The Print Spooler is a system software component in Windows operating systems that manages the printing process. Essentially, it acts as a middleman between your computer applications and your printer. When you send a document to print, the Print Spooler takes over, creating a temporary file of the print job on your hard drive. This process is known as spooling, and it allows you to continue working on your computer without waiting for the printer to finish printing. The spooler then feeds this print job to the printer in the background.
Think of the Print Spooler as a print traffic controller. It ensures that print jobs are processed in the correct order and that the printer isn’t overwhelmed with data. This service is crucial for smooth and efficient printing in Windows environments. Sometimes, however, you might encounter printer issues, and understanding how to manage the Print Spooler can be a key step in troubleshooting.
Why Manage the Print Spooler?
Occasionally, the Print Spooler might encounter errors, leading to print job failures or printers not working correctly. Common issues that might require you to interact with the Print Spooler include:
- Print jobs stuck in the queue: If a print job gets corrupted or is too large, it can get stuck, preventing other documents from printing.
- Printer errors: General printer malfunctions can sometimes be resolved by restarting the Print Spooler service.
- Driver issues: Problems with printer drivers can also cause spooler errors.
In these situations, stopping and restarting the Print Spooler service can often clear the queue, resolve conflicts, and get your printer working again. Accessing the Print Spooler service is done through the Local Services console in Windows. Here’s how to access and manage it in different versions of Windows:
Accessing the Services Console
For both Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows 8, and Windows 7, the process to access the Local Services console is similar.
Windows 10 & Windows 11
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Right-click the Start button located at the bottom left of your screen.
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From the menu that appears, click on Run.
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In the Run dialog box, type services.msc and click OK.
Run Command Services MSC
This action will open the Services console, displaying a list of services running on your Windows system, including the Print Spooler.
Windows 8
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Move your mouse cursor to the top-right or bottom-right corner of the screen to open the Charms bar. Click on the Search icon.
Windows 8 Search Icon -
In the Search bar, type Local Services. Click on Settings below the search bar, and then select View local services.
Windows 8 Local Services Settings
This will also open the Services console, where you can find and manage the Print Spooler.
Managing the Print Spooler Service
Once you have the Services console open, you can manage the Print Spooler. Here’s how to stop, start, and restart the service, which are common troubleshooting steps.
How to Stop the Print Spooler Service
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In the Services console, scroll down the list of services and locate Print Spooler. Click on it to select.
Services Console Print Spooler Selected -
On the top-left side of the window, you will see options to manage the service. Click on Stop the service.
Stop the Print Spooler Service Option -
Windows will then attempt to stop the Print Spooler service. Wait for the process to complete.
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To confirm that the service has stopped, check the Status column for Print Spooler. It should be blank, indicating that it is not running.
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The Print Spooler service is now stopped. You can now perform actions like clearing the print queue manually.
How to Start the Print Spooler Service
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To automatically start the Print Spooler every time you turn on your computer, ensure the Startup Type for the service is set to Automatic. This is the default setting for the Print Spooler. You can check the Startup Type in the Services console.
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To manually start the service, select Print Spooler in the Services list.
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Click on Start the service located at the top-left of the window.
Start the Print Spooler Service Option -
Windows will attempt to start the service.
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Once started, the Status for Print Spooler will change to Running.
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The Print Spooler service is now started and ready to process print jobs.
How to Restart the Print Spooler Service
Restarting the Print Spooler is a quick way to resolve temporary glitches.
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In the Services console, select Print Spooler from the list.
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Click on Restart the service. This option might appear as “Restart” in some Windows versions.
Restart the Print Spooler Service Option -
Windows will first stop and then automatically restart the Print Spooler service. You might briefly see the status change to blank and then back to Running.
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Once the status is Running again, the Print Spooler service has been restarted.
Restarting the service can often resolve common printing problems without requiring a full computer reboot.
Conclusion
Understanding what a print spooler is and how to manage it is a valuable skill for any Windows user. By knowing how to stop, start, and restart this service, you can effectively troubleshoot many common printing issues and ensure a smoother printing experience. Regularly managing your print spooler, especially when encountering printer problems, can save time and frustration, keeping your printing system efficient and reliable.
