Fix “The RPC Server is Unavailable” Error While Printing in Windows (Complete Technical Guide)

📅 17 Apr 2026 📂 General 👁 2 views

The error “The RPC server is unavailable” while printing in Windows is a critical issue that prevents communication between the computer and the printer. It commonly occurs when accessing Printer Properties, sending print jobs, or managing printers.

This issue is typically related to Remote Procedure Call (RPC) failure, Print Spooler malfunction, or network/driver problems.

⚙️ What is RPC in Printing?

Remote Procedure Call (RPC) is a core Windows service that enables communication between processes across systems or within the same machine. Printing relies heavily on RPC to:

Send print jobs to spooler service
Communicate with network printers
Manage printer properties

If RPC fails → printing stops completely.

? Common Symptoms

“The RPC server is unavailable” error popup
Printer Properties not opening
Printer shows offline or inaccessible
Print jobs stuck in queue
Unable to add/remove printers

? Root Causes

Print Spooler service stopped or corrupted
RPC service dependency failure
Corrupt or incompatible printer drivers
Network connectivity issues (for LAN printers)
Firewall blocking RPC communication
Windows system file corruption
Incorrect registry configuration

?️ Step-by-Step Troubleshooting

? 1. Restart Required Services

Press Win + R → type services.msc
Ensure these services are running:

Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
DCOM Server Process Launcher
RPC Endpoint Mapper
Print Spooler (Restart this)

? 2. Reset Print Spooler

Run Command Prompt as Administrator:

net stop spooler
del /Q /F /S %systemroot%\System32\spool\PRINTERS\*.*
net start spooler

? This clears stuck print jobs and resets printing engine.

? 3. Remove Corrupted Printer Drivers

Press Win + R → printui /s /t2
Open Drivers tab
Remove all problematic drivers
Restart system

? 4. Reinstall Printer

Remove printer from Devices & Printers
Restart PC
Install latest driver from manufacturer
Add printer again

? 5. Check Network Connectivity

For network printers:


ping <printer_ip>

? If unreachable:

Check LAN/WiFi connection
Verify printer IP
Restart router/printer

? 6. Configure Firewall

Allow:

File and Printer Sharing
Remote Service Management
RPC Endpoint Mapper

? 7. Repair System Files


sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

? 8. Verify Registry Configuration

Navigate to:


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RpcSs

Ensure:

Start = 2

⚡ Advanced Fix: Full Print System Reset

If issue persists:

Stop spooler
Delete spool files
Remove drivers
Restart system
Reinstall printer cleanly

? Prevention Tips

Always use updated printer drivers
Avoid force shutdown during printing
Regularly clear print queue
Keep Windows updated
Maintain stable network for shared printers

? Conclusion

The RPC server unavailable error is not a hardware failure but a service-level communication issue. With proper troubleshooting—especially resetting spooler and reinstalling drivers—the problem can be resolved effectively.

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