Can firewall settings cause the 'Windows add printer error 1797'?

Yes, firewall settings can definitely cause Windows add printer error 1797. Firewalls, both the built-in Windows Firewall and third-party security software, can sometimes block the necessary ports or protocols that Windows uses to communicate with a printer. You may need to temporarily disable the firewall to test this, or specifically allow printer sharing and discovery through the firewall's exceptions list.