How to fix print spooler errors in Windows

If you've been struggling with your printer for a while because The print queue gets stuck, documents don't print, or the spooler stops on its own.You're not alone. It's a very common problem in Windows (especially after certain updates) and can affect both local and external printers. network printers.

In this article you will find a very complete guide to Diagnosing and fixing Print Spooler faultsFrom the simplest solutions (restarting the service) to more advanced ones like cleaning internal folders, modifying the Windows registry, or reviewing drivers and group policies, we'll start small and gradually increase the complexity so you can experiment and stop at the point where your problem is resolved.

What is the print spooler and why does it fail?

The Windows printing service, called Print Spooler or Print Queue, is responsible for receiving the jobs submitted by the applications, store them temporarily and deliver them to the printer in the correct order. Without this service running, you cannot install printers, connect to network printers, or print anything.

Normally the spooler It starts automatically with Windows and remains running. until you shut down or restart your computer. Internally, it uses the system's own binary files and, in many cases, additional components installed by printer manufacturers (drivers, port monitors, extensions, etc.). Any failure in this chain can cause the service to crash or freeze.

When this happens, quite clear symptoms appear: Documents that get stuck indefinitely on "Printing..." or "Deleting...", errors when adding a new printerThe printer appears offline even though it is turned on, or you see messages indicating that the print spooler service is not running.

The causes are varied: Unstable or corrupted drivers, queues with stuck files, system resource issues, disk errors, antivirus software blocking spooler files, or security policies which directly disable the service, something quite common in corporate environments.

Restart the Print Spooler service (basic and essential method)

The first thing you should always try when you have a printing error is restart print queueThis usually frees up stuck jobs and, in many cases, gets everything working without having to do anything else.

You can restart the service in several ways, depending on what you feel most comfortable with or the access you have on your computer.

1. Restart the spooler from the services console

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc and press Enter.

2. In the list of services, look for Print spooler o Print Spooler.

3. Right-click on it and choose Restart.

4. If the service is stopped, select Start instead.

In the service properties you can take the opportunity to check that the Startup type is set to AutomaticIf it is set to Manual or Disabled, the service may not start with Windows and leave you without printing without warning.

2. Restart the spooler from the command line (cmd)

1. Write cmd in Windows search.

2. Right click Symbol of the system and choose Run as administrator.

3. In the black window, run these commands, pressing Enter after each one:

net stop spooler
net start spooler

This completely stops the service and restarts it from scratch, which is usually enough to release temporary print queue locks.

3. Restart the spooler using PowerShell

1. Write powershell in Windows search.

2. Right click Windows PowerShell and select Run as administrator.

3. Run this cmdlet and press Enter:

Restart-Service -Name spooler

This method is especially useful if you are already used to working with PowerShell and administrative scripts in network environments.

Manually clear the print queue folder

When the Print Spooler service stops every time you try to print, a very common cause is that there is corrupted files in the folder where Windows temporarily stores the workThese files usually have names like FP00008.SHD, FP00009.SPL, etc.

Cleaning them is a relatively simple process, but it must be done properly: First the service is stopped, then the files are deleted, and finally the queue is restarted.If you don't respect that order, it's easy for something to get left hanging again.

The steps would be:

1. Open the Services console (Windows + R → services.mscor a command prompt window as administrator and stop the service Print spooler (Stop button or command) net stop spooler).

2. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS.

3. Inside that folder, delete all contentbut do not delete the PRINTERS folder itself.

4. Return to the services console (cmd) and restart the spooler with Start o net start spooler.

This manual deletion usually solves the problems at once. a document gets stuck indefinitely on "Deleting..." Or there are jobs that don't leave the queue even if you restart the computer.

Check the service configuration and its dependencies

If the spooler keeps stopping, it's worth checking how the service is configured, its startup type, and the that Windows applies when it detects repeated failures.

From the Services window (services.msc), double-click on Print spooler and check the following on the General tab:

• Start Type: Choose Automatic so that the service always starts with the system.
• Use the buttons Stop e Start to restart it and see if it stabilizes.

In the Recovery You can specify what Windows should do when the print queue fails:

• First error: Restart the service.
• Second mistake: Restart the service.
• Subsequent errors: Do not take any action (or restart, depending on your environment).
• Reset error count after: 1 day.
• Restart the service after: 1 minute.

This ensures that, in the event of specific failures, Windows will automatically retry starting the spooler. without you having to be on top of it every time.

In the Log In It's a good idea to uncheck the option "Allow the service to interact with the desktop"because sometimes this interaction causes conflicts with other processes and makes the service stop responding.

