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Fix Access Denied Error – Printer Troubleshooting Guide | TroubleshootMyPrinter




How to Fix: Access Denied Error

Users receive an ‘Access Denied’ or ‘Permission Denied’ error when trying to print, install drivers, or access printer settings. This security-related issue is common in managed business environments and can be caused by insufficient user permissions or restrictive group policies. This guide walks you through the most common causes and step-by-step solutions to fix access denied error on any printer, regardless of brand or model.

Common Causes

This problem is most often caused by one or more of the following:

  • User account does not have permission to print to the shared printer
  • Windows Group Policy restricting printer driver installation
  • Printer requires authentication credentials that are not configured
  • Windows user account is not an administrator for driver installation
  • Shared printer permissions not properly configured on the print server

Step-by-Step Solution

Follow these steps to diagnose and fix the issue. Test your printer after each step.

  1. Step 1: Verify your user account has ‘Print’ permission on the printer by checking Printer Properties > Security tab
  2. Step 2: If installing a driver, right-click the installer and select ‘Run as administrator’
  3. Step 3: For network printers, ensure the shared printer permissions include your user account or group
  4. Step 4: Check with your IT administrator if Group Policy restricts printer driver installation
  5. Step 5: On Windows, run the printer troubleshooter which may automatically fix permission issues
  6. Step 6: If the printer requires authentication, enter the correct username and password in the printer’s port settings
  7. Step 7: For domain environments, verify that the Point and Print Restrictions policy allows the necessary drivers

Brand-Specific Troubleshooting

Some printer brands require slightly different troubleshooting approaches. See the brand-specific guidance below.

Hp Printers

HP Enterprise printers have role-based access control that can restrict printing by user. Check the EWS Security settings. HP printers may also require EWS admin login before changing settings. The default admin password is often on a label inside the printer.

For more Hp-specific troubleshooting, visit our Hp Printer Troubleshooting hub.

Xerox Printers

Xerox printers have detailed access control through CentreWare. User authentication can be configured to require login before printing. If users receive ‘Access Denied,’ check the Authentication/Security settings in CentreWare. Xerox also supports LDAP and Active Directory authentication.

For more Xerox-specific troubleshooting, visit our Xerox Printer Troubleshooting hub.

Ricoh Printers

Ricoh MFPs have extensive user authentication options through User Management in Web Image Monitor. The ‘Basic Authentication’ feature requires users to register before printing. Check the Access Control settings if users receive denied errors.

For more Ricoh-specific troubleshooting, visit our Ricoh Printer Troubleshooting hub.

Lexmark Printers

Lexmark printers support user access controls through the Embedded Web Server’s security settings. Lexmark’s ‘Solutions’ feature (like Print Release) may require authentication before releasing print jobs. Verify user credentials in the Lexmark management portal.

For more Lexmark-specific troubleshooting, visit our Lexmark Printer Troubleshooting hub.

Related Problems

Users experiencing access denied error often encounter these related issues:

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I get ‘Access Denied’ when trying to print?

This usually means your user account lacks permission to use the printer. On shared network printers, the administrator must grant your account ‘Print’ permission. On domain-managed computers, Group Policy may restrict printing to certain printers. Contact your IT administrator to verify your permissions.

How do I fix ‘Access Denied’ when installing a printer driver?

Driver installation requires administrator privileges on Windows. Right-click the installer and select ‘Run as administrator.’ In managed environments, the ‘Point and Print Restrictions’ Group Policy may block driver installation from non-elevated sessions. Contact your IT department to either install the driver for you or modify the policy.

Can I bypass the access denied error on a shared printer?

You cannot bypass printer permissions without proper authorization. Ask the printer owner or IT administrator to add your user account to the printer’s security permissions with ‘Print’ access. If you manage the print server, go to Printer Properties > Security and add the appropriate users or groups.

Need brand-specific help?

This guide covers the general fix. For model-specific instructions, find your printer brand below and navigate to your exact model for tailored troubleshooting steps.