How to Fix Printer Spooler Errors on Windows

What Causes This?

Printer spooler errors usually happen when the Print Spooler service gets stuck, crashes, or fills up with corrupted print jobs. This can happen after a failed print, a buggy printer driver, a disconnected printer, or leftover temporary spool files that Windows can’t clear on its own. In some cases, Windows updates or old printer software can also interfere with the spooler service.

Common Symptoms

• Print jobs stay stuck on “Printing” or “Deleting”
• You see errors like “Print Spooler service is not running”
• The printer appears offline even when it is connected
• Apps freeze or crash when trying to print
• Nothing prints until you restart the PC or printer

How to Fix It Manually

1. Restart the Print Spooler service

   1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
   2. In the Services window, scroll down to Print Spooler.
   3. Right-click it and choose Restart.
   4. If it is not running, click Start instead.
   5. Try printing again.

2. Clear stuck print jobs from the spool folder

   1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
   2. Right-click Print Spooler and choose Stop.
   3. Open File Explorer and go to: C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
   4. If prompted for permission, click Continue.
   5. Delete all files inside the PRINTERS folder.
   6. Go back to Services, right-click Print Spooler, and choose Start.

3. Remove and re-add the printer

   1. Open Settings with Windows + I.
   2. Go to Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
   3. Select the problem printer and click Remove.
   4. Restart your PC.
   5. Return to Printers & scanners and click Add device to install it again.

4. Update or reinstall the printer driver

   1. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
   2. Expand Print queues or Printers.
   3. Right-click your printer and choose Update driver.
   4. Select Search automatically for drivers.
   5. If that does not help, right-click the printer again and choose Uninstall device, then restart Windows and reinstall the printer.

5. Run the Windows printer troubleshooter

   1. Open Settings with Windows + I.
   2. Go to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
   3. Find Printer and click Run.
   4. Follow the prompts and apply any fixes Windows suggests.

6. Check for printer software conflicts

   1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
   2. Look for old printer software for printers you no longer use.
   3. Uninstall anything outdated or related to printers you removed.
   4. Restart your PC and test printing again.

If the spooler keeps failing after these steps, the issue is usually leftover spool files, broken printer entries, or driver clutter that Windows is not cleaning up properly.

Fix It Automatically with Kudu

Kudu can automatically detect print spooler problems, clear temporary spooler clutter, and fix common Windows service and printer-related issues without digging through system folders yourself. It’s a faster option if the spooler keeps crashing or print jobs keep getting stuck even after restarting the service.

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