.

In this tutorial, we will explore the common causes and practical solutions to fix Printer Error 0x00000040.

🔍 1. What Is Printer Error 0x00000040?

Windows error 0x00000040 corresponds to:

ERROR_NETNAME_DELETED – The specified network name is no longer available.

When encountered during printer sharing, it may indicate a problem with network communication, the shared printer path, authentication, or printer-host availability.

Common symptoms include:

  • ❌ Unable to connect to a shared network printer.

  • ❌ Windows displays "The specified network name is no longer available."

  • ❌ Printer connection is interrupted.

  • ❌ Unable to access the shared computer.

  • ❌ Network printer installation fails.

⚠️ 2. Common Causes of Error 0x00000040

🔹 Network connectivity interruptions.

🔹 Printer-host computer is switched off or disconnected.

🔹 Incorrect computer name or printer share name.

🔹 Network Discovery or File and Printer Sharing is disabled.

🔹 Firewall restrictions or network security policies.

🔹 Incorrect network credentials or permissions.

🔹 Print Spooler service problems.

🔹 RPC communication or printer driver compatibility issues.

🛠️ 3. Step-by-Step Solutions

✅ Solution 1: Check Network Connectivity

First, verify that the client computer can communicate with the printer-host computer.

  1. Press Windows + R.

  2. Type cmd and press Enter.

  3. Execute:

ping 192.168.1.100

Replace 192.168.1.100 with the printer-host computer's IP address.

✔️ Successful replies indicate basic IP connectivity.

❌ If the request times out, check the network connection, IP address, firewall, and network configuration.

Note: A failed ping does not always mean the computer is unreachable because firewalls may block ICMP traffic.

✅ Solution 2: Check the Shared Computer

  1. Press Windows + R.

  2. Enter:

\\COMPUTER-NAME

  1. Press Enter.

  2. Check whether the shared folders and printers are accessible.

Replace COMPUTER-NAME with the actual host computer name.

If the computer cannot be accessed, troubleshoot network connectivity, name resolution, authentication, and file-sharing services before reinstalling the printer.

✅ Solution 3: Enable Network Discovery and File and Printer Sharing

On the printer-host computer:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Navigate to Network & Internet.

  3. Open Advanced network settings.

  4. Select Advanced sharing settings.

  5. Under the Private network profile, enable:

    • Network Discovery

    • File and Printer Sharing

  6. Save the changes.

⚠️ Enable sharing only on trusted private networks.

✅ Solution 4: Verify Printer Sharing Configuration

  1. Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.

  2. Select the required printer.

  3. Click Printer properties.

  4. Open the Sharing tab.

  5. Enable Share this printer.

  6. Verify the printer's share name.

  7. Click Apply and OK.

Make sure the client computer uses the correct shared printer name.

✅ Solution 5: Restart Print Spooler Service

The Print Spooler service manages Windows printing operations.

  1. Press Windows + R.

  2. Type services.msc.

  3. Find Print Spooler.

  4. Right-click and select Restart.

Alternatively, open Command Prompt as Administrator:

net stop spooler
net start spooler

If required, restart the service on both the printer-host and client computers.

✅ Solution 6: Clear Pending Print Jobs

⚠️ This process deletes pending print jobs from the local print queue.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

Step 1: Stop Print Spooler

net stop spooler

Step 2: Delete pending print jobs

del /Q /F "%WINDIR%\System32\spool\PRINTERS\*"

Step 3: Start Print Spooler

net start spooler

Try connecting to the shared printer again.

✅ Solution 7: Check Firewall Settings

Windows Firewall or third-party security software may restrict network printer communication.

  1. Open Windows Defender Firewall.

  2. Select Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.

  3. Check that File and Printer Sharing is allowed for the appropriate trusted network profile.

  4. Verify that network security policies are not blocking the required communication.

🔐 Do not disable the firewall permanently. Apply only the necessary approved network rules.

