⚠️ 2 verified solutions available for Error 1904 — Last updated 2026-04-03
Error 1904 📋

Fix ERROR_ALREADY_WAITING — Windows Error Code 1904

Error 1904 (ERROR_ALREADY_WAITING) is a Windows RPC & Network error that occurs when the specified printer handle is already being waited on.. This guide provides step-by-step solutions to resolve this issue.

🏷️ Code: 1904 📛 ERROR_ALREADY_WAITING 📅 Updated: 2026-04-03 ⏱️ 2 Solutions
⚡ Quick Fix

Reset the Print Spooler Service: Open Command Prompt as Administrator

👇 See all 2 solutions below
🐞 Auto-Fix Script for Error 1904
⚠️ How to use: Open PowerShell as Administrator, paste the code above, and press Enter.
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📑 Table of Contents
What is Error 1904? Common Causes Step-by-Step Solutions Prevention Tips Related Errors

💡 What is Error 1904?

Windows System Error Code 1904, known as ERROR_ALREADY_WAITING, is a RPC & Network error that occurs during Remote Procedure Call (RPC) and network communication. The error indicates that: The specified printer handle is already being waited on. When this error is encountered, the Windows operating system was unable to complete the requested operation within the network services subsystem. The error code 1904 is returned by the GetLastError() function and provides developers with a specific identifier to diagnose the root cause of the failure. The symbolic name ERROR_ALREADY_WAITING maps directly to this numeric code and is commonly referenced in Microsoft documentation, developer forums, and system logs. Understanding this error and its context within Remote Procedure Call (RPC) and network communication is essential for effective troubleshooting.

⚠️ Common Causes

  • Print Spooler service is hung or crashed
  • Corrupted print jobs stuck in the queue
  • Incompatible or outdated printer drivers
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✅ Step-by-Step Solutions

1 Reset the Print Spooler Service
  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
  2. Run: net stop spooler
  3. Run: del /f /q C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS\*
  4. Run: net start spooler
  5. This clears the print queue and restarts the printing service
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2 Reinstall Printer Drivers
  1. Open Device Manager → Expand 'Print queues'
  2. Right-click your printer → Uninstall device
  3. Disconnect the printer, restart your computer
  4. Reconnect the printer and let Windows install fresh drivers
  5. Or download the latest driver from the manufacturer's website

🎬 Video Tutorials

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How to fix Error 1904 (Already Waiting)
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💻 Diagnostic Command

Run this PowerShell command to find related events in your system log:

Get-EventLog -LogName System -Newest 20 | Where-Object {$_.Message -like "*1904*" -or $_.Message -like "*ERROR_ALREADY_WAITING*"} | Format-List

💡 Open PowerShell as Administrator, paste the command above, and press Enter.

🛡️ Prevention Tips

  • Keep printer drivers updated from the manufacturer's website
  • Clear the print queue if a job gets stuck instead of sending more jobs
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Last updated: 2026-04-03
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Based on Official Microsoft Documentation
Solutions Tested on Windows 10 & 11
Error codes sourced from Microsoft Win32 SDK. Updated 2026-04-03.
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