Reset the Print Spooler Service: Open Command Prompt as Administrator
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What is Error 3013?
Windows System Error Code 3013, known as ERROR_PRINTER_DRIVER_WARNED, is a RPC & Network error that occurs during Remote Procedure Call (RPC) and network communication. The error indicates that: The printer driver is known to be unreliable. When this error is encountered, the Windows operating system was unable to complete the requested operation within the network services subsystem. The error code 3013 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_PRINTER_DRIVER_WARNED 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- Incompatible or outdated printer drivers
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Read the full guide →Step-by-Step Solutions
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator
- Run: net stop spooler
- Run: del /f /q C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS\*
- Run: net start spooler
- This clears the print queue and restarts the printing service
Video Tutorials
Diagnostic Command
Run this PowerShell command to find related events in your system log:
Get-EventLog -LogName System -Newest 20 | Where-Object {$_.Message -like "*3013*" -or $_.Message -like "*ERROR_PRINTER_DRIVER_WARNED*"} | 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