Fix Operation Could Not Be Completed error 0x00000709 on Windows

Have you ever encountered error 0x00000709 with the message “Operation Could Not Be Completed. Please double-check the printer name and make sure the printer is connected to the network” when setting up your default printer or installing a new printer? This means Windows cannot change the device’s default printer or install a new printer. but why?

In this article, we will examine this error in more detail and discuss why it occurs. Additionally, we’ll cover some fixes you can use to resolve the issue.

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Operation Could Not Be Completed 0x00000709 error overview

The “0x00000709: The operation could not be completed” error occurs when a user performs the steps to change the default printer on Windows, but Windows fails to perform the operation. Users are further advised to verify that the printer name has been added correctly and that it is connected to the network. So, what can you do to fix it?

To resolve error code 0x00000709, you must first change the printer name in Registry Editor and then change the RPC connection settings policy. If these steps don’t resolve the issue, you can run the printer troubleshooter, change the printer preference settings, and then uninstall the problematic update.

1. Check if there is interference from other printers

Changing the default printer settings when your device is connected to multiple printers may result in a “0x00000709: The operation could not be completed” error. Therefore, before changing settings, disconnect all other printers except the printer you want to set as the default.

If you are still getting the error even though there are no other printers connected to your device, the problem is not interference from other printers but a setting in the operating system. So, start applying the following fixes.

2. Rename the printer in the Registry Editor

The error message advises us to set the printer name correctly. Therefore, in the next step, we should rename it manually in the Registry Editor. Although there are known solutions to this problem, you need to be careful and follow the steps correctly. You should avoid messing with registry keys as it can cause serious problems. So please follow these instructions:

In Windows Search, enter “Registry Editor.”
Right-click the Registry EditorRegistry Editor application and click Run as administratorRun as administrator< /strong>.

In the Registry Editor address bar, paste the following path:

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows

Right-click the DeviceDevice key and click ModifyAdjust.

- In the Value data field, replace the first entry with your printer name.

via Windows Change its data value in the Registry Editor application to edit the string

Then Click OKOK.

Make sure to restart your computer after completing the above steps. If Renaming the registry key has no effect, please apply the remaining fixes.

3. Change RPC connection settings

After changing the printer name, you should make sure your printer is connected to the network. If you are connected but still receive the error message, modify the RPC connection settings in the Group Policy Editor. This policy controls the protocol settings for outgoing RPC connections to the remote print spooler.

To enable and change the policy setting, follow these steps:

Type Group Policy in Windows Search. If you need help with this, see How to find and use Windows Search.
Click Edit group policyEdit Group Policy.
In the left column, select Administrative TemplatesAdministrative Templates> Printers.
Click Configure RPC connection settings twice.
To enable For this policy, check the circle Enabled.
Select RPC over named pipes from the drop-down menu Protocol to use for outgoing RPC connections Protocol used for outgoing RPC connections.
Click OK >Click Apply.
Restart your device.

If the above instructions do not work, you can select RPC over TCP from the Protocol to use for outgoing RPC connections drop-down menu. strong>。

If this doesn’t work either, you can enable or disable authentication from the Use authentication for outgoing RPC connectionsUse authentication for outgoing RPC connections drop-down menu.

Apply this fix carefully as it has the highest chance of fixing the error message.

4. Run the printer troubleshooter

To troubleshoot printer-related issues, Windows includes a built-in troubleshooter. This tool can help diagnose and resolve most issues related to printer connections. If you give it a try, you might be able to fix the “The operation could not be completed” error. To run the troubleshooter, follow these steps:

Right-click the Start button and select Settings.
Select System from the left sidebar tab.
In the right pane, click Troubleshooting.
Click Additional troubleshooting.
Find the Printer troubleshooter and click the button next to Run .
Follow the on-screen instructions to help the troubleshooter get started.

After that, set your preferred printer as the default printer again. If the same error occurs again, apply the next fix.

5. Change printer preferences

By default, Windows manages default printers for users. This setting is useful, especially if you frequently connect your device to different printers, but it can sometimes cause problems. Therefore, you should disable this feature to ensure it does not cause problems.

To do this, follow these steps:

Right-click the Start button and select Settings.
Select Bluetooth & Devices from the left sidebar tab.
In the right pane, click Printers & Scanners.
Turn off the switch next to Allow Windows to manage my default printer under Printer Preferences.

6. Uninstall problematic updates

Have you recently installed an update and encountered this error? If so, there may be a problem with the newly installed update. Therefore, you should uninstall it. To do this, follow these steps:

Press Win + I to open the Windows Settings app.
In the left sidebar, click Windows Update.
In the right pane, click Update History.
Find the latest updates in the Control Panel application by checking the installation date. Once found, right-click it and click Uninstall.

See if you encounter the same error again. If uninstalling the problematic update resolves the issue, you should take additional steps to prevent the update from being automatically installed again. You can follow these steps:

Download Microsoft’s Show or Hide Updates Troubleshooter from MajorGeeks.
After downloading the file, run it.
Let the tool detect problems with a click Next.
Click Hide Updates.
The tool will display problematic updates that you uninstalled.
Check the box and click Next.

Let the tool finish processing and the specific update will not be installed on your device again. However, if uninstalling the update had no impact, there is no need to prevent it from being installed again.

Enjoy printing again on Windows

Not being able to set printer defaults is very annoying, especially when doing emergency printing. Hopefully our guide will help fix the annoying 0x00000709 error. This way, you can print using your favorite printer.

Have you ever experienced a situation where your printer prints a blank page and you don’t understand why? Most of the time, this is caused by a software issue and fixing it is very simple.