How To Get Print Spooler Service Running

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I’ve recently had some trouble with my print spooler service, and I understand the frustration it can cause. In this article, I’ll be sharing my experience and giving you some guidance on how to get your print spooler service up and running again. So, let’s dive in and troubleshoot this issue together!

Introduction to Print Spooler Service

The print spooler service is an essential component of the Windows operating system that manages all print jobs sent to a printer or print server. It stores these jobs in a queue and sends them to the printer one by one, ensuring that the printing process is smooth and efficient.

When the print spooler service is running properly, you can easily send print jobs to your printer without any hassle. However, if the print spooler service is not running or encounters an error, you may experience issues such as print jobs getting stuck in the queue or the inability to print at all. But fret not! We’re here to help you troubleshoot and resolve this problem.

Troubleshooting Steps

Step 1: Check Print Spooler Service Status

The first step is to check whether the print spooler service is currently running on your computer. Follow these steps:

  1. Press Win + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type services.msc and press Enter to open the Services window.
  3. In the Services window, scroll down and locate the “Print Spooler” service.
  4. Check the status column next to the Print Spooler service. If it says “Running,” then the service is already running. If it says “Stopped,” then it needs to be started.

Step 2: Start the Print Spooler Service

If the Print Spooler service is not running, follow these steps to start it:

  1. Right-click on the “Print Spooler” service and select “Start“.
  2. If the service starts successfully, you should see the status change to “Running.”

Step 3: Set Print Spooler Service to Automatic

To ensure that the Print Spooler service starts automatically every time your computer boots up, follow these steps:

  1. Right-click on the “Print Spooler” service and select “Properties“.
  2. In the Properties window, under the “General” tab, find the “Startup type” drop-down menu.
  3. Select “Automatic” from the drop-down menu and click “Apply” to save the changes.

Step 4: Restart the Print Spooler Service

Sometimes, restarting the Print Spooler service can resolve any temporary issues. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Go back to the Services window.
  2. Right-click on the “Print Spooler” service and select “Restart“.

Step 5: Clear Print Spooler Files

If the print spooler service is still not functioning correctly, clearing the print spooler files may help. Follow these steps:

  1. Open Windows File Explorer.
  2. Navigate to the following directory: C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS. (If your Windows installation is on a different drive, replace “C:” with the appropriate drive letter.)
  3. Delete all the files in the “PRINTERS” folder.
  4. Restart the Print Spooler service as mentioned in Step 4.

Conclusion

Having a functional print spooler service is crucial for seamless printing. By following the troubleshooting steps mentioned above, you should be able to get your print spooler service up and running again. Remember to check the status of the service, start it if needed, set it to automatic startup, and clear any spooler files if necessary. With these steps, you’ll be printing your documents in no time!