0x0000007c (ERROR_INVALID_LEVEL) is a printer error that users get when they try connecting to the shared remote printer. The complete error message reads Windows cannot connect to the printer. Operation failed with error 0x0000007c. Users have started facing this problem after they have installed Windows 11 KB5006674 patch update released during October and November. However, a little workaround on the issue gave us some troubleshooting steps that one can follow to fix the issue.
Fix 0x0000007c (ERROR_INVALID_LEVEL) On Windows 11
We’ll go over how to fix 0x0000007c (ERROR INVALID LEVEL) on Windows 11 in this article.
Update Windows
The very first thing that you can try doing is updating Windows 11. If you are facing this issue, after installing the Windows 11 KB5006674 patch update, then probably you should try installing the Windows update.
- Open the Settings app on your PC by pressing the Windows + I key combo.
- Head to the Windows Update section from the left sidebar of the Settings.
- Now on the right side, click on Check for updates.
- Download and install all the updates you find here, and then restart your PC.
- You should now no longer face the issue you have been facing.
Run Printer Troubleshooter
As we have discussed 0x0000007c (ERROR_INVALID_LEVEL) is a printer error, therefore you should try running the printer troubleshooter. To run the printer troubleshooter, follow the steps given below-
- Press the Windows + I key combo to open the Settings
- Ensure you are on the System tab on the Settings If you are not on it, then simply click on System from the left sidebar of the Settings app.
- Now on the right side, click on Troubleshoot option, and then on the next window click on the Other Troubleshooters.
- Here, click on the Run button next to the Printer.
- Now follow the on-screen instructions to run the printer troubleshooter.
After doing so, the issue should be fixed. However, if you still face the issue, then you should move to the next troubleshooting step.
Reinstall Printer Driver
The very next thing that you can try doing is reinstalling the printer driver. Buggy or faulty drivers may be another reason behind you facing the issue. It may only be fixed by reinstalling the printer driver. To do so, follow the steps given below-
- Press the Windows + X key combo and then from the menu that opens up, click on Device Manager.
- In the Device Manager, expand the Print Queues category by double-clicking on it.
- Now select your printer here. Right-click on it, and then click on Uninstall Device.
- When asked to confirm uninstall the device, click on
- Once done restart your PC, and then open the Device Manager.
- Here, select the Print Queues. Right-click on the category, and then click on Scan for hardware changes. This will reinstall the printer driver on your PC.
Restart The Print Spooler Service
Another thing that you can try doing is restarting the print spooler service. To restart the print spooler service, follow the steps given below-
- Open the Start Menu by pressing the Windows In the Start Menu, search for Services, and hit Enter to open the Services app window.
- In the Services app window, search for Print Spooler and select it.
- Right-click on the Print Spooler service, and then from the context menu that opens up click on
- This should restart the Print Spooler service and then the error should be fixed.
Clear Print Spooler
If restarting the Print Spooler service didn’t fix the 0x0000007c (ERROR_INVALID_LEVEL) on Windows 11, then you should try clearing the print spooler. To clear print spooler, follow the steps given below-
- Open the Services app window on your Windows 11 PC, and select Print Spooler
- Right-click on the Print Spooler service, and then click on
- After doing so, open the File Explorer by pressing the Windows + E key combo.
- Next, head to the following address-
- C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\x64\3 ( Head to this path for 64-bit Platform)
- C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\W32X86\3 (Head to this path for 32-bit Platform)
- Select all the contents of the folder. You can do so by pressing the Ctrl + A key combo.
- Press the Delete button on your keyboard to delete all the contents of the folder.
- After doing so, head to the Services Again right-click on the Print Spooler service and then click on Restart.
Remove And Add Printer Again
The very next thing that you can do if none of it helps is removing and add the printer again. To remove and add the printer again, follow the steps given below-
- Press the Windows key to open the Start Menu. In the Start Menu, search for Control Panel and hit Enter to open it.
- In the Control Panel, search for Devices and Printers and open it.
- Now select the printer that is causing the issue. Right-click on the printer, and then click on Remove device from the context menu.
- Once done, click on Add a printer Now, Add a device window will show you the printer.
- Select the printer, and then follow the on-screen instructions to add the printer back again.
Now see if the issue persists or not. If you still face the 0x0000007c (ERROR_INVALID_LEVEL) on Windows 11, then move to the next troubleshooting step mentioned in this article.
Removing The KB5006674 Patch Update
As we have discussed earlier, many people started facing the 0x0000007c (ERROR_INVALID_LEVEL) on Windows 11 after they installed the KB5006674 patch update on their PC. If you are still facing the issue, then probably you should try removing the KB5006674 patch update, and check if the issue persists or not. To remove the patch update, follow the steps given below-
- Press the Windows + I key combo to open the Settings app on your PC.
- In the Settings app, head to the Windows Update section from the left sidebar.
- In the Windows Update section on the right side, click on the Update History
- Next, click on Uninstall updates
- On the next window that opens up, select the KB5006674 patch update, and then click on
- If asked to confirm uninstalling the update, click on
- After you have uninstalled the update, restart the PC, and the issue will finally be fixed.
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- How To Fix Update Error 0x80070643 in Windows 11
Conclusion
This is how you can fix 0x0000007c (ERROR_INVALID_LEVEL) on Windows 11. We have discussed all the working troubleshooting steps to let you fix 0x0000007c (ERROR_INVALID_LEVEL) on your Windows 11 PC. We hope this helps with what you have been looking for.