Finally, check the tab outbuildingsThere you'll see which other services the print queue depends on. Then, in the general list of services, locate each one and make sure that They are started and with Automatic startup typeIf any dependency is disabled or stopped, the Print Spooler may not function correctly.

Update, reinstall, or remove printer drivers

One of the most common reasons why the spooler falls off repeatedly is a faulty printer driver, incompatible or incorrectly installedThis is very noticeable when it only fails when printing with a specific model, or when entering the advanced properties window of that printer.

In network environments it is quite typical that a single driver only affects some devicesWhile some printers with the same printer work fine, others do. This usually indicates conflicts with older versions, remnants of previous installations, or system differences between computers.

To check the drivers:

1. Open the Device administrator (Windows + X → Device Manager, or Windows + R → devmgmt.msc).

2. Expand the section Print queues or the printer category.

3. Right-click on your printer and choose Update Driver.

4. You can let Windows search for drivers automatically or specify one that you have downloaded from the manufacturer's official website.

If the problem persists, it is advisable completely remove the printer and its driver and reinstall it from scratch:

1. Go to Control Panel → Hardware and Sound → Devices and Printers.

2. Right-click on the problematic printer and select Remove device.

3. In that same window, enter Print server properties (usually appears at the top).

4. In the tab ControladoresLocate the driver for that printer, select it, and press Remove.

5. Next, restart your computer, install the latest driver from the manufacturer's website, and add the printer again.

In more extreme cases, especially when the spooler crashes as soon as you try to open the printer panel, you can use the command-line tool printui / s / t2 to view and remove old drivers. Some system administrators use this technique by starting the spooler and then running that command with a specific timing. delete drivers that cause the unexpected closure of the service.

Using the Windows Print Troubleshooter

Windows includes a wizard that, while it doesn't work miracles, can save a lot of time in simple cases because Detects incorrect configurations, disabled services, and hung jobs automatically.

Access varies slightly depending on the version, but the idea is always the same: run the print troubleshooter with administrator privileges and follow the on-screen instructions.

On Windows 11 and Windows 10:

1. Write troubleshooting o problem solving in the search box.

2. Open Troubleshooting settings or the corresponding panel.

3. In the Hardware and Sound section, select Use a printer.

4. Click Advanced and brand Run as administrator.

5. Press Next and accepts the corrections that the system proposes.

On Windows 8.1 and Windows 8:

1. Hold down the Windows key and press Q.

2. Write troubleshooting o problem solving.

3. Open Problem Solver.

4. Within Hardware and Sound, choose Use a printer.

5. Tap Advanced → Run as administrator.

6. Follow the wizard to the end.

In Windows 7:

1. Click the button Home.

2. In the search box, type troubleshooting o problem solving.

3. Open the entry that appears in the Control Panel.

4. Choose Use a printer in the Hardware and Sound section.

5. Click on Advanced and select Run as administrator.

6. Click Next and complete the process.

This assistant is especially useful when the problem is related to network printers, permissions, default settings, or services that won't startand is usually the first step recommended by manufacturers.

Create a script to restart and clear the print queue in seconds

If you frequently encounter a blocked print queue, it can be very useful to have a A small .bat file that stops the spooler, deletes stuck jobs, and restarts it.This way you avoid restarting the entire computer every time.

The idea is simple: you use Notepad to create a script with the necessary commands, save it as a batch file, and run it. always with administrator privileges.

The general steps would be:

1. Open the Memo pad.

2. Type or paste the content that stops the service, cleans the C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS folder, and restarts it.

3. From the File menu, choose Save as….

4. In "Type", select All files (.*).

5. Give it a name that ends in .bat, for example CleanPrinter.bat.

6. Save it to your Desktop so you always have it at hand.

To use it correctly, simply double-clicking is not enough. You must:

1. make right click about the .bat file.

2. Choose Run as administrator.

3. Accept the user account control notice.

You will see a black window that, in a matter of seconds, Stop the print queue, delete temporary files from the PRINTERS folder, and restart the service.It's a small, very useful "homemade tool" for everyday use or for quick technical support.

Check group policies and security restrictions

In many companies, the IT department decides, for security reasons, Disable the Print Spooler service on some servers or computers (especially domain controllers). If you work on a corporate domain or network, you should make sure there isn't a Group Policy setting stopping the service.

Policies can be configured at the domain level, in a Organizational Unit (OU) that groups certain teamsor even locally. In these cases, even if you try to start the spooler manually, the policy may stop it again or prevent it from starting.

If you suspect something like this, it's best to speak with the system administrator to confirm that There is no GPO that disables the Print Spooler service on your team. Changing these policies without coordination can break other security measures established by the organization.

Check for conflicts with antivirus or other security programs.

