What does Windows error code 3020 (ERROR_PRINT_JOB_RESTART_REQUIRED) mean?

 
Previous Next
ERROR_PRINTER_DRIVER_DOWNLOAD_NEEDED ERROR_INVALID_PRINTER_DRIVER_MANIFEST

ERROR_PRINT_JOB_RESTART_REQUIRED

This result marks a boundary between a print job and changed print-system state. A driver, processor, spooler component, or related print configuration can be updated while a job is in flight, leaving the existing job attempt unable to continue under the new state.

Windows exposes JOB_CONTROL_RESTART through SetJob, but that command is documented for a job that is currently printing. The message for this status specifically requires the failed job to be resubmitted, so application recovery should preserve the original document and settings and create a fresh submission rather than repeatedly issuing controls against the failed job object.

Resubmit with traceable context

  • Record the failed job ID, queue, driver name/version, print processor, datatype, and submission time.
  • Correlate the failure with driver/package servicing, spooler restart, queue reconfiguration, or other print-system updates.
  • Preserve document and print-ticket/settings data needed to create a new job, then track the new job ID separately.
  • Use printer change notifications or server management logs to establish the update boundary when failures are intermittent across a fleet.

SetJob restart and job controls · Printer change notifications · Print Spooler job lifecycle functions


Looking for a different code? Search another status or error code.