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0x8007046ASystemMedium

Error 0x8007046A — Invalid Printer Name (ERROR_INVALID_PRINTER_NAME) | Windows System Error Fix

Windows 11Windows 10Windows Server 2022

What Does 0x8007046A Mean?

The specified printer name is invalid.

Real-World Causes

  1. 1Printer was removed but applications still reference it
  2. 2Printer name contains unsupported characters
  3. 3Network printer path is incorrect or unreachable
  4. 4Print spooler data is corrupted

Symptoms

  • ⚠Cannot print to a specific printer
  • ⚠Applications show 'printer not found' errors
  • ⚠Default printer setting fails
  • ⚠Print dialog shows invalid printer names

DIY Fix

Beginner-friendly steps you can try at home

  1. 1Remove the invalid printer from Settings > Printers & Scanners and re-add it
  2. 2Restart the Print Spooler service: 'net stop spooler && net start spooler'
  3. 3Set a valid default printer
  4. 4For network printers, verify the path: \\server\printername

Advanced Fix

For experienced users and IT professionals

  1. 1Clear the print spooler queue: stop spooler, delete files from C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS, restart spooler
  2. 2Remove ghost printers from registry: HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my printer disappear after Windows Update?
Windows Update can sometimes reset printer configurations. Reinstall the printer from Settings > Printers & Scanners > Add a printer. For network printers, browse to the print server path to reinstall.

Related Error Codes

0x80070002File Not Found (ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND)0x80070035Bad Network Path (ERROR_BAD_NETPATH)

About the Author

Windows Troubleshooting Team

Verified against official Microsoft documentation and real-world diagnostic data. Error behavior confirmed across Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server.