Solving the ‘Printer Spooler Server Is Not Running’ Error

When the “printer spooler server is not running” error appears, office productivity comes to a standstill. This message is Windows’ way of signaling that the core service responsible for managing print jobs has failed. Typically, the culprit is either a corrupted print job clogging the queue or a misbehaving printer driver. This guide provides actionable steps to resolve this common issue, starting with a simple restart of the Print Spooler service and clearing any stuck documents to get your business operations moving again.

Understanding the Spooler Service Error

A sudden printing halt can significantly disrupt your daily operations. The “spooler not running” message means the critical background process that acts as the intermediary between your computer and the printer has failed. Without it, print jobs have nowhere to go, leaving important documents trapped in digital limbo and causing a direct impact on productivity.

This error is not specific to any single printer brand—it affects HP, Canon, Brother, and Epson printers equally because the problem is rooted in the Windows operating system, not the printer hardware itself. Understanding why it happens is the first step toward a fast, effective solution.

What Causes the Print Spooler to Fail?

The Print Spooler can stop for several reasons, but they are generally predictable. Once you recognize the common triggers, you can diagnose the problem more quickly and reduce your team’s downtime.

Here are the most common causes:

• Corrupted Print Jobs: This is the primary issue. A single, badly formatted document sent to the queue can bring the entire service down. It’s the most frequent cause our technicians encounter in the field.
• Outdated or Incompatible Drivers: A buggy or incorrect printer driver can create conflicts that force the spooler to terminate unexpectedly.
• Insufficient System Resources: On a print server handling a heavy workload, low memory or disk space can choke essential services like the Print Spooler.
• Windows Updates or Software Conflicts: Occasionally, a recent system update or newly installed software can interfere with the spooler’s operations.

Think of the Print Spooler as the traffic controller for your print jobs. It takes data from your applications, holds it in a temporary queue, and then feeds it to the printer at a manageable speed. When that controller goes on an unscheduled break, the entire printing process shuts down.

This flowchart provides a clear visual guide for the initial critical diagnostic steps.

As shown, restarting the service is always the first action. It’s the quickest way to resolve most temporary glitches and get your printers back online.

When diagnosing the problem, a quick check can save considerable time. This table breaks down common symptoms and points you toward the most likely cause and the best first step.

Rapid Diagnostics for Print Spooler Errors

Using this table can help you avoid guesswork and proceed directly to the most probable solution, turning a potentially lengthy troubleshooting session into a quick fix.

Why a Quick Fix Is Crucial for Business

In a business environment, a non-functional printer is more than a minor inconvenience—it’s an operational bottleneck. Invoices cannot be mailed, reports cannot be proofread, and shipping labels will not print. Every minute of downtime erodes productivity and can even impact revenue.

While the spooler error is a frequent offender, other issues can also stop you from printing. You can learn more in our guide on troubleshooting a printer that is not printing. By tackling the spooler error head-on and quickly, you are not just fixing a technical glitch; you are restoring a vital business function and preventing small problems from becoming major disruptions.

Immediate Fixes to Get Your Printers Running Again

When the “printer spooler server is not running,” your business grinds to a halt. You need a solution that works immediately. Simply restarting your PC or printer is often ineffective; a direct approach is needed to address the root of most spooler failures. The goal is to get your team printing again in minutes, not hours, by tackling the most common culprit head-on: a stuck or corrupted print job.

Frequently, a single problematic file is enough to jam the entire print queue, causing the Print Spooler service to crash repeatedly. Even if you manage to restart the service, it will likely fail again as soon as it tries to process the same corrupted job. The only reliable solution is to manually purge the queue and give the service a clean slate.

Manually Clearing the Print Queue

To accomplish this, we need to bypass the standard print queue window and go directly to the source. Windows stores temporary print job files in a specific system folder. Deleting the contents of this folder instantly erases all pending jobs—including the one causing the trouble. This process requires temporarily stopping the Print Spooler service, which unlocks the files for deletion.

You can perform this task quickly using either the Command Prompt for speed or the graphical user interface (GUI) if you prefer a more visual approach. Both methods achieve the same outcome.

The Command-Line Method for a Quick Reset

For IT administrators and power users, the Command Prompt is the fastest way to resolve this issue. It reduces the entire process to three quick commands to stop the service, delete the files, and restart it.

