If your printer won’t print because the spooler keeps stopping or showing errors, the quickest explanation is that the Print spooler doesn’t work in Windows 10 — a Windows service that manages print jobs is failing. This can be caused by stopped services, corrupt spool files, bad drivers, Windows updates, or conflicts with security software. In this article you’ll learn the 10 most common causes and step-by-step fixes so you can get printing again.
Key Takeaway
Most spooler problems are fixed by restarting the Print Spooler service, clearing stuck jobs in the spool folder, and reinstalling problematic printer drivers; if that fails, use system repair tools (SFC/DISM) or restore pre-update Windows settings.
Quick Fix Guide
| Reason for the Problem | Quick Solution |
|---|---|
| 1. Print Spooler service stopped or crashed | Restart the Print Spooler service and set it to Automatic. |
| 2. Stuck print jobs in the queue | Stop spooler, delete files in C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS, and restart spooler. |
| 3. Corrupt spooler files or folder permissions | Reset spool folder permissions and delete temporary print files. |
| 4. Outdated or corrupt printer drivers | Uninstall the printer drivers and drivers package, then reinstall the latest drivers. |
| 5. Conflicting third-party software (antivirus/firewall) | Temporarily disable security software or add spooler exceptions. |
| 6. Recent Windows update broke spooler | Uninstall the problematic update or use System Restore. |
| 7. Network printer connectivity problems | Check network path, port settings, and credential permissions. |
| 8. Dependency services not running (RPC, DCOM) | Ensure Remote Procedure Call (RPC) and related services are running. |
| 9. Registry or service configuration corruption | Reset spooler startup type and repair registry entries for printing. |
| 10. Multiple conflicting printer drivers installed | Remove duplicate or old driver packages via Print Management or pnputil. |
Detailed Fixes for “Print spooler doesn’t work in Windows 10”
1. Print Spooler service stopped or crashed
Why this causes the problem:
- The Print Spooler service (spooler) is required for Windows to accept, queue, and send print jobs to printers. If it stops, printing stops.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Services: press Windows + R, type services.msc, press Enter.
- Find Print Spooler, right-click and choose Restart. If it’s stopped choose Start.
- Right-click Print Spooler → Properties → set Startup type to Automatic and click Apply.
- Optional check via command line (Admin): run sc query spooler and net start spooler.
Notes:
- If the service immediately stops after starting, continue to the following sections (stuck jobs, drivers, or corruption).
2. Stuck print jobs in the queue
Why this causes the problem:
- A corrupted or stuck job can cause the spooler to hang and crash repeatedly.
Step-by-step solution:
- Stop the service: open an elevated Command Prompt and run net stop spooler.
- Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS (you may need admin permission).
- Delete all files in that folder (these are temporary spool files: .spl, .shd).
- Start the service: net start spooler.
Tips:
- Alternatively, use Services to stop/start spooler and remove files manually.
- Ensure no printers are actively sending jobs while you do this.
3. Corrupt spooler files or folder permissions
Why this causes the problem:
- Corruption or wrong NTFS permissions on the spool folder can prevent writing or reading print jobs.
Step-by-step solution:
- Stop the spooler: net stop spooler in an elevated prompt.
- Reset permissions: right-click C:\Windows\System32\spool → Properties → Security → Advanced. Make sure SYSTEM and Administrators have full control.
- If necessary, recreate the PRINTERS folder: rename it and create a new blank PRINTERS folder with proper permissions.
- Start the spooler: net start spooler.
Notes:
- Backup important files before permission changes. Use built-in Administrator account if permission errors persist.
4. Outdated or corrupt printer drivers
Why this causes the problem:
- Faulty or incompatible drivers can cause the spooler to crash when the driver is loaded.
Step-by-step solution:
- Remove printer device: Settings → Devices → Printers & scanners → select printer → Remove device.
- Open Print Management (press Windows + R, enter printmanagement.msc) or use pnputil if Print Management is unavailable (Home edition).
- In Print Management: All Drivers → right-click problematic driver → Remove Driver Package.
- Alternatively list drivers: run pnputil -e; delete with pnputil -d oem##.inf (replace with actual OEM number).
- Download latest driver from the manufacturer and install (run installer as Administrator).
Tips:
- Use the manufacturer’s full driver package rather than Microsoft’s generic drivers where possible.
5. Conflicting third-party software (antivirus/firewall)
Why this causes the problem:
- Security software can block spooler operations, block RPC traffic, or interfere with driver installation.
Step-by-step solution:
- Temporarily disable antivirus/firewall (right-click tray icon or open app console).
- Restart the Print Spooler (net stop spooler / net start spooler).
