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Fix Print Spooler keeps stopping Not Running on Windows 10

The Print Spooler service on Windows 10 acts as a crucial intermediary between your computer and your printer. When you send documents for printing, the print spooler temporarily stores print jobs on the computer’s hard disk or in memory until the printer is ready to print them. This service is mainly responsible for managing print jobs and ensuring they are processed and sent to the printer correctly. However, sometimes you may encounter issues where the Print Spooler keeps stopping automatically and unable to complete print documents. Unresponsive services, corrupted spooler files, and malfunctioning printer drivers are just a few of the reasons why print spooler may keep stopping on Windows 10. This article explores a few effective solutions to fix the Printer Spooler that keeps stopping and cannot print from Applications.

Why Print Spooler Keeps Stopping

The Print Spooler service can stop for various reasons, ranging from software conflicts to corrupted system files. Some common causes include:

  1. Corrupted Print Jobs: If a print job becomes corrupted or contains invalid data, it can cause the Print Spooler service to crash.
  2. Outdated Printer Drivers: Incompatible or outdated printer drivers can lead to conflicts with the Print Spooler service, causing it to stop unexpectedly.
  3. System File Corruption: Corrupted system files or registry entries related to the Print Spooler service can prevent it from functioning properly.
  4. Software Conflicts: Third-party software, especially security applications or printer management utilities, may interfere with the operation of the Print Spooler service.
  5. Printer Connectivity Issues: Poor connectivity between the computer and the printer, such as loose cables, network disruptions, or printer hardware malfunctions, can also contribute to print spooler service interruptions.

Restart Print Spooler Service

Restarting the Print Spooler service is often the quickest way to resolve issues related to its unexpected termination. This action refreshes the service and clears any temporary glitches that may be causing it to stop.

  • Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
  • Scroll down to find “Print Spooler” in the list of services.
  • Right-click on “Print Spooler” and select “Restart.”

Uninstall unnecessary printers

Only keep the required printer which is in use. If you have two or more printers installed that can sometimes cause issues with Print Spooler and printing. If Print Spooler keeps stopping on your Windows 10 PC, then uninstalling the unused printers might be able to fix this problem.

  • On the Start menu Search type device and printer and select it from search results.
  • This will open the Devices and printer window.
  • Here look at the unused printers simply Right-click on it and click Remove as shown below image.

Remove printer from device and printers

When the confirmation popup opens select Yes. Do the same for other unused printers, Also Remove the Installed driver from the Control panel -> uninstall a program below programs -> Select the installed printer driver and click uninstall. Now simply restart your PC.

Clear Print Queue

The Print Spooler service manages a queue of print jobs awaiting processing. If a print job is stuck or corrupted, it can cause the Print Spooler service to halt. Clearing the print queue removes any problematic print jobs and allows the service to resume normal operation.

  • Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
  • Type net stop spooler and press Enter.
  • Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS folder.
  • Delete all files in this folder.
  • Go back to Command Prompt and type net start spooler and press Enter.

Clear Printer Spooler Files

Update Printer Drivers

Outdated or incompatible printer drivers are a common cause of Print Spooler issues. Updating your printer drivers to the latest version can resolve compatibility issues and ensure smooth operation.

  • Press windows key + x and select Device Manager,
  • Expand print queues, right-click on problematic printer select update driver,
  • Select Search automatically for driver updates and follow on-screen instructions.

Update printer driver

Alternatively, you can Visit the manufacturer’s website for your printer and Look for the “Support” or “Downloads” section.

Enter your printer model and download the latest drivers for your operating system. Run the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the updated drivers.

Make sure Print Spooler service is set to Automatic

Also, this is the most important point that makes sure the print spooler service is set to start automatically on Windows startup. Also, The Print Spooler service depends on other system services, such as the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service, to function correctly. Checking the dependencies of the Print Spooler service ensures that all required components are running and properly configured.

You can check this on Windows services.

  • Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
  • Double-click on “Print Spooler” to open its properties.
  • Here in the Startup type section make sure that the Automatic option is selected.
  • Now Move to the Recovery tab, Locate the Subsequent failures setting, and set it to Restart the Service
  • Click Apply and OK to save changes.

restart subsequent failuresIn addition, Go to the “Dependencies” tab and note any services listed. Make sure each dependency is running by checking their status in the Services window.

Run Printer Troubleshooter

Windows 10 includes built-in troubleshooting tools that can automatically diagnose and fix common printer problems. Running the Printer Troubleshooter can identify issues with the Print Spooler service and suggest solutions to resolve them.

  • Open Settings by pressing Win + I.
  • Go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot, Click on “Additional troubleshooters”
  • Scroll down to “Printer” Click on “Run the troubleshooter” and follow the prompts to diagnose and fix printer problems.

Printer troubleshooter

Check for Windows Updates

Microsoft regularly releases updates for Windows 10 that include bug fixes and patches for known issues, including problems with the Print Spooler service. Keeping your system up-to-date can help prevent Print Spooler-related issues.

  • Open Settings by pressing Win + I.
  • Go to Update & Security > Windows Update.
  • Click on “Check for updates” and install any available updates for your system.

Windows 10 update download

Check for Software Conflicts

Third-party software, particularly security applications and printer management utilities, can interfere with the operation of the Print Spooler service. Temporarily disabling or uninstalling conflicting software can help identify and resolve compatibility issues.

  • Temporarily disable security software and any recently installed applications.
  • If the issue resolves after disabling certain software, consider uninstalling or updating it to resolve conflicts.

System files essential for the proper functioning of the print spooler service may become corrupted due to various reasons, such as software glitches, malware infections, or sudden power outages. Corrupted system files can disrupt the operation of the print spooler and other system components. Running an SFC scan can help restore missing or damaged files and resolve Print Spooler issues.

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