Printing is an essential function for most computer users. Whether you need to print documents, reports, or photos, you rely on your printer to produce high-quality results. However, to get those results, you need a reliable service that manages the printing process on your Windows computer. That's where the Print Spooler service comes in.
In this article, we will discuss what the Print Spooler service is, how to enable or disable it, and how to troubleshoot potential issues.
Table of Contents
- What is Print Spooler Service?
- How to Enable the Print Spooler Service on Windows 11/10
- How to Disable the Print Spooler Service on Windows 11/10
- How to Reset and Clear Print Spooler on Windows 11/10
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is Print Spooler Service?
Print Spooler is a Windows service that manages the printing process on Windows computers. It stores print jobs in memory and sends them to the printer when it's available. This service is essential for managing print jobs, so they don't get lost or damaged during the printing process. When a print job is sent to the printer, the Print Spooler service receives the request and stores it in a queue. It then sends the print job to the printer when it's ready to print.
This service is essential for managing print jobs and processing them correctly. However, if you don't use a printer, it may be hogging your resources and slowing down your computer. In this case, you may want to disable the Print Spooler service.
How to Enable the Print Spooler Service on Windows 11/10
If you're having trouble with printing, it's possible that the Print Spooler service is turned off or experiencing errors. To enable it, follow the steps below:
1. Enable Print Spooler Service via Services
The Services app is a Windows feature that allows you to manage system services. It's the easiest way to enable or disable the Print Spooler service.
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Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard to bring up the Run applet. Type in “services.msc” and hit Enter to open the Services window.
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Scroll down until you see the Print Spooler service, then right-click on it and choose “Properties” from the context menu.
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Make sure that the Startup type is set to “Automatic.” Click the “Start” button to enable the service if it’s not running.
- Click the “Apply” button and then close the window.
After making this change, the Print Spooler service will start automatically whenever you boot your computer.
2. Enable Print Spooler Service via Command Prompt
If you prefer a more hands-on approach, you can enable the Print Spooler service using the Command Prompt. This requires you to input a few command lines and execute the code in order to tell your system that you want the Print Spooler service enabled.
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Bring up the Windows Search interface from your taskbar, or by pressing the Windows + S keyboard shortcut.
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Type in “Command Prompt” and click the “Run as Administrator” button. Make sure you have access to a local admin account in order to allow the software to run.
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In the Command Prompt window, input the following command and press the Enter key to execute it: net start spooler
You can exit the Command Prompt after the service successfully starts.
3. Enable Print Spooler Service via System Configuration
Another way to enable the Print Spooler service is by using the System Configuration tool. This will allow you to easily view and modify system services, including the Print Spooler service.
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Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard to bring up the Run applet. Here, type in “msconfig” and hit Enter to open the Services window.
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Switch to the "Services" tab using the menu at the top of the window, and find the Print Spooler service in the list.
- Ensure there's a checkmark next to the Print Spooler service to enable it. If the box is empty, click on it once to place the checkmark, then click the “Apply” button.
How to Disable the Print Spooler Service on Windows 11/10
Some users may not need the Print Spooler service and prefer to turn it off. To disable it, follow the steps below:
1. Disable Print Spooler Service via Services
The Services app is the fastest way to configure which system services are running on your computer. It allows you to quickly disable the Print Spooler service with just a few clicks of the mouse.
- Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard to bring up the Run applet. Type in “services.msc” and hit Enter to open the Services window.
- Scroll down until you see the Print Spooler service, then right-click on it and choose “Properties” from the context menu.
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Make sure that the Startup type is set to “Disabled.” Click the “Stop” button to enable the service if it’s currently running.
- Click the “Apply” button and then close the window.
After making this change, the Print Spooler service will be blocked from starting automatically whenever you boot your computer.
2. Disable Print Spooler Service via Command Prompt
To disable the Print Spooler service, you need to enter some command lines manually in the Command Prompt and execute them.
- Bring up the Windows Search interface from your taskbar, or by pressing the Windows + S keyboard shortcut.
- Type in “Command Prompt” and click the “Run as Administrator” button. Make sure you have access to a local admin account to allow the software to run.
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In the Command Prompt window, input the following command and press the Enter key to execute it: net stop spooler
You can exit the Command Prompt after the service successfully stops.
3. Disable Print Spooler Service via System Configuration
The System Configurations tool also allows you to disable the Print Spooler service. This is a more manual approach but it's still fairly straightforward.
- Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard to bring up the Run applet. Type in “msconfig” and hit Enter to open the Services window.
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Switch to the "Services" tab using the menu on top of the window, and find the Print Spooler service in the list.
- Make sure that there's the Print Spooler service doesn’t have a checkmark next to it. If the box is filled, click on it once to remove the checkmark, then click the “Apply” button.
You might have to restart your computer for the changes to take place.
How to Reset and Clear Print Spooler on Windows 11/10
Resetting the print spooler can resolve printing issues and help clear the print queue, especially when a print job is stuck. In this section, we'll discuss resetting the print spooler on Windows 10 and 11.
- Bring up the Windows Search interface from your taskbar, or by pressing the Windows + S keyboard shortcut.
- Type in “Command Prompt” and click the “Run as Administrator” button. Make sure you have access to a local admin account to allow the software to run.
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Input the following commands one by one, pressing the Enter key after each line:
- net stop spooler
- DEL /F /S /Q %systemroot%\System32\spool\PRINTERS\*
- net start spooler
- After executing all 3 commands, the Print Spooler service should work as intended.
FAQ
Where can I find Print Spooler in Windows 10?
You can find Print Spooler in the Windows Task Manager. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, then select the Services tab and scroll down to find Spooler on the list. Check the Status.
How do I access Print Spooler?
To access Print Spooler, open the Local Services console. Right-click or tap and hold the Start button on the bottom left of the screen, then select Run from the menu that appears. Type services.msc in the Open box and click or tap OK.
Is it safe to disable Print Spooler?
Disabling Print Spooler is a security trade-off. While it can reduce the risk of certain vulnerabilities, it may also limit your ability to perform print pruning.
Can I print without Print Spooler?
No, without Print Spooler, you wouldn't be able to print more than one document at a time, and any documents not immediately sent to the printer wouldn't print.
Has Microsoft fixed the Print Spooler vulnerability?
Yes, Microsoft released a patch for the Windows Print Spooler Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (CVE-2021-34481) on 10 Aug 2021. On September 2021 Patch Tuesday, they released a new security update for CVE-2021-36958 that fixes the remaining PrintNightmare vulnerability.
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