HP Printer Error 0xC0000005 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Error 0xC0000005 is a Windows driver error that affects HP printers. It means the printer driver software crashed or tried to access restricted memory on your computer. Uninstalling and reinstalling the HP printer driver almost always fixes this.

Affected Models

HP Laserjet Pro series
HP Officejet Pro series
HP Envy series
HP Deskjet series

Common Causes

The HP printer driver is corrupted or outdated and crashing when used
A recent Windows update changed how printer drivers run, causing a conflict
Multiple HP printer drivers are installed and are conflicting with each other
The Windows print spooler service has crashed or is not running
A temporary file used by the driver has become corrupted

How to Fix It

Restart the Windows Print Spooler service. Type services into the Windows search bar, open Services, scroll down to Print Spooler, right-click it, and select Restart.

A crashed print spooler is one of the most common causes of 0xC0000005 on HP printers.
Uninstall the HP printer driver completely. Go to Windows Settings > Apps > Installed Apps, find all HP printer software entries, and uninstall each one. Also go to Settings > Bluetooth and Devices > Printers and Scanners and remove your HP printer.

Leave no HP printer software behind — even a partial install can cause conflicts.
Download and install the latest HP driver. Go to hp.com/support, enter your printer model, go to Software and Drivers, and download the Full Feature Software and Drivers package.

Do not use the driver from your original installation disc — it is almost certainly outdated.
Run the HP Print and Scan Doctor tool. Download it for free from hp.com/support and run it. This tool automatically detects and repairs many common HP printer errors on Windows.

HP Print and Scan Doctor can fix issues that a manual driver reinstall misses.
Check Windows Update. Go to Settings > Windows Update and install any pending updates. Sometimes a cumulative Windows update includes fixes for printer driver compatibility issues.

After updating Windows, restart your computer and then reinstall the HP driver.

When to Call a Professional

This is a software issue on your Windows PC — not a hardware fault with the printer. If reinstalling the driver does not help, contact HP's free phone or chat support at hp.com/support. They have remote support tools that can fix driver issues directly from your screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this error mean my printer is broken?

No — 0xC0000005 is a software error on your Windows computer, not a hardware fault. The printer itself is fine. The problem is with the driver software that Windows uses to communicate with the printer.

What is the Print Spooler and why does it matter?

The Print Spooler is a Windows service that manages the queue of documents waiting to be printed. When it crashes, all printing on that computer stops until it is restarted. Restarting the spooler takes less than a minute and often instantly fixes printer errors.

Will this error affect my HP printer when used from a Mac or phone?

No — this is a Windows driver issue. If you print to the same HP printer from a Mac, iPhone, or Android device, those connections are unaffected. Only the Windows computer showing the error needs to be fixed.