dotnet/wpf · error · PrintServerException

PrintSystemException.PrintServer.Refresh

Error message

PrintSystemException.PrintServer.Refresh

What it means

Thrown by LocalPrintServer.Refresh when reloading server state fails. Refresh first re-reads the DefaultPrintQueue attribute via GetDataFromServer, then calls PrintServer::Refresh; a Win32 spooler failure anywhere in that sequence raises this PrintSystemException.

Solutions

1. Ensure the Print Spooler service is running before refreshing.
2. Verify at least one printer/default printer is configured in the session.
3. Catch and inspect the inner HResult to identify the failing Win32 call.
4. Re-create the LocalPrintServer instance instead of refreshing a stale one.

Example fix

// before
server.Refresh(); // may throw on headless/service sessions
// after
try { server.Refresh(); }
catch (PrintSystemException ex)
{
    // spooler unavailable or no default printer; fall back to re-enumeration
    server = new LocalPrintServer(PrintSystemDesiredAccess.AdministrateServer);
}

using var sc = new ServiceController("Spooler");
sc.Refresh();
if (sc.Status != ServiceControllerStatus.Running) throw new InvalidOperationException("Spooler not running");

static bool SpoolerRunning()
{
    try { using var sc = new ServiceController("Spooler"); sc.Refresh();
          return sc.Status == ServiceControllerStatus.Running; }
    catch { return false; }
}

for (int attempt = 0; attempt < 3; attempt++)
{
    try { server.Refresh(); break; }
    catch (PrintSystemException) when (attempt < 2) { Thread.Sleep(500); }
}

When it happens

Trigger: Calling LocalPrintServer.Refresh() when the spooler is unavailable, the default printer lookup fails, or the underlying PrintServer refresh Win32 calls (OpenPrinter/GetPrinter) fail due to permissions.

Common situations: Print Spooler restarted or crashed between operations; environment with no printers (services, CI agents); driver/provider corruption causing GetPrinter failures.

Related errors

• PrintSystemException.PrintQueue.Populate
• PrintSystemException.PrintServer.Generic
• PrintSystemException.PrintServer.GetDefaultPrinter
• PrintSystemException.PrintSystemJobInfo.Create
• PrintSystemException.PrintSystemJobInfo.Generic

AI-assisted analysis of dotnet/wpf@81131a70a4 (2026-09-14). Data as JSON: /api/errors/85afcedf923e804b. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at src/Microsoft.DotNet.Wpf/src/System.Printing/CPP/src/LocalPrintServer.cpp:1103

    void

--*/
void
LocalPrintServer::
Refresh(
    void
    )
{
    VerifyAccess();

    try
    {
        GetDataFromServer("DefaultPrintQueue", true);
        PrintServer::Refresh();
    }
    catch (InternalPrintSystemException^ internalException)
    {
        throw CreatePrintServerException(internalException->HResult, "PrintSystemException.PrintServer.Refresh");
}

}

/*++

Routine Name:

    GetAlteredPropertiesFilter

Routine Description:

    Creates an array string representing of the dirty properties of a PrintServer object.

Arguments:

    propertiesFilter - array of property strings

View on GitHub (pinned to 81131a70a4)