What is the Print Spooler and why does it cause errors?

The Print Spooler is a Windows service that manages print jobs. It holds documents in queue until the printer is ready. Errors occur when: the spooler service crashes, print jobs get stuck/corrupted, there are driver conflicts, or spooler files become corrupted. Restarting the spooler usually fixes most issues.

How do I restart the Print Spooler service?

Press Windows+R, type 'services.msc' and press Enter. Find 'Print Spooler' in the list, right-click it and select 'Restart'. Alternatively, open Command Prompt as Administrator and run: net stop spooler then net start spooler.

Why does my Print Spooler keep stopping?

The spooler keeps stopping due to: corrupted printer drivers, damaged spooler files, malware, or Windows system file corruption. Fix by updating/reinstalling printer drivers, clearing the spooler folder, running SFC scan, or checking for malware.

How do I clear the print queue in Windows?

Method 1: Go to Settings > Devices > Printers, select your printer, click 'Open queue', then 'Cancel All Documents'. Method 2: Stop spooler service, delete files in C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS folder, restart spooler.

Print Spooler Error Fix - Windows 10/11 Spooler Service [2026]

Complete Spooler Troubleshooting

Method 1: Clear Print Queue & Restart Spooler

This fixes most spooler issues caused by stuck print jobs.

# Run these commands in Command Prompt (Admin)

net stop spooler del /Q /F /S "%systemroot%\System32\spool\PRINTERS\*.*" net start spooler

How to Open Command Prompt as Admin:

1. Press Windows key
2. Type "cmd"
3. Right-click "Command Prompt"
4. Select "Run as administrator"

Method 2: Windows Troubleshooter

Let Windows automatically detect and fix printer issues.

1
Open Settings
Press Windows + I
2
Navigate to Troubleshoot
System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters
3
Run Printer Troubleshooter
Click "Run" next to Printer
4
Apply Fixes
Follow prompts to apply suggested fixes

Method 3: Reinstall Printer Drivers

Corrupted drivers are a common cause of spooler crashes.

1
Open Device Manager
Right-click Start > Device Manager
2
Find Your Printer
Expand "Print queues" or "Printers"
3
Uninstall Driver
Right-click printer > Uninstall device > Check "Delete driver"
4
Restart & Reinstall
Restart computer. Windows will auto-install or download from manufacturer

Method 4: Spooler Keeps Stopping (Advanced Fix)

If the spooler stops immediately after starting, try these fixes:

Run System File Checker

Repairs corrupted Windows files:

sfc /scannow

Check Spooler Dependencies

1. Open services.msc
2. Double-click Print Spooler
3. Go to Dependencies tab
4. Ensure all dependencies are running

Set Spooler to Automatic

1. In services.msc, double-click Print Spooler
2. Set Startup type to "Automatic"
3. Click Apply, then Start

Common Spooler Error Messages

"Print Spooler service is not running"

Fix: Open services.msc, find Print Spooler, right-click > Start. If it won't start, run the clear queue commands above first.

"Error 0x800706b9" or "Not enough resources"

Fix: Clear spooler folder, restart service. If persists, check for Windows updates and restart computer.

"Print jobs disappear without printing"

Fix: Driver issue. Reinstall printer driver from manufacturer's website. Also try removing and re-adding the printer.

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