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Type net stop spooler and hit Enter. This command immediately halts the Print Spooler service.
3. Next, type del %systemroot%system32spoolprinters* /Q and press Enter. This wipes all temporary print files from the queue folder without asking for confirmation.
4. Finally, type net start spooler and hit Enter to bring the service back online.

This three-step sequence is the go-to method for technicians because of its incredible efficiency. You can clear the blockage and reset the service in under a minute.

The Graphical Interface (GUI) Method

If you are more comfortable working within the standard Windows interface, you can achieve the same result through the Services and File Explorer windows. This method is just as effective and provides clear visual feedback at each step.

• Stopping the Service: Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter. In the Services window, find the Print Spooler, right-click it, and select Stop.
• Deleting the Queue Files: Open File Explorer and navigate to C:WindowsSystem32spoolPRINTERS. You may need to approve an admin privileges prompt to access the folder. Select all files inside the PRINTERS folder and delete them.
• Restarting the Service: Return to the Services window, right-click Print Spooler again, and select Start.

Once completed, your print queue will be empty, and the service should be stable. Try sending a test page to your printer to confirm the problem is solved.

Checking Essential Service Dependencies

What if you have cleared the queue and the spooler still won’t start? This is a less common scenario, but sometimes the Print Spooler service fails because another service it depends on is not running. The Print Spooler relies on a few other services, but the most critical one is the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service.

The RPC service is a foundational Windows component that allows different processes to communicate. If it’s not running, dozens of other core services—including the Print Spooler—will fail to start.

You can check its status in the same services.msc window. Locate Remote Procedure Call (RPC) and ensure its status is “Running” and its startup type is set to “Automatic.” If it is stopped, try starting it manually. If the RPC service itself is generating errors, this points to a deeper Windows system issue that requires further investigation. Confirming your dependencies are active is a critical step for thorough troubleshooting, not just a surface-level fix.

Diagnosing Deeper Issues Like Corrupt Drivers and File Conflicts

If restarting the Print Spooler and clearing the queue provides only a temporary solution, the problem is likely more significant than a single bad print job. When the service repeatedly crashes, it is almost always a sign of a faulty printer driver or a conflict with critical system files.

These are not the kind of problems that resolve on their own. A corrupt driver can trigger the printer spooler server is not running error repeatedly, trapping you in a frustrating cycle. It is time to stop applying temporary fixes and investigate the real culprit.

This means moving from quick resets to more thorough diagnostic work. The goal is to isolate the exact component causing system instability—it could be a leftover driver from an old printer or even a damaged Windows file the spooler needs to run. Fortunately, Windows provides powerful tools to help hunt down these more stubborn issues.

Isolating Problematic Drivers with Print Management

For anyone managing a print server, the Print Management Console is an invaluable tool. It provides a comprehensive overview of every printer, port, and—most importantly—driver installed. This is where we will go to track down and eliminate the driver that is causing the spooler to fail.

It is common for a driver to remain after its associated printer has been removed, and these “phantom drivers” are notorious for causing instability.

Here is how to use the console for a proper clean-up:

• Press Win + R, type printmanagement.msc, and hit Enter.
• On the left side, navigate to Print Servers > [Your Server Name] > Drivers.
• This screen lists every print driver package on the server.
• Review the list for any drivers that are old, unused, or belong to printers that have been decommissioned. Right-click the one you want to remove and select Remove Driver Package.

This action completely scrubs the driver files from your system, which is far more effective than just uninstalling a printer through standard methods. It ensures the problematic driver cannot be reloaded and cause the same crash again.

Leveraging the Windows Event Viewer for Clues

When the Print Spooler service crashes, it leaves a trail of information in the Windows Event Viewer. This log is an incredibly valuable tool for diagnosing what went wrong, providing specific error codes and details that can point directly to the source of the trouble.

Think of the Event Viewer as your server’s black box recorder. To check the logs, go to Windows Logs > Application and look for “Error” level events where the source is spoolsv.exe.

The details in these error logs are highly valuable. They often name the “faulting module,” which is usually a specific .dll file tied to a printer driver. This information transforms troubleshooting from a guessing game into a precise, targeted action.

