Print Spooler Error? Here's How to Fix Printer Spooler Not Working
Your printer won't print. Print jobs are stuck. The spooler service keeps crashing. Here's why—and exactly how to fix it.
1. The "Corrupted Print Job" Stuck in Queue
A corrupted print job gets stuck in the spooler queue. The spooler tries to process it, fails, and crashes—preventing all other print jobs from printing. This is the most common cause of spooler errors.
The Fix: Clear the spooler queue. Stop Print Spooler service (Windows key + R → services.msc → Print Spooler → Stop). Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS folder. Delete all files (.spl and .shd files). Restart Print Spooler service. This clears corrupted jobs and allows new print jobs to process. If you can't delete files, restart computer in Safe Mode and try again.
2. The "Corrupted Driver" Spooler Crash
Corrupted or incompatible printer drivers cause the spooler to crash when it tries to communicate with the printer. The spooler loads driver files, encounters an error, and stops working.
The Fix: Reinstall printer drivers completely. Uninstall printer from Device Manager (check "Delete driver software"). Clear spooler folder. Download fresh driver from manufacturer website. Install driver as administrator. Restart computer. This ensures no corrupted driver files remain that could crash the spooler. For persistent crashes, try installing a generic driver first, then upgrade to manufacturer driver.
3. The "Low Disk Space" Spooler Failure
The Print Spooler service needs disk space on the C: drive to create temporary files for print jobs. If disk space is critically low (under 1GB free), the spooler can't create spool files and crashes or fails to start.
The Fix: Free up disk space on C: drive. Delete temporary files (Windows key + R → %temp% → delete old files), empty Recycle Bin, run Disk Cleanup (search "Disk Cleanup" → select C: drive → clean system files), uninstall unused programs, move files to another drive. Aim for at least 5GB free space. After freeing space, restart Print Spooler service. The spooler needs space to create .spl (spool) and .shd (shadow) files for each print job.
4. The "Service Dependency" Issue
Print Spooler depends on other Windows services (like Remote Procedure Call). If a dependency service stops or fails, the spooler can't start or crashes immediately.
The Fix: Check and restart dependency services. Open Services (services.msc) → find "Remote Procedure Call (RPC)" → ensure it's Running and set to Automatic. Check "DCOM Server Process Launcher" → ensure Running. If dependencies are stopped, start them, then restart Print Spooler. Use Command Prompt (admin): net start RPCSS then net start Spooler. If dependencies keep stopping, run System File Checker: sfc /scannow.
5. The "Registry Corruption" Problem
Windows stores printer and spooler configuration in the registry. If registry entries become corrupted (often after failed driver installations or system errors), the spooler can't read its configuration and fails to start.
The Fix: Repair registry issues. Run System File Checker: Command Prompt (admin) → sfc /scannow. Run DISM: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth. Restart computer. If spooler still fails, backup registry (regedit → File → Export), then use Windows built-in repair tools. For severe corruption, you may need to reinstall Windows or restore from backup. Registry repair should be done carefully—consider professional help for registry issues.
6. The "Multiple Printer Conflict"
Having multiple printers with conflicting drivers or corrupted printer entries can cause the spooler to crash when it tries to load drivers or process jobs for different printers.
The Fix: Remove unused or problematic printers. Settings → Printers & scanners → remove printers you don't use. Use Device Manager → View → Show hidden devices → Printers → uninstall old/unused printer drivers. Clear spooler folder. Restart spooler service. This eliminates driver conflicts. When adding printers back, add one at a time and test spooler stability after each addition.
Step-by-Step Spooler Fix Guide
- Stop Print Spooler service: Windows key + R → services.msc → Print Spooler → right-click → Stop.
- Clear spooler folder: Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS, delete all .spl and .shd files.
- Check disk space: Ensure C: drive has at least 5GB free space (free up space if needed).
- Restart dependency services: Ensure RPC service is running (services.msc → Remote Procedure Call → Start if stopped).
- Restart Print Spooler: Services → Print Spooler → right-click → Start.
- Clear stuck print jobs: Settings → Printers → See what's printing → Printer → Cancel All Documents.
- Update/reinstall drivers: If spooler keeps crashing, update printer drivers from manufacturer website.
- Run System File Checker: Command Prompt (admin) → sfc /scannow → wait for completion.
- Test print: Send a test print to verify spooler is working correctly.
- Check Event Viewer: If issues persist, check Event Viewer for specific spooler error codes.
Quick Diagnostic Guide
| Issue | Diagnosis | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Spooler won't start | Dependency service stopped or registry issue | Start RPC service, run sfc /scannow |
| Spooler starts then stops | Corrupted driver or stuck print job | Clear spooler folder, reinstall drivers |
| Print jobs stuck in queue | Corrupted print job or spooler error | Restart spooler, clear queue, delete spool files |
| Spooler error after Windows update | Driver incompatibility or system file issue | Update drivers, run DISM and sfc |
Need Professional Help?
If the print spooler continues to crash or won't start despite trying these solutions, there may be deeper system issues, registry corruption, or driver conflicts. Our technicians can help diagnose and fix persistent spooler problems.
Contact SupportFrequently Asked Questions
The Print Spooler service is a Windows system service that manages print jobs. It receives print requests from applications, stores them in a queue, sends them to printers, and manages printer communication. When the spooler stops or crashes, printing fails, printers show offline, or print jobs get stuck. The spooler runs as a background service and must be running for printing to work.
Fix print spooler error: Press Windows key + R → type services.msc → Enter. Find "Print Spooler" → right-click → Restart. If restart fails, right-click → Stop → wait 10 seconds → Start. Clear spooler folder: Stop service, navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS, delete all files, restart service. Check Event Viewer (Windows key + X → Event Viewer → Windows Logs → System) for specific spooler errors. Update printer drivers if spooler keeps crashing.
Print spooler keeps stopping due to corrupted print jobs stuck in queue, incompatible or corrupted printer drivers, low disk space on C: drive (spooler needs space for temporary files), Windows update issues, malware or system file corruption, or registry errors. Fix by clearing spooler folder, updating/reinstalling drivers, freeing disk space, running System File Checker (sfc /scannow), and checking Event Viewer for specific error codes.
Restart Print Spooler: Method 1 - Services: Windows key + R → services.msc → Print Spooler → right-click → Restart. Method 2 - Command Prompt (admin): net stop spooler → net start spooler. Method 3 - PowerShell (admin): Restart-Service Spooler. Method 4 - Task Manager: Ctrl + Shift + Esc → Services tab → find Spooler → right-click → Restart. If service won't start, check Event Viewer for errors and ensure no corrupted files in spooler folder.
Yes, you can delete files in C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS folder, but you must stop the Print Spooler service first. Stop the service (services.msc → Print Spooler → Stop), then navigate to the folder and delete all .spl and .shd files (these are spooled print jobs). Restart the service after deleting. Warning: Deleting files will cancel any pending print jobs. Only delete files if you're experiencing spooler errors or stuck print jobs.
Print spooler crashes due to corrupted printer drivers (most common), stuck or corrupted print jobs in queue, low disk space on system drive, corrupted system files, registry errors related to printers, incompatible drivers after Windows updates, or malware. Fix by clearing spooler folder, updating/reinstalling drivers, freeing disk space, running sfc /scannow and DISM commands to repair system files, and checking for malware. Check Event Viewer for specific error codes that indicate the cause.
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