It is not uncommon for some antivirus programs, especially in very aggressive configurations, block files or folders related to the print queueIf the security engine detects false positives in the files handled by the spooler, the service may stop working or wait indefinitely.

In these cases it is advisable to:

• Check if the antivirus has generated logs or alerts related to the path C:\Windows\System32\spool.
• Add an explicit exclusion for the print queue folder (PRINTERS) if the security product allows it.
• Update the signature database and antivirus version to avoid errors that have already been fixed.

If you temporarily disable the antivirus (for testing purposes only, and for a very short period) The printer is working normally again.It is quite likely that you have found the origin of the conflict.

Repair system files and check for disk errors

When the problem with the spooler is accompanied by Other strange Windows errors (applications that close on their own, services that don't start, blue screens)This could be a symptom of corrupted system files or disk errors.

To rule out these types of problems, it is recommended to use the tool SFC (System File Checker) and, if necessary, analyze the files with errors in detail.

1. Start Windows (preferably in safe mode to reduce interference from other programs).

2. Open a Command Prompt as administrator.

3. Run the command:

sfc / scannow

The system will analyze protected Windows files and attempt to automatically repair any corruption that it detects. When it finishes, it can display messages such as:

• “Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.” → Restart your computer and try printing again.
• “Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and was unable to repair some of them.” → In this case, you will need to review the report details.

To get that detail, run:

findstr /c:»» %windir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log > «%userprofile%\Desktop\sfcdetails.txt»

A text file will be created on the Desktop with information about the problematic files. With this, you can determine if the damage affects components related to the printing system and consider additional measures (such as using DISM or repairing the Windows installation).

Remove corrupted monitors, vendors, and registry entries

In particularly complicated scenarios, the only way to stabilize the print queue is manually clean certain keys in the Windows Registry associated with printers, port monitors, and print providers.

Before touching anything in the record, it is essential create a system backup or restore pointbecause an incorrect change can leave the system unstable or even prevent it from starting up.

The general steps would be:

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Print.
3. Right-click on the folder Print and select Export to save a backup copy of that branch.

Then you can check several critical areas:

• In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors\Local Port make sure there is a string value called driver with the data localspl.dllIf it's not there, create it and assign that value.
• In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Providers You can remove third-party print provider subfolders that are clearly linked to problematic drivers, leaving only the basic Microsoft ones if possible.
• In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows NT x86\Drivers and equivalent keys for x64, you can delete entries associated with physical printers that you no longer use (do not delete standard virtual printers such as Microsoft Print to PDF, etc.).
• Finally, in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Print \ Printers Delete the printer keys that you want to completely remove from the system.

Combined with cleaning the folders C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\W32X86 (or other variants depending on architecture), this process allows reset the printing subsystem almost 100%., forcing Windows to rebuild the configuration when you reinstall the printers.

Remove printers from user registry

Sometimes, even if you delete a printer from the device panel, some printers remain. remnants of its configuration associated with the current user in the registryThis can cause the printer to reappear with errors or the print queue to become blocked when attempting to access that old configuration.

To clear those user entries:

1. Open the Registry Editor (regedit) again.
2. Expand the key HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
3. Locate the folder Printers and within it, Connections.
4. Delete only the subfolders that correspond to the problematic printer or queue. without touching anything else.

This forces the user to reconnect to that printer (especially if it's a network printer), Windows recreates the entries from scratchwithout carrying over damaged parameters.

Clear the queue from the printer window

If you prefer not to delve into system commands or folders, there are more direct options for Cancel all documents from the print interface itself.

When you send something to print, a printer icon usually appears in the taskbar notification areaIf you double-click on it, the window with the list of pending tasks will open.

In that window:

1. Click on the menu Printer.

2. Select Cancel all documents.

3. Confirm the action.

This method isn't as thorough as deleting the PRINTERS folder, but in many cases it's enough to clear a temporary traffic jam in the queue when a document has remained in transition.

External tools and advanced support

If after trying all these methods the spooler is still giving you trouble, you can always resort to Specific utilities created to diagnose and repair print job manager problemsThere are tools designed to review services, controllers, and queues, and even to automate many of the steps described here.

In professional environments, when the failure affects many computers or critical servers, it is also common gather detailed diagnostic information (for example with support scripts or solutions like Microsoft TSS) and send it to technical support for in-depth analysis.

The important thing to understand is that by combining service review, queue cleanup, driver updates, troubleshooter use, antivirus checks, and, if necessary, registry key adjustments, Virtually any printing installation that has been rendered unusable by spooler errors can be recovered.With a little organization and by following the steps from least invasive to most advanced, it's rare that you'll have to reinstall the entire operating system just because of a printing problem.