Print Spooler Keeps Stopping? Fixes for Windows 10 and 11

If the print spooler keeps stopping in Windows 10 or Windows 11, start by restarting the service and clearing stuck print jobs; if it stops again, check the printer driver and Windows system files. These steps address the most common causes without requiring a Windows reinstall, and you can stop when printing works reliably.

What the Print Spooler Does

The Print Spooler is a Windows service that manages print jobs. It queues documents, passes them to the printer or its driver, and tracks their progress. If the service stops, queued jobs may remain stuck and applications may report that no printer is available—even if the printer is on and connected.

A spooler crash can result from a damaged job, a faulty or incompatible driver, a printer-related utility, or corrupted Windows files. A printer being offline or disconnected is a different problem: the spooler may be running normally while the printer cannot be reached. Check the service before assuming the printer itself has failed.

1. Restart the Spooler and Clear Stuck Jobs

First try a service restart. This can release a temporary hang, but a job that triggers a crash may cause the problem to return until the queue is cleared.

1. Save work in open applications. Press Windows key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Find Print Spooler. Right-click it and choose Restart. If Restart is unavailable, choose Start. If the service stops immediately, continue with the next steps.
3. To clear jobs that will not delete normally, open Services again, right-click Print Spooler, and choose Stop.
4. Open File Explorer and enter C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS in the address bar. Approve the administrator prompt if asked, then delete the files inside this folder—not the folder itself.
5. Return to Services, right-click Print Spooler, and choose Start. Try printing a small test document.

Stopping the service before deleting queue files matters: files can otherwise be in use. Clearing the folder removes pending print jobs for all printers on that Windows installation, so save or reprint anything important. It does not uninstall the printer.

2. Check Whether a Driver or Printer Is Triggering It

If the spooler runs until you send a job to one particular printer, suspect that printer’s driver or accompanying software. If it crashes even with an empty queue, continue to the Windows repair steps below.

• Disconnect the printer temporarily or turn it off, restart the spooler, and see whether the service stays running. This is a diagnostic check, not a permanent fix.
• Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners in Windows 11, or Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners in Windows 10. Select the affected printer and choose Remove.
• Restart Windows, then add the printer again through the same settings page. For a network printer, confirm that the PC and printer are on the intended network and that the printer is reachable.

If the issue began after a driver update, use Device Manager to inspect the printer device and its driver options, or reinstall a compatible driver obtained through Windows Update or the printer maker’s support channel. Avoid installing several different drivers for the same device at once; leftover packages can make diagnosis harder.

3. Update Windows and Run the Printer Troubleshooter

Install available Windows updates, then restart the computer. Updates can resolve compatibility problems, though they will not necessarily fix a damaged queue or a problematic third-party driver.

Open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters in Windows 11 and run the printer troubleshooter if it is listed. In Windows 10, open Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot and look for the printer troubleshooter. Menu availability can vary by Windows release; if it is not shown, use the manual checks in this guide.

4. Repair Windows System Files

If the spooler stops with different printers or before any job is sent, Windows components may be damaged. System File Checker and DISM are built-in repair tools. They do not remove personal documents, but commands should be entered carefully.

1. Search for Command Prompt, right-click it, and choose Run as administrator.
2. Run DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and wait for it to finish. It may take several minutes and can use Windows Update to obtain repair files.
3. Then run sfc /scannow. Let the scan reach completion, restart Windows, and test the spooler.

If either command reports that it could not complete repairs, note the message rather than repeatedly running unrelated fixes. Check Windows Update and available disk space, then seek Windows support if the service continues to fail.

5. Check Startup, Security Software, and Recent Changes

Use services.msc to open Print Spooler properties and confirm its startup type is Automatic. If it is disabled, set it to Automatic and start the service. Do not change other service dependencies or registry values based on generic online instructions; those changes can create new problems.

Think about what changed just before the failures began: a new printer, driver, print-management utility, Windows update, or security product. Temporarily disconnecting a printer or uninstalling a recently added printer utility can help isolate the cause. Do not turn off antivirus protection as a routine troubleshooting step. If security software appears to block printing, consult its support instructions or the administrator responsible for the device.

Common Problems and When to Get Help

If only one document repeatedly crashes the spooler, recreate or export that document to a different format and print a small test page. If every printer fails, focus on the service, drivers, and Windows files. If the queue clears but the printer remains offline, troubleshoot its connection separately; restarting the spooler cannot repair a disconnected cable, Wi-Fi issue, or printer fault.

On a work or school computer, settings may be controlled by an administrator. Contact them before removing shared printers or changing drivers. If the spooler still stops after the queue is cleared, drivers are reinstalled, and Windows files are checked, record when it fails and whether a particular printer or job triggers it. That information helps support staff narrow down the cause.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Print Spooler keep stopping?
A stuck or damaged print job, a faulty printer driver, printer software, or damaged Windows components can make the service crash. Whether it fails with an empty queue or only when a certain printer is used helps identify the likely cause.

Is it safe to delete files in the PRINTERS folder?
Yes, when the Print Spooler is stopped and you delete only the files inside C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS. This clears pending jobs, so documents in the queue will need to be sent again.

How do I keep the Print Spooler running?
Set its startup type to Automatic in Services, keep Windows and printer drivers current, and remove jobs that repeatedly cause a crash. If it stops again, look for a printer or driver that triggers the failure instead of repeatedly restarting the service.

Will restarting the Print Spooler delete my printer?
No. Restarting the service does not remove installed printers. Clearing the queue deletes pending jobs, while removing a printer in Settings is a separate action.

Why does my printer say offline when the spooler is running?
The spooler only manages print jobs on the PC. An offline message can instead mean the printer is off, disconnected, on a different network, or otherwise unreachable.

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