Once you identify the faulting module, you know exactly which driver to remove using the Print Management Console. The logs might also show other error codes that you can look up. For a better understanding of what these messages mean, you can review a list of common printer error codes.

Repairing System Files with the System File Checker

Sometimes, the root of the problem is not a printer driver but one of the core Windows files the Print Spooler service relies on. System files can become corrupted due to improper shutdowns, malware, or failed updates, causing a variety of issues across the server.

The System File Checker (SFC) is a built-in command-line tool designed specifically to find and fix these corrupted files. Running it can resolve deep-seated problems that other troubleshooting steps cannot address.

To initiate a scan:

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Type the command sfc /scannow and press Enter.
3. The tool will begin scanning all protected system files. Allow it to run; it may take some time.
4. If it finds any broken or missing files, it will attempt to replace them with a clean, cached copy from your system.

Once finished, the tool will report whether it found and fixed any problems. A successful repair can often stabilize the Print Spooler for good, confirming the error was a symptom of a broader system issue.

The Security Risk Lurking Behind the Print Spooler Service

When you discover the printer spooler server is not running, your first instinct is likely to restart it and restore printing capabilities. However, in many modern IT environments, a disabled spooler is not an accident—it is a deliberate security measure.

Before you re-enable the service, it is crucial to understand the context. Simply turning it back on without consideration could expose your network to serious threats.

The Windows Print Spooler service, as essential as it is, has a long history of being a target for hackers. Because it is deeply integrated into the operating system and runs with high-level privileges, it is an attractive target for those seeking unauthorized access. When a new vulnerability emerges, it can be exploited to gain complete control over a server—a significant risk for any business.

A Gateway for Major Cyberattacks

The most notorious example that caused widespread concern was the PrintNightmare vulnerability (CVE-2021-34527). This was not a minor bug; it was a critical flaw that allowed attackers to remotely execute malicious code with full SYSTEM privileges on any machine with the spooler service active.

With that level of access, an attacker could install malware, steal or delete data, or even create new administrator accounts, effectively taking full control of your server.

This was not an isolated problem. Spooler-based exploits have a long history. The infamous Stuxnet worm, which made headlines in 2010 for targeting Iran’s nuclear program, used a Print Spooler vulnerability (CVE-2010-2729) as one of its entry points. Long before PrintNightmare became widely known, sophisticated attackers were already aware of the spooler’s potential as a powerful weapon.

Shrinking the Attack Surface on Critical Servers

In light of these ongoing threats, cybersecurity experts and agencies like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have issued direct advice. Their top recommendation is clear: if a server has no legitimate printing function, disable the Print Spooler service completely. This is especially critical for your most important network assets.

Disabling the Print Spooler on servers that don’t need it—like Domain Controllers, Exchange Servers, or database servers—is one of the fastest and most effective ways to shrink your network’s attack surface.

A Domain Controller, for instance, is the key to your entire network’s authentication and has no reason to ever process a print job. Leaving the spooler running on such a machine is like leaving a back door unlocked. By shutting it down, you eliminate that vulnerability and harden the server against a whole class of known exploits.

Why Context Is Everything for an IT Admin

This security backdrop completely changes how you should approach a “printer spooler server is not running” error. An administrator who finds a disabled service on a critical server might see it as just another problem to fix. Without knowing the security history, their first move would be to restart it, potentially undoing a vital security measure put in place for a very good reason.

Before you restart that service, you must ask why it stopped.

• Is this a dedicated print server? If yes, the service is essential. Proceed with your troubleshooting.
• Is this a Domain Controller or an application server? Pause. The service was likely disabled intentionally to reduce risk. Check your company’s security policies or with your team before taking action.
• Have recent security patches been installed? If a server is behind on updates, keeping the spooler off might be a temporary measure to protect it from a known threat.

Treating a stopped spooler as more than a technical hiccup is a core part of modern IT security. While printers are necessary, the services that run them can become significant liabilities if not managed with care. To learn more about fortifying your print environment, see our guide on how to protect your business from a printer virus.

Getting Ahead of Spooler Failures With Proactive Management

Fixing the “printer spooler server is not running” error is one thing, but true IT efficiency comes from preventing it from happening in the first place. Instead of waiting for the service to fail and disrupt workflows, a proactive approach can build a more resilient and stable print environment. This strategy minimizes downtime, reduces support tickets, and keeps business operations running smoothly.

