The print spooler is a basic program for managing print jobs on your Windows PC and sending them to your printer. However, the print spooler can also stop working at times. Unresponsive services andCorrupted cache files Faulty drivers are just a few of the reasons why the print spooler might stop working on Windows. That's why we've compiled a few methods to help you fix the print spooler service that keeps stopping on Windows 10 and Windows 11. So, let's get started.
1. Operate and repair the printer
Windows comes with a dedicated printer troubleshooter that can automatically diagnose and fix any printing problems on your computer. It checks all printer configurations and corrects any inconsistencies. So, this is the first place you should start.
Step 1: Click the Windows icon in the taskbar to open the Start menu and click the gear icon to launch the Settings app.
Step 2: On the System tab, scroll down to click Troubleshooting in the left pane.
Step 3: Go to other troubleshooters.
Step 4: Click the Run button next to the printer to begin troubleshooting.
From there, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process.
2. Check the print backup service.
if Windows Troubleshooter Failed To identify any problems, you can check the Print Spooler service on Windows to see if it is configured correctly. Here's how.
Step 1: Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type services.msc in the box next to Open and press Enter.
Step 2: In the Services window, scroll down to locate Print Spooler. Right-click it and select Properties.
Step 3: Set the startup type to Automatic from the drop-down list, if it is not already set.
Step 4: On the Recovery tab, use the drop-down lists next to First Failure, Second Failure, and Subsequent Failure to select Restart the service.
Finally, click “Apply” followed by “OK.”
Restart your computer and check if the print spooler stops again.
3. Remove old printers
Sometimes, the print spooler service may stop working if multiple printers are connected to your computer. You can try deleting some old printer connections to see if that helps.
Step 1: Click the Search icon in the taskbar to open Windows Search. Type Printers & Scanners and press Enter.
Step 2: Select the printer you want to remove.
Step 3: Click the “Remove” button in the upper right corner.
Repeat this process to remove unwanted printers and try using printing services again.
4. Delete old print files.
Print spooler cache data can also interfere with the service and cause it to crash frequently when it becomes corrupted. In this case, you can delete old print spooler files to fix the issue.
Step 1: Press Windows key + S to open Windows Search. Type services in the box and select the first result that appears.
Step 2: Right-click Print Spooler and select Stop.
Step 3: Press Windows key + E to launch File Explorer on your computer and navigate to the following folder:
C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
Step 4: Select all folders and click the trash icon at the top to delete them.
Restart your computer after deleting the files. The Print Spooler service should start automatically upon restart.
5. Update printer drivers
Issues with your current printer drivers can also cause the print spooler to stop suddenly. If The printer drivers on your computer are outdated. Or corrupted, updating it often should help.
To update your printer drivers, download the latest drivers from the manufacturer's website. Then, open the downloaded file to begin the installation.
6. Delete registry keys by typing SPOOLER
If none of the above solutions work, you can try deleting some registry keys related to temporary printing. However, it is crucial that you do so. Backup all log files Yours before making any changes.
After backing up the registry files, follow the steps below to delete the print spooler registry keys.
Step 1: Press Windows key + R to launch the Run dialog box. Type regedit in the box and press Enter.
Step 2: Paste the following path into the address bar at the top to go to the print wizards:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows x64\Print Processors
If you are using a 32-bit version of Windows, use the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows NT x86\Print Processors
Step 3: Delete all keys within the print processors except winprint. To delete a key, right-click it and select Delete. Click Yes at the prompt.
Restart your computer and the print spooler will work normally.
No more downtime
In most cases, restarting the print spooler service or running the troubleshooter should resolve the issue. If not, you may need to take additional steps, such as deleting old print spooler files or Delete some registry keysRest assured, one of the tips above should help you fix the Print Spooler Service keeps stopping error on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
