There is no doubt that Windows 11 is plagued with bugs, and Microsoft users are reporting new problems every day. One such problem is Error 740, which occurs when Windows 11 users try to add a printer to their computer. It has been determined that the problem is caused by generic inconsistencies, inadequate permissions, or corrupt drivers. If you are experiencing this issue, here are a few troubleshooting techniques that may help. There is an error message that says,
That didn’t work. We can’t install this printer right now. Try again later or contact your network administrator for help. Error: #740
What Causes Printer Error 740 on Windows?
There might be various possible causes that lead to this issue, but it is generally related to network administrator privileges. Aside from that, outdated printer drivers, incorrect printer settings, or a temporary glitch may also be responsible for the printer error 740.
How to Fix Error 740 when adding Printer on Windows 11/10
To Fix Error 740 on Windows 11/10, follow the below suggestion:
1] Reconnect Your Printer
In some cases, the problem might just be a glitch. Windows tends to have glitches frequently, and this may be one. To resolve this issue, we suggest you detach all the wired cables from the printer and then shut down your computer.
You must wait for a moment to clear the temporary glitch, and then reconnect your printer and restart your computer. In case you are using a wireless printer, you will need to disconnect it from the router and re-connect it. After you restart your computer, see if it resolves the issue.
2] Run the Printer Troubleshooter
The solution requires you to run the Printer troubleshooter and see if it works. This is an inbuilt Windows utility that you can use to diagnose the printer problem using the below steps.
- Right-click on the Start menu and select Settings from the menu list.
- From the left pane, click on the System category.
- In the right pane, navigate to Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
- Next to the Printer troubleshooter, click on the Run button.
Wait a moment while the troubleshooter scans the system. When it detects a problem, it will inform you and suggest a solution. When that happens, click on Apply this Fix. If there are no problems with the system, continue to the next solution.
3] Open Printer Wizard in administrator mode
If your issue is not related to a glitch, you need this solution. It only takes a couple of minutes to add the printer if you install the wizard with administrative privileges manually. Here are the steps you need to follow:
- Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Copy and paste the below command line and press Enter:
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /il
- Once you’ve done this, try to install the printer and see if it solves the issue.
4] Disable the User Account Control
A UAC helps you avoid malware attacks on your computer and prevents them from causing damage. Although it can be helpful, it can also cause problems sometimes. Because of this, you should temporarily disable UAC and check if that helps. To do so, follow the steps provided.
- Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
- Type useraccountcontrolsettings in the text box and press Enter.
- When the User Account Control Settings window opens, change it to Never notify.
- Click on OK to save your changes.
- Now close the window and try adding your printer again.
5] Set up a new administrator account
If none of the above solutions work for you, maybe there is an issue with your account. In some cases, a glitch causes the issue, while in others, a misconfiguration does. As such, create a new account and then try adding your printer. To do so, follow the steps below.
- Press the Win + I keys to open Windows Settings.
- Navigate to Accounts > Family and other users.
- Under Other users, click Add account.
- Click on I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.
- Next, select Add a user without a Microsoft account.
- Choose your username and answer the security questions. As a result, a user account is created.
- Click Change account type.
- Then select Administrator > OK.
After creating a new account, you must log out of your existing account and log into the new one.
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