How to Fix Devices and Printers Not Loading in Windows 10

According to many Windows 10 users, they cannot view any device in the Devices and Printers window. This may happen even if more than one device is connected to the PC supposed to show up in this window’s list of devices. Although this issue is usually noted in Windows 7, there have been reports of it troubling Windows 10 users. In this article, we look at the solutions that could help you fix this issue on your PC, but before that, let’s see.

Why are Devices and Printers not loading in Windows 10?

Many users suspect that there is something wrong with their printer device. But you should know that the issue is with Windows when any of the devices that are supposed to be in the window, such as a webcam, are not loading in the window.

The reason behind this problem bugging you could be broken system files, issues with Windows Services, DLL issues, and more.

Methods to Fix Devices and Printers not Loading in Windows 10:

Whatever be the reason behind the Devices and Printers not loading Windows 10 issue, we got you covered. Check out the solutions provided below.

Running SFC Scan in Windows 10

The SFC scan is a command-line utility that comes built-in with Windows 10. The SFC scan now utility runs in Command Prompt window and is supposed to fix a range of issues in Windows 10.

Windows requires its system files to run correctly and carry out several functions. Whenever system file(s) get corrupt or damaged, Windows 10 may malfunction. By running the SFC scan, you can make sure that all the system files are okay. If any system file is found in the scan that needs attention, the utility automatically fixes the file.

Here is how to run this scan in Windows 10:

Step 1: Press Win + X on your PC. From the menu that will open, make a click on the Command Prompt (Admin) option. You may get an additional dialog box; press Yes to allow access.

Step 2: The Command Prompt will open in Admin mode. Here type the following command and press Enter after that:

SFC /scannow

As the command prompt utility runs and scans your PC for system file issues, wait till the process is complete. Once it is done, you will be prompted on the cmd screen about the same.

Now, exit the Command Prompt window, then restart your PC. After the restart, try to access the Devices and Printers window and see if the issue was fixed.

Register the irproxy.dll file

Here’s another command-line utility you can use to fix the Devices and Printer window issues. In this solution, we will re-register the irproxy.dll file on your PC and see if that helps resolve the issue. This method has already worked for several other users, so it’s always a good idea to try such methods.

Follow the steps given below:

Step 1: For this method, you will need to rerun the Command Prompt window with admin privileges. You can check out the steps involved in running Command Prompt in Admin mode in the above solution. Once you have successfully launched the window, go to the next step.

Step 2: In the Command Prompt window that opens, go ahead and type the command given below. After entering the command, press the Enter key on your keyboard:

regsvr32 “%ProgramFiles%\Internet Explorer\ieproxy.dll

Once the DLL file has been registered in your PC successfully, close down the Command Prompt window. Now, give your PC a reboot. After the PC starts, open the Devices and Printers window and see if they appear on the list.

Enable a couple of Services in Windows 10

What could be the reason behind this whole façade are a few services. If services like the Bluetooth Support or Print Spooler are not running in Windows 10, it could lead to issues with devices and printers window. To ensure that these services are up and running on your PC and not causing any issue, open the Services window, and ensure that these services are running. Here are the steps involved:

Step 1: Open the Run box by pressing the Win + R keys together. In the run box, type services.msc and press the Enter button.

Step 2: The Services window will open. Here, look for the service named Bluetooth Support Service. Make a right-click on it, and if the service is not running, press the Start option.

Step 3: Similarly, look for Print Spooler service in the list of services. Make a right-click on the service and click on the Start option.

After starting these services, close down the Services window and reboot your PC. After the reboot, try to open the Devices and Printers window. Are the devices showing up in the window now?

Update Windows 10

Here is another workaround that you can try if none of the above methods are working to fix the devices and printers not loading issue in Windows 10. Check if Windows 10 is up to date. If not, carry out an update and then check if the solution worked. At times, an update is required to fix issues in Windows 10, including this one.