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Print spooler not running?

On Windows, every print job goes through the Print Spooler service. If it has stopped, nothing prints. Restarting it, clearing stuck jobs and setting it to start automatically fixes most cases.

What is the spooler doing?

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What is the spooler doing?

Most likely causes

  1. The service is stopped or set not to start

    The Print Spooler can be stopped, set to Manual or Disabled. Windows cannot queue any print job until it is running.

  2. A damaged job in the spool folder

    A job that failed halfway can leave files that crash the spooler each time it starts, so it keeps stopping.

  3. A faulty driver or print software

    A damaged printer driver, or third-party software that hooks into printing, can make the spooler stop.

  4. A dependency or system file problem

    The spooler relies on other Windows services. If one of them is not running, or system files are damaged, the spooler may not start.

What to try, in order

  1. 1Restart the serviceOpen services.msc, find Print Spooler, and choose Restart (or Start if it is stopped). Try one small print.
  2. 2Clear the spool folderStop the service, delete the files inside C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS, then start the service again. Delete only the files in that folder.
  3. 3Make it start and recover automaticallyIn the service Properties, set Startup type to Automatic. On the Recovery tab, set the first and second failure to Restart the Service.
  4. 4Remove and re-add the printerRemove the printer in Settings, restart, and add it again with the current driver from the maker’s website.

You need an administrator account to change services or delete spool files. Do not disable the Print Spooler to “fix” a problem, since nothing will print while it is off. On a work computer, ask IT first: some organizations turn the spooler off on purpose.

When to stop and replace

If the service will not start after these steps, shows a dependency error, or stops again right away, run the Windows printer troubleshooter and ask your IT support or Microsoft support for help. Microsoft documents the System File Checker (sfc /scannow) for damaged system files.

Inkjet or laser?

Inkjet printers

The spooler is part of Windows, so this problem is the same for inkjet and laser printers. Once printing works, print a nozzle check on an inkjet to make sure the ink side is healthy too.

Print a nozzle check

Laser printers

The spooler is part of Windows, so this problem is the same for laser and inkjet printers. Once printing works, send a simple test page PDF to confirm.

Download a test PDF

What the print spooler does

When you print on Windows, the job does not go straight to the printer. The Print Spooler service saves it first and then feeds it to the printer in order. That is why a stopped spooler blocks everything, even a test page, and why one damaged job can stop the whole queue.

Check whether it is running

Press Windows + R, type services.msc and press Enter. Find Print Spooler in the list. Running means the service is healthy and the problem is elsewhere, such as the printer being offline. Stopped means you can start it. If Startup type is Manual or Disabled, set it to Automatic so it starts with Windows.

When it keeps stopping

A spooler that stops again after you start it is usually reacting to a bad job or a bad driver. Clear the waiting jobs from the spool folder, then remove printers you no longer use and reinstall the driver for the one you do. Our guide to a print job stuck in the queue covers the printer-side steps, and driver or connection issue covers reinstalling.

Check printing after the fix

Once the service is running, send one small test, such as a test page PDF. If it prints, the spooler was the cause. If it still does not, the problem is probably the printer or the connection. See printer offline or printer won’t print a test page, or browse all printer problems.

Good questions

What is the print spooler?
It is a Windows service that holds print jobs in a queue and sends them to the printer one by one. If the service is stopped, Windows cannot print.
How do I restart the print spooler?
Press Windows + R, type services.msc, find Print Spooler, right-click it and choose Restart. You can also open Command Prompt as administrator and run net stop spooler, then net start spooler.
Why does the print spooler keep stopping?
The usual causes are a damaged job in the spool folder, a faulty printer driver, or third-party print software. Clear the spool folder, remove printers you do not use and reinstall the driver from the maker’s website.
Is it safe to delete the files in the PRINTERS folder?
Yes, if you stop the Print Spooler first and delete only the files inside C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS, not the folder. They are waiting print jobs, so anything unprinted is cancelled.
Does a Mac have a print spooler?
Not in the Windows sense. macOS uses a different print system, so this page does not apply. For a stuck Mac print job, see print job stuck in the queue.

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