Windows 10 is suffering from yet more printer issues. Many people will have been eager to install the KB5006670 update from 12 October – it fixed a total of 74 vulnerabilities, including one that had already been exploited.

However, a new problem has arrived alongside it. This bug affects network printers, preventing users from printing wirelessly using this method. Despite following the usual steps, ‘0x00000709’ or ‘Element not found’ error messages have often been appearing. It’s important to note that not all Windows 10 devices are affected, but it does seem widespread.

Printer-related issues have plagued Windows 10 in recent months. They primarily relate to the ‘PrintNightmare’ vulnerability , but there have been other problems concerning the printer spooler – both can be used to gain remote access to affected devices without the user’s permission.

Windows 11 isn’t immune, either. The first printer bugs on the new OS prevent some users from installing printers properly, while some Brother printers aren’t working via a USB connection.

While we wait for Microsoft to fix the latest Windows 10 issue, here’s what you can try.

How to fix the Windows 10 KB5006670 network printer bug

Despite Microsoft being aware of the issue, we don’t know how soon a patch for the bug will be available on affected devices. In the meantime, here are four potential solutions if you rely on network printing:

Uninstall the update

This is the obvious one, although it will also remove those vulnerability fixes mentioned earlier:

  1. In the search bar next to the Start menu, type cmd
  2. Command Prompt will appear as the ‘Best Match’. From the options on the right side, choose ‘Run as Administrator’
  3. A pop-up will appear, asking if you want to allow changes to be made. Click ‘Yes’
  4. The Command Prompt window should now be on screen. Copy and paste ‘wusa /uninstall /kb:5006670’ exact how you see it here and hit enter
  5. Restart your device to apply the changes

The same method can also be used to uninstall any recent update, provided you know the build number.

Remove affected printers and reinstall them

This is another common solution when things go wrong, but reinstalling the printers with admin rights could help the printer work again:

  1. Head to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners
  2. Locate the faulty printer from the list, then click it and choose ‘Remove device’
  3. To reinstall, just click ‘Add a printer or scanner’ from the same screen, or follow the instructions related to your specific printer

It’s definitely worth trying this method, but it can mean workstations need to be reconfigured on a device-by-device basis. In business environments, this may prove extremely time-consuming.

Enable CopyFiles (HP printers only)

Microsoft disabled the CopyFiles feature by default in September 2021, but some HP printers still rely on it. However, there’s a way to manually enable it again:

  1. In the search bar next to the Start menu, type ‘reg’ and open the Registry Editor
  2. Click ‘Yes’ to confirm you allow changes to be made to your device
  3. In the address bar at the top of the window that appears, navigate to ‘HK_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftWindows NTPrinters’
  4. Right-click anywhere on the white screen and choose New > Key
  5. Name this key ‘CopyFilesPolicy’
  6. Double-click the file named ‘Default’ here and set its ‘Value data’ to 1
  7. Click ‘OK’ to confirm, then restart your device to apply the changes
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Author: Anyron Copeman, Mobile Editor, Tech Advisor

Windows 10 KB5006670 update breaks network printers - 1

Anyron is Mobile Editor at Tech Advisor, where he’s been a mainstay of the editorial team since 2019. In his current role, Anyron is responsible for all smartphone, tablet and mobile network coverage on the site. A BA Journalism graduate, he has experience with a wide range of consumer tech products and services, including smartphones, tablets, foldables, wearables and more.

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It seems there are still more undiscovered vulnerabilities lurking in the Windows 10 print queue and its associated services.

Just last week, Microsoft issued an official warning about a new CVE-2021-34481 issue, after the recent KB5004945 update didn’t completely close the security gap. However, it does fix a related problem, so we’d still highly recommend downloading it.

An official patch for this new problem is yet to be released. Microsoft is still investigating which versions of Windows are affected – this may include the small number of devices still running Windows 8 and Windows 7. Fortunately, no attacks related to this specific vulnerability have been observed yet.

What is the CVE-2021-34481 vulnerability?

Like many similar issues in the past, the CVE-2021-34481 security gap affects the printer spooler. It gives hackers system-level user rights, allowing them to execute malicious code that can seriously harm your PC. This can be used to install programs, modify user data and even create new accounts with full system rights.

This vulnerability cannot be exploited directly by hackers, but combining it with a separate vulnerability removes any restrictions. While a lot of the code can be executed remotely, there’s also a method which involves tricking an unsuspecting user into clicking a malicious link within an email or message.

It may take a while for Microsoft to release an official patch. If any specific attacks are revealed, this should speed up the process. In the meantime, you’ll need to take matters into your own hands.

How to (temporarily) fix the CVE-2021-34481 vulnerability

While we wait for an update, Microsoft recommends turning off the print queue service, also known as the printer spooler:

  1. Open the Windows PowerShell app
  2. In the window that appears, type ‘Get-Service -Name Spooler’ and hit enter
  3. If you see a name displayed, check if it matches CVE-2021-34481. If no information appears, it’s worth proceeding with the turning it off anyway
  4. To stop the service, type ‘Stop-Service -Name Spooler –Force’ and hit enter
  5. You can then disable it by entering ‘Set-Service -Name Spooler -StartupType Disabled’ from the same window

This will avoid the vulnerability from potentially affecting your PC before an official patch is released. However, there is one big trade-off here – you’ll no longer be able to print from your device, both locally and via your home network.

A version of this article was originally published in German on our sister site, PC-Welt .

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Author: Anyron Copeman, Mobile Editor, Tech Advisor

Windows 10 KB5006670 update breaks network printers - 2

Anyron is Mobile Editor at Tech Advisor, where he’s been a mainstay of the editorial team since 2019. In his current role, Anyron is responsible for all smartphone, tablet and mobile network coverage on the site. A BA Journalism graduate, he has experience with a wide range of consumer tech products and services, including smartphones, tablets, foldables, wearables and more.

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