- Test printing. If it works, add exceptions for spoolsv.exe and C:\Windows\System32\spool in your security app.
- Re-enable protection after testing.
Note:
- If using enterprise security policies, check with your IT admin before disabling protections.
6. Recent Windows update broke spooler
Why this causes the problem:
- Some cumulative updates have shipped drivers or system changes that conflict with printing.
Step-by-step solution:
- Check View update history: Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update → View update history.
- Uninstall a recent update: Settings → Update & Security → Recovery → Go back to the previous version (if available) or View installed updates → select update → Uninstall.
- If uninstall not possible, use System Restore to a point before the update: Control Panel → Recovery → Open System Restore.
- After rollback, reinstall or update printer drivers from manufacturer.
Notes:
- Block problematic updates temporarily using Microsoft’s Update Show/Hide tool.
7. Network printer connectivity problems
Why this causes the problem:
- Incorrect port, IP address, or credentials can cause the spooler to retry or fail when sending jobs.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Devices and Printers → right-click the network printer → Printer properties → Ports tab; verify the selected port matches printer IP or hostname.
- Ping the printer IP: open Command Prompt → ping 192.168.x.x.
- If using shared printer, ensure network account has permission to print on host PC.
- For TCP/IP printers, consider removing and re-adding the printer as a Standard TCP/IP Port.
Tip:
- Use the printer’s web admin page to confirm IP and network settings.
8. Dependency services not running (RPC, DCOM)
Why this causes the problem:
- Print Spooler depends on services like Remote Procedure Call (RPC). If dependency services are stopped, spooler won’t start.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Services (services.msc) and ensure Remote Procedure Call (RPC) and DCOM Server Process Launcher are Running and Automatic.
- If not, right-click each and choose Start and set Startup type to Automatic.
- Reboot and test the spooler.
Note:
- Do not disable RPC — it’s critical for Windows operation.
9. Registry or service configuration corruption
Why this causes the problem:
- Incorrect registry values for the spooler or print providers can prevent service start.
Step-by-step solution:
- Backup registry: open regedit, select File → Export, save backup.
- Check keys: navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Spooler and confirm Start is set to 2 (Automatic).
- Also verify HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print entries exist; if suspect, compare with a healthy machine or restore registry from backup.
- If necessary, re-create default keys by using sfc /scannow (see below).
Warning:
- Editing registry is advanced; back up first or seek help.
10. Multiple conflicting printer drivers installed
Why this causes the problem:
- Multiple driver versions or leftover driver packages can conflict and crash spooler when the wrong driver is loaded.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Print Management → All Drivers → remove duplicates and older drivers.
- If Print Management is not available, use pnputil -e to list and pnputil -d oem##.inf to delete specific driver packages.
- Reboot and install only the correct, latest driver package from the manufacturer.
Tip:
- Reboot after fully removing drivers to ensure residual files are cleared.
Preventive Maintenance and When to Seek Help
- Keep Windows and printer drivers up-to-date from the manufacturer’s site, not only via Windows Update.
- Set the Print Spooler recovery options: Services → Print Spooler → Properties → Recovery tab → set First failure and Second failure to Restart the Service.
- Regularly clean the spool folder if you use many large or complex print jobs.
- If print spooler issues persist after all steps, gather event logs (Event Viewer → Windows Logs → System; filter for PrintService or Spooler) and contact vendor or IT support. Provide error codes and event IDs for faster resolution.
FAQ
What is the safest way to clear the print queue?
Stop the spooler (net stop spooler), delete files in C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS, then restart the spooler (net start spooler). This removes stuck jobs without uninstalling drivers.
Can I reset the Print Spooler automatically?
Yes — run an elevated PowerShell script that stops the spooler, clears PRINTERS, and restarts the spooler. For simple cases, use the built-in Printer troubleshooter: Settings → Update & Security → Troubleshoot → Printer.
How do I know if a driver is causing spooler crashes?
Check Event Viewer for errors from PrintService or Spooler around crash time; if a specific driver name or printer model appears, remove and reinstall that driver. Also test by removing all printers and adding only one driver at a time.
Will running SFC and DISM help?
Yes. Run an elevated Command Prompt: sfc /scannow followed by DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth to repair corrupted system files that may affect printing services.
Could Group Policy or domain settings disable the spooler?
Yes. In domain environments, administrators can change Group Policy or security settings that affect the spooler. If you suspect this, contact your IT administrator.
Conclusion
Most issues where the Print spooler doesn’t work in Windows 10 are resolved by restarting the service, clearing stuck jobs, and removing problematic drivers; use SFC/DISM and system restore for deeper corruption or update-related problems. If problems persist, collect event logs and seek vendor or IT assistance while following the preventive steps above.
