Print Spooler Keeps Stopping? Fix It Fast

If your print spooler keeps stopping, the fix is usually to restart the Print Spooler service and clear a stuck print queue, but if it stops again immediately, a corrupted spooler file or a faulty printer driver is the likely cause. This article walks you through the exact steps to get your printer working again, explains why the spooler fails, and shows you how to prevent it from happening again.

What Is the Print Spooler and Why Does It Matter?

The print spooler (Print Spooler service, Spooler in Windows Services) is a background process that manages all print jobs on your computer. When you click “Print,” your document isn’t sent directly to the printer—it’s first written to a temporary file on your hard drive (the spool file) and then fed to the printer in the background. This lets you keep working while the printer does its job, and it also allows multiple documents to queue up.

If the spooler stops, nothing you send to the printer will print, and you’ll often see an error like “Print Spooler service is not running” or “The local print spooler service is not running. Please restart the spooler or restart the machine.”

Why Does the Print Spooler Keep Stopping?

There are several common reasons why the spooler crashes or stops on its own:

• Corrupted spool files – The temporary files that hold your print jobs can become damaged, often after a power outage, a forced shutdown, or a printer jam that leaves a job stuck.
• Faulty or outdated printer drivers – A driver that isn’t compatible with your Windows version or that has become corrupted can crash the spooler every time it tries to process a job.
• Conflicting third-party software – Some utilities, especially “printer maintenance” or “driver updater” tools, can interfere with the spooler.
• Malware or virus infection – Certain malware targets the spooler service because it runs with system privileges. This is rare but possible.
• Insufficient disk space – The spooler needs free space on your system drive to create spool files. If the drive is full, the spooler can fail.
• Windows updates – Occasionally, a Windows update can introduce a bug that affects the spooler, or an update can change permissions that break the service.

How to Fix a Stopping Print Spooler (Step-by-Step)

Here’s the standard troubleshooting sequence, from simplest to most thorough. You’ll need administrator rights on your Windows PC.

1. Restart the Print Spooler Service

1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Scroll down to Print Spooler in the list.
3. Right-click it and select Restart. If the service is stopped, choose Start instead.
4. Try printing again.

If the spooler stops again immediately, move on to the next step.

2. Clear the Print Queue

A stuck or corrupted print job is a frequent culprit. To clear it:

1. Open Services again (Win + R, services.msc).
2. Right-click Print Spooler and select Stop.
3. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS.
4. Delete all files in that folder. If you get a permission error, you may need to take ownership or use an elevated command prompt.
5. Go back to Services, right-click Print Spooler, and select Start.

This clears the queue completely. Any documents that were waiting will need to be sent again.

3. Update or Reinstall the Printer Driver

If the spooler still stops, the driver is the next suspect. Check the printer manufacturer’s website for the latest driver for your exact model and Windows version. Uninstall the current driver via Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, then install the new one. A clean install is best: after uninstalling, restart your PC before installing the new driver.

4. Run the Windows Printer Troubleshooter

Windows includes a built-in troubleshooter that can automatically detect and fix some spooler issues. Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters (or Update & Security > Troubleshoot on older versions) and run Printer. It won’t fix everything, but it’s worth trying.

5. Check for Malware

Because the spooler runs with high privileges, it’s a target for malware. If you suspect infection, run a full system scan with Windows Defender or a reputable third-party antivirus. If malware is found and removed, restart the spooler again.

6. Disable the “Print Spooler” Service (Temporary Workaround)

If you don’t need printing right now and the spooler keeps crashing, you can disable the service entirely to stop the error messages. In services.msc, double-click Print Spooler, set Startup type to Disabled, and click Stop. You won’t be able to print until you re-enable it, but the constant stopping will stop.

How to Prevent the Spooler from Stopping Again

• Keep your printer driver updated – Check the manufacturer’s site every few months, or enable automatic driver updates in Windows.
• Don’t force shutdowns while printing – Let the spooler finish or cancel jobs properly before turning off your PC.
• Maintain free disk space – Keep at least 10% of your system drive free to avoid spool file issues.
• Remove old or unused printers – Each installed printer adds a driver that can conflict. Remove printers you no longer use.
• Be cautious with third-party “driver updater” tools – They often install incorrect or beta drivers that can break the spooler.

What to Do If the Spooler Still Won’t Start

If you’ve tried all the above and the spooler still stops or won’t start, you have a few more options:

• Perform a System Restore – If the problem started recently, restore your PC to a point before the issue began. Search for “Create a restore point” in the Start menu, then click System Restore.
• Use the DISM and SFC tools – Open Command Prompt as administrator and run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, then sfc /scannow. These repair corrupted Windows system files that might be affecting the spooler.
• Check the Windows Event Viewer – Look under Windows Logs > System for errors related to the Spooler. The error details can point to the exact file or driver causing the crash.
• Consider a Windows repair install – As a last resort, you can use the “Reset this PC” feature that keeps your personal files but reinstalls Windows. This is a big step, so back up everything first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my print spooler keep stopping every few minutes?

If the spooler stops repeatedly on its own, it’s almost always a corrupted spool file or a driver that crashes the service. Clearing the queue (as described above) fixes the file issue; updating the driver fixes the driver issue. If neither works, run a malware scan.

Can I print without the print spooler?

No, the spooler is required for normal printing in Windows. Some printers have a “direct print” mode that bypasses the spooler, but it’s not a standard Windows feature and usually requires special software from the printer manufacturer.

Will restarting the spooler delete my print queue?

Yes, restarting the service will clear any pending print jobs. You’ll need to resend documents that were waiting. That’s why it’s a good idea to stop the spooler, clear the queue manually, and then restart it—this removes corrupted jobs that might crash it again.

How do I know which driver is causing the spooler to crash?

Open the Event Viewer (Win + R, eventvwr.msc) and look for errors from the “PrintService” source. The error message often includes the name of the driver or the spool file that caused the crash. If you see a specific driver name, uninstall and reinstall that printer.

Is it safe to disable the print spooler service?

It’s safe if you don’t need to print. Disabling the service will stop all printing and will also stop the error messages. You can re-enable it later by setting the startup type back to “Automatic” and starting the service.

Does the print spooler issue affect all printers equally?

No, some printer brands and models have more reliable drivers than others. However, the spooler itself is a Windows component, so any printer can be affected. The fix is the same regardless of brand.

Related

• Practical Malware Analysis: Still Worth Reading?
• Disney Shows and Movies to Instantly Get You Hooked
• Keyboards for Programming: A Practical Guide