✅ Solution 8: Configure RPC Connection Settings (Where Applicable)

If basic network connectivity is working but shared printer connections still fail, RPC connection configuration may need investigation.

On Windows editions that support Local Group Policy Editor:

  1. Press Windows + R.

  2. Type gpedit.msc.

  3. Navigate to:

Computer Configuration
  → Administrative Templates
  → Printers

  1. Locate Configure RPC connection settings, if available.

  2. Review the configured RPC protocol and authentication settings.

  3. Make changes only when supported by your Windows version and compatible with the printer host.

  4. Restart the computer and test the connection.

⚠️ Do not change RPC security settings randomly or disable authentication protection. Follow Microsoft guidance and your organization's security policy.

✅ Solution 9: Reconnect the Shared Network Printer

On the client computer:

  1. Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.

  2. Select the problematic printer.

  3. Click Remove.

  4. Restart the computer.

  5. Select Add device.

  6. If the printer is not listed, choose Add manually.

  7. Select Select a shared printer by name.

  8. Enter the printer path:

\\COMPUTER-NAME\PRINTER-SHARE-NAME

  1. Follow the installation instructions.

If the computer name does not work, try the printer-host IP address:

\\192.168.1.100\PRINTER-SHARE-NAME

Use the correct IP address and printer share name.

✅ Solution 10: Update Printer Drivers

An incompatible or outdated printer driver may cause printer installation and communication problems.

🔹 Visit the printer manufacturer's official website.

🔹 Download the compatible driver.

🔹 Remove the problematic printer connection if necessary.

🔹 Install the updated driver using an authorized administrator account.

🔹 Reconnect the shared printer and print a test page.

💻 4. Useful Windows Troubleshooting Commands

PurposeCommand
Check computer namehostname
Check IP configurationipconfig /all
Test network connectivityping COMPUTER-NAME
Test host IPping 192.168.1.100
Stop Print Spoolernet stop spooler
Start Print Spoolernet start spooler
Access shared computer\\COMPUTER-NAME
Connect shared printer\\COMPUTER-NAME\PRINTER-SHARE-NAME

🏢 5. Best Practices for Office Network Printers

For corporate IT environments, follow these recommendations:

🔹 Keep printer-host computers connected to the network.

🔹 Use stable IP addresses or properly configured DNS names.

🔹 Keep Windows systems and printer drivers updated.

🔹 Restrict printer-sharing permissions to authorized users.

🔹 Configure firewall rules according to approved security policies.

🔹 Monitor Print Spooler services.

🔹 Avoid unnecessary registry modifications.

🔹 Document network printer configuration and troubleshooting changes.

❓ 6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What does error 0x00000040 mean?

It is the Windows system error ERROR_NETNAME_DELETED, which means the specified network name is no longer available.

Q2. Can this error occur while connecting to a shared printer?

Yes. It can occur when the client computer loses access to the shared printer host or its network resource.

Q3. Does restarting Print Spooler fix this error?

It may resolve temporary printing service problems, but network connectivity and sharing configuration should also be checked.

Q4. Can a firewall cause error 0x00000040?

Yes. Firewall rules or network security devices may interrupt communication between the client and printer-host computer.

Q5. Should I change the Windows registry to fix this error?

Not as a first step. Check network connectivity, sharing settings, credentials, firewall rules, and printer drivers before considering registry changes.

🎯 7. Conclusion

Printer Error 0x00000040 – The specified network name is no longer available can interrupt shared printer connectivity in Windows environments.

Start by checking network communication, printer-host availability, sharing configuration, firewall settings, Print Spooler services, and printer drivers.

A properly configured network and secure printer-sharing environment can help reduce recurring printing problems.

📚 8. Useful Microsoft Resources

🔗 Microsoft Support – Fix shared printer connection problems in Windows

🔗 Microsoft Support – Share a printer as a network printer

🔗 Microsoft Learn – Windows System Error Codes

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