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Solved: Windows 11 Printer Error 0x0000011b (GPO and Registry Fix)

In late 2021, Microsoft released a security patch to fix “PrintNightmare,” a vulnerability that let hackers take over servers via the Print Spooler.
The patch worked, but it had a side effect: It broke network printing for millions of businesses.

If you try to connect to a shared printer and get Error 0x0000011b, your computer is failing the new, stricter RPC packet privacy check.

Here is how to fix it via Registry or Group Policy (GPO).

The Fix: Disabling RPC Packet Privacy

Warning: This effectively undoes the patch for CVE-2021-1678. Only do this on trusted internal networks.

You need to apply this registry change on the Print Server (the computer sharing the printer), not necessarily the client.

Method 1: Manual Registry Key

  1. Open regedit on the Print Server.
  2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print
  3. Right-click > New > DWORD (32-bit).
  4. Name: RpcAuthnLevelPrivacyEnabled
  5. Value: 0
  6. Restart the Print Spooler Service (Service.msc > Print Spooler > Restart).

Method 2: Deploying via GPO

If you have 500 computers, you can’t edit the registry manually. Use Group Policy Preferences.

  1. Open Group Policy Management.
  2. Create a new GPO: “Fix Printer Error 0x11b”.
  3. Navigate to: Computer Configuration > Preferences > Windows Settings > Registry.
  4. Right-click > New > Registry Item.
    • Action: Update
    • Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    • Key Path: SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print
    • Value Name: RpcAuthnLevelPrivacyEnabled
    • Value Type: REG_DWORD
    • Value Data: 0
  5. Link this GPO to your Print Servers OU (Organizational Unit).

Client-Side Fixes?

Usually, the client doesn’t need changes. However, if the error persists, ensure the Client computer also has the registry key set to 0.

Some admins also report that uninstalling KB5005565 fixes it, but that update is years old now. The Registry Fix is the only sustainable path forward for Windows 10 21H2 and Windows 11.