When you remove a Universal Print queue from a client, then try to re-add it, you can't.

Question

When this happens, we have to clear references from the registry before the UP printer can be re-added to the client laptop.

Answer 1

Hello，

It turns out that once a Universal Print (UP) queue is removed, remnants are left behind—in the registry and in the device enumeration—that prevent you from re‑adding the same printer until those leftover references are cleared.

The workaround is to manually clean out the offending registry entries so that Windows “forgets” the old UP printer, letting you add it again. Although the exact registry keys involved can depend on your environment and Windows version, the general steps you’d take are:

1. Back Up the Registry First

 • Always export (or otherwise back up) the registry before you make any changes.

 • Run regedit.exe as an administrator.

2. Locate the Phantom Device Entry

 • Search for keys or values that reference the UP printer or “unknown device.”

 • Common hives to check include HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and HKEY_CURRENT_USER under paths related to the Print Provider (for example, under …\Print\ or under any key that might be holding device enums).

 • Sometimes you’ll find leftover keys showing a GUID or an “unknown device” string that matches the phantom entry from BT & Devices.

3. Remove the Leftover Keys/Values

 • Once you’ve identified the problematic registry entry(s), delete them.

 • Be careful to delete only what is confirmed to be the leftover from the removed UP queue—removing the wrong key may affect other device settings.

4. Restart or Refresh the Services

 • It can help to either restart the Print Spooler service or simply reboot the computer so that Windows re‑enumerates the connected devices and refreshes device settings.

Once those leftover references are cleared, you should be able to re‑add the Universal Print queue without issue.

Note:

• Since registry modifications can have unwanted side effects, it’s best practice to test these steps on a non‑production machine or follow an internal documented procedure.

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