Ultimate solution to Universal Print error 0x8086000c: step-by-step guide

El Error 0x8086000c related to Universal Print This is one of the most common headaches for many system administrators and users who have adopted cloud-based printer management thanks to Microsoft Universal Print. This system, designed to integrate printing into modern environments and simplify management through Azure Active Directory, sometimes faces Authentication issues that end up blocking fundamental printing flows in companies and organizations.

Understanding this error and knowing how to address it is essential to avoid work stoppages, frustration, and wasted time. In this article, We address the origin of error 0x8086000c, all its possible causes, the most effective solution strategies, and the risks and benefits of the Universal Print model. Let's get to it.

What does error 0x8086000c mean in Universal Print?

When you try to use or set up Universal Print in Windows 10 or 11 and you see the message “Failed to get auth header with 0x8086000c” It usually means that Windows was unable to obtain a valid authentication header from Azure Active Directory, which is essential for the service to work. This error usually appears alongside the Event ID 1 in the Windows Event Viewer, indicating that The authentication process cannot be completed successfully and, as a result, printing or device management is blocked.

Therefore, the root of the problem is almost always in the Authentication failures, problems with registration in Azure AD o inconsistencies in key services or files of the operating system. However, Microsoft's own documentation rarely goes into detail about the exact meaning of this very specific error code, forcing administrators to rely on community expertise and unofficial guides for troubleshooting.

Common causes of error 0x8086000c

We've compiled the possible causes verified by experts, administrators, and official sources:

• Windows Services Failures: If the Print Spooler, Universal Print Connector, or McpManagementService service is experiencing errors or is misconfigured, can break the authentication flow.
• Corrupted system files: The McpManagementService.dll file is crucial for communicating with Azure AD. If it's corrupted, Universal Print will stop working properly.
• Azure AD account or registration issues: An inactive, misconfigured, non-MFA, or unlicensed user account may prevent valid Universal Print tokens from being issued.
• Credentials cache errors: Stale credentials and tokens stored locally They usually block new authentication attempts.
• Incorrect connector registration: When the Universal Print connector is not properly registered or synchronized with Azure, communication with the cloud fails and the error is generated.

Step-by-step solutions to fix error 0x8086000c

The good news is that in most cases this error can be solved. Here are the solutions most effective and proven methods to solve it, detailed so you can follow them whether you are an advanced user or an IT administrator.

1. Restart the services involved in printing

One of the quickest actions is to restart the services involved in Universal Print, as the error often arises from a temporary glitch:

1. Press Win + R, writes services.msc and press Enter to open the service manager.
2. Search for the service Print SpoolerRight-click and select Reboot.
3. Do the same with Universal Print Connector Service o McpManagementService.

If you don't need to use Universal Print, you can disable these services.. Just right click on each one, enter Properties, tick Startup type: Disabled and press on Arrest.

2. Repair or replace damaged system files

If the McpManagementService.dll file is corrupted or missing, Universal Print may stop working:

• Run SFC and DISM: Open CMD as administrator and use these commands:
  • sfc /scannow
  • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
• If it's not resolved, Download a healthy copy of the same version of McpManagementService.dll from a trusted Windows installation.
• Navigate to C:\Windows\System32, rename the damaged file so you don't lose it and copy the new one.
• Register the file with regsvr32 McpManagementService.dll y Restart the computer.

3. Check the account and registration status in Azure AD

Since Universal Print relies on Azure Active Directory to authenticate credentials, you need to ensure that everything is correctly registered and active:

1. Enter the Azure portal with your credentials.
2. Access Azure Active Directory > Users and check that the account is marked as active.
3. Enter Configuration and check if multi-factor authentication (MFA) is enabled if your organization requires it.
4. Go to Azure AD > Custom Domains to ensure your domain is verified.
5. Confirm that the connector and printers are correctly registered. If necessary, sign out and sign back in to renew your session and credentials.

4. Reset or re-register the Universal Print Connector

If you detect problems with tokens or authentication persists in failing, reconfigure the connector from scratch:

1. Open the app Universal Print Connector on the equipment where the connector is installed.
2. Enter Configuration and select Delete Connector. Confirm to unsubscribe from Azure.
3. Restart the app, click on Login with an Azure AD account and register the connector by assigning a name or Device ID.
4. The wizard ends to link the connector to Azure AD again.

5. Delete cached credentials and tokens

Credentials stored locally may be outdated and cause authentication problemsTo clear the cache you must:

1. Access to Control Panel > User Accounts > Credential Manager.
2. En Windows Credentials, find and delete all entries that begin with MicrosoftOffice_Data:SSO:, AzureAD or are related to Universal Print or Microsoft Graph.
3. Restart your computer and log back in. Windows will prompt you for credentials again and generate an updated token.

6. Clear the print job cache to resolve secondary crashes

Sometimes, even if the authentication error is resolved, the print queue may still be stuck. To clear the cache:

• Access C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS with administrator rights.
• Delete all files in the folder.
• Restart the Print Spooler service to reload the queue correctly.

Frequently asked questions and helpful answers about error 0x8086000c

Can I disable Universal Print if I don't use it?

Yes, you can do this without risk to your printer if it doesn't rely on Universal Print:

• Open services.msc
• Disable the Universal Print Connector service or uninstall it from Settings
• Optionally delete related Azure AD registered applications

How do I clear the print cache in Windows?

Go to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS (with administrator privileges), Delete all files and restart the Print Spooler service from the Service Manager.

What do I do if the error persists after following these steps?

In that case, it's best to gather detailed event and log information and contact Microsoft support. It is advisable to check if there are any active issues in Azure AD by checking the Microsoft 365 admin panel, as a global failure could be affecting authentication.