The Universal Print service on Windows 11 can generate frequent event log entries showing Failed to get auth header with 0x8086000c or similar authentication errors. These errors often appear after system startup, wake-from-sleep, or when the McpManagementService is triggered, even if users do not actively use Universal Print. This can quickly clutter event logs and may indicate configuration or authentication problems, especially in environments using Azure Active Directory or Microsoft 365.

Disable Universal Print or McpManagementService

Disabling the Universal Print service or the related McpManagementService is the most direct solution when the service is not required. This stops the repetitive error messages and has no effect on local or LAN printing for most users.

Step 1: Press Win + R to open the Run dialog, then type services.msc and press Enter. This opens the Services Manager.

Step 2: In the Services list, locate McpManagementService or any service labeled with Universal Print or Print Connector Service. Right-click the service and select Properties.

Step 3: Set the Startup Type to Disabled. If the service is running, click the Stop button to halt it immediately.

Step 4: Click OK to save the changes and close the dialog. This prevents the service from starting automatically and stops the error entries from appearing in the event log.

Replace or Repair McpManagementService.dll

If Universal Print is needed, a corrupted or mismatched McpManagementService.dll file can cause error 0x8086000c. Replacing or repairing this file may resolve the issue.

Step 1: Run a system file check to automatically repair corrupted system files. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and enter:

sfc /scannow

This scans and repairs system files, including McpManagementService.dll.

Step 2: If the error persists, run the Deployment Imaging Servicing and Management (DISM) tool:

dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

This command repairs the Windows image and can resolve deeper corruption issues.

Step 3: If system scans do not fix the file, locate a healthy version of McpManagementService.dll from another Windows 11 computer with the same OS build. Replace the file at C:\Windows\System32 (after renaming the old file as a backup), then register the new DLL by running:

regsvr32 McpManagementService.dll

Restart the PC to apply changes.

Verify Azure AD Configuration and Credentials

Universal Print relies on Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) for authentication. Misconfigured or expired credentials can prevent the service from acquiring tokens, resulting in error 0x8086000c.

Step 1: Log into the Azure Portal and access Azure Active Directory. Under Users, ensure the account used for Universal Print is active and properly licensed.

Step 2: Check the Authentication Methods to confirm Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is set as needed. Under Custom Domains, verify the domain is confirmed and in use.

Step 3: In Enterprise Applications, ensure the Universal Print application is enabled and not restricted for the account or tenant.

Step 4: If authentication issues persist, sign out of the Windows session and sign back in to refresh tokens, or remove and re-add the Azure AD account if necessary.

Reset or Re-Register the Universal Print Connector

The Universal Print Connector bridges local printers to Microsoft's cloud print service. If connectors are misconfigured or registered with stale credentials, they may trigger authentication errors.

Step 1: On the connector host machine, open the Universal Print Connector application and navigate to Settings.

Step 2: Select Remove Connector to unregister it from Azure. Confirm the removal.

Step 3: Relaunch the application, log in with an Azure AD administrator account, and register the connector again. Provide a new connector name or device ID as required.

This process resets the authentication handshake and can resolve persistent token issues.

Clear Cached Credentials

Outdated or corrupted cached credentials can block Universal Print from obtaining valid authentication headers.

Step 1: Open the Control Panel and select User Accounts, then click Credential Manager.

Step 2: Under Windows Credentials, look for entries starting with MicrosoftOffice_Data:SSO:, AzureAD\, or references to Universal Print or Microsoft Graph.

Step 3: Remove these entries. Restart the PC and sign in again, which prompts Windows to request fresh authentication tokens from Azure AD.

Restart or Troubleshoot Universal Print Services

Sometimes, Universal Print errors occur due to temporary glitches or service interruptions. Restarting related services or running Windows printer diagnostics can resolve transient issues.

Step 1: Open the Services Manager (services.msc), locate Microsoft Universal Print Service and Print Spooler. Right-click each and select Restart.

Step 2: To run the built-in printer troubleshooter, open Command Prompt as Administrator and enter:

msdt.exe /id PrinterDiagnostic

Follow the on-screen instructions to let Windows identify and fix common print-related issues.

Addressing error 0x8086000c on Windows 11 Universal Print involves confirming service necessity, repairing system files, checking Azure AD authentication, and clearing cached credentials. Disabling unnecessary services quickly stops repetitive errors and keeps event logs manageable.