How to Restart the Print Spooler in Windows 10

Stop and restart the spooler to resume your print jobs again.

By
Saikat Basu
Saikat Basu
Saikat Basu
Writer
  • University of Pune (India)
Saikat has been a technology writer for 12+ years. His writing has appeared at MakeUseOf, OnlineTechTips, GoSkills, and many others.
lifewire's editorial guidelines
Updated on August 21, 2021
Reviewed by
Jon Fisher
Jon Fisher headshot
Reviewed by Jon Fisher
  • Wichita Technical Institute
Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek.
lifewire's editorial guidelines

What to Know

  • Open the Services app and select Print Spooler. Right-click and select Stop, then right-click and select Start to restart the service. 
  • Or, open Task Manager, go to the Services tab and select Spooler. Right-click and choose Start, Stop or Restart.
  • To check the print queue, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners. Select the printer from the list and click Open queue. 

This article shows you how to restart the print spooler in Windows 10 with a few easy steps.

How Do I Restart the Print Spooler in Windows 10?

A simple reboot of both your PC and printer can solve many printer problems. You will need to dive into Local Services and check the Print Spooler service if the problem persists. Start the Print Spooler if it’s not running or reset it by stopping and starting it. Log in as an Administrator before you begin troubleshooting. 

  1. Open the Start Menu. 

  2. Type Services in the search field and select the Services app in the result. 

    Alternatively, select Windows + R to open the Run box. Type services.msc and press Enter. 

    Windows 10 Search for Services app with the Search Field and Services app highlighted

  3. Go down the list of services arranged alphabetically and select Print Spooler. 

  4. Right-click on the Print Spooler service and select Stop from the menu.

    Print Spooler Service in Windows 10 with Print Spooler and Stop highlighted

  5. Wait for a few seconds for the Print Spooler to terminate. Windows displays a Service Control window for a few seconds to show the stoppage.

    Print Spooler Service in Windows 10 with the Service Control stoppage message highlighted

  6. Right-click on the Print Spooler and select Start from the menu to restart the service again. 

Note:

You can also double-click on the Print Spooler service and use the General Tab on the Properties window to stop and start the Print Spooler. 

How Do I Restart the Print Spooler From the Task Manager?

The spooler program (spoolsv.exe) isn’t resource-hungry. But an error in the Windows printing system can cause the Print Spooler to consume memory. For such rare cases, use the Task Manager to stop and restart the spooler and see if that resolves the problem. 

  1. Select Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Windows Task Manager. 

  2. Select the Services tab and scroll down to Spooler on the list.

  3. Check the Status. If the status is Running, right-click on it again and select Restart. Use the options on the right-click menu to Start or Stop the service when required. 

    Windows Task Manager with Spooler service highlighted the Start, Stop, and Restart options

  4. Now re-open the document you want to print and send it again to the printer. 

Tip:

Check the print queue at Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners > Select printer from the list > Open queue. 

More About the Print Spooler in Windows 10

The Print Spooler is the culprit behind many common printing errors on Windows. A “spooler” is a software program that organizes data in the correct order and sends it to any peripheral device with low memory, such as a printer. Thanks to this buffer, the printer doesn’t have to pause in between successive print jobs. The Print Spooler is a local service on Windows that manages the print queue seamlessly.  

When it fails, print jobs can get stuck in the queue; the print data doesn’t get to the printer, or the spooler crashes. You can reset your spooler to solve these problems, which cancels the print job and allows you to begin again.

FAQ
  • How do I disable the Print Spooler service?

    In WIndows, open the Services app and select Print Spooler. In the General tab, select Stop under Service status. You will be unable to print remotely and locally, but you will be protected from Print Spooler vulnerabilities like PrintNightmare. Select Start to turn Print Spooler back on.

  • How do I protect my computer from Windows Print Spooler exploits?

    Install Windows 10 updates as soon as they become available, and only allow your system to install printers from servers you personally authorize. Microsoft recommends disabling the Print Spooler service when you don't need it.

  • How do I cancel print jobs on Windows 10?

    Go to Settings > Devices > Printer & scanners > select your printer > Open queue. Next, select the document, then select Document > Cancel. To cancel all print jobs, select Printer > Cancel All Documents.

  • How do I change my default printer in Windows 10?

    Go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners > choose your printer, then select Manage > Set as default. Alternatively, go to Control Panel > View Devices and Printers > right-click your printer > Set as default printer.

Was this page helpful?