Fix Unable to install printer, Another printer with this name already exists in Windows
0Here's how to Fix Unable to install printer, Another printer with this name already exists in Windows.
This error message means that you are trying to install a printer that has the same name as another printer that already exists on your system. Windows requires each printer to have a unique name to avoid confusion and conflicts. To fix this error, you can try the following methods:
- **Remove the existing printer with the same name**. If you have another printer installed on your system with the same name as the one you are trying to install, you need to remove it first. To do this, go to Settings - Devices - Printers & scanners and select the printer you want to remove. Then, click on Remove device and follow the instructions. After removing the printer, restart your PC and try to install the new printer again.
- **Delete the old printer from the registry**. Sometimes, even after removing the existing printer, Windows may still have some registry entries related to it. This can prevent you from installing a new printer with the same name. To delete the old printer from the registry, you need to open Registry Editor by typing regedit in the Run dialog box or the search box and pressing Enter. Then, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers and look for any keys or values related to the printer name you are trying to use. Right-click on them and choose Delete. Be careful not to delete any other entries that are not related to your printer. After deleting the old printer from the registry, restart your PC and try to install the new printer again.
- **Stop and restart the Print Spooler service**. The Print Spooler service is responsible for managing all the print jobs and printers on your system. Sometimes, it may cause some issues with installing or removing printers. To stop and restart the Print Spooler service, you need to open Services by typing services.msc in the Run dialog box or the search box and pressing Enter. Then, find Print Spooler in the list of services and right-click on it. Choose Stop and wait for a few seconds. Then, right-click on it again and choose Start. After restarting the Print Spooler service, try to install the new printer again.
These are some of the possible solutions for fixing Unable to install printer. Another printer or printer with this name already exists in Windows error.