Shifting from a reactive “firefighting” mode to a proactive one involves a combination of smart automation and solid server management. By automating the detection and resolution of common failures while adhering to best practices, you can address spooler issues long before users even notice a problem.

Automating Spooler Recovery with PowerShell

Automation is a powerful tool in this context. A simple yet effective PowerShell script can monitor the Print Spooler service, take corrective action when it stops, and log the incident for later analysis. Think of it as a digital watchdog that keeps your print services online without manual intervention.

Here is a practical script you can use as a starting point. It checks if the spooler service has stopped, and if so, it automatically clears the print queue and restarts the service.


You can configure this script to run as a Scheduled Task in Windows, checking the service every few minutes. The logging component is crucial, as it helps identify patterns over time—such as failures occurring at a specific time of day—which might point to deeper issues like resource conflicts with a scheduled backup.

Best Practices for Print Server Management

Beyond automation, strategic server management is fundamental to preventing spooler failures. A well-configured and properly maintained print server is inherently more stable.

Proactive IT is not about being faster at fixing problems; it’s about building systems where those problems are far less likely to occur. A stable print server is a sign of thoughtful infrastructure design, not just quick troubleshooting skills.

Adopting these core best practices can dramatically reduce the frequency of the “printer spooler server is not running” error.

• Isolate Your Print Server: Avoid running the print server role on a machine that is also a domain controller or a critical file server. A dedicated print server prevents resource contention and ensures that spooler instability will not affect other essential services.
• Standardize Printer Drivers: Faulty drivers are the leading cause of spooler crashes. Enforce a policy of using universal print drivers whenever possible and minimize the number of different driver models in your environment. Always test new drivers in a staging environment before deploying them to production.
• Use Group Policy for Deployment: Deploying printers via Group Policy is the most effective way to manage them at scale. It ensures every user receives the correct, approved drivers and configurations, preventing them from installing incompatible drivers that introduce instability and security risks.
• Implement Real-Time Monitoring: In larger environments, dedicated monitoring solutions are invaluable. These tools can send immediate alerts the moment the Print Spooler service stops, trigger automated recovery scripts, and provide detailed performance data, allowing you to fix issues before users even notice.

When to Seek Expert Help for Printer Spooler Issues

If your IT team is consistently battling the “printer spooler server is not running” error, it may be a symptom of a larger, more systemic issue within your print infrastructure. While the solutions in this guide are effective for isolated incidents, their repeated necessity indicates that your current setup may be inefficient, unstable, or insecure. Constant troubleshooting of print queues and driver conflicts diverts valuable IT resources from strategic projects that drive business growth.

Transition from Reactive Fixes to a Proactive Strategy

When printer-related support tickets become a daily routine, it is time to consider a more strategic approach. This is where Managed Print Services (MPS) provide significant value, shifting the responsibility of print environment management to a team of dedicated experts. An MPS provider does more than just fix problems; they take complete ownership of your entire print ecosystem. This includes proactive server maintenance, security hardening, automated supply replenishment, and end-user support. The objective is to create a printing infrastructure that is reliable, secure, and cost-predictable.

By outsourcing print management, you are not just resolving errors; you are reclaiming your IT team’s time and focus. This empowers them to concentrate on initiatives that deliver real business value instead of being bogged down by recurring printer tickets.

Partnering with a provider like 1-800 Office Solutions offers several key advantages:

• Specialized Expertise: Gain access to certified technicians with deep knowledge of print environments. They have encountered every conceivable printer issue and know how to implement permanent solutions, not just temporary fixes.
• Enhanced Security: An expert partner will proactively manage your print environment to mitigate risks like PrintNightmare, ensuring properly configured servers and modern, secure printing solutions.
• Predictable Costs: Transition to a simple, flat-fee model that covers maintenance, supplies, and support, eliminating the surprise repair bills that can disrupt your budget.

If persistent printer problems are a constant drain on your operations, engaging an MPS provider is the most effective way to restore stability and allow your IT team to focus on their core responsibilities.

Still Have Questions? We Have Answers.

Let’s address some of the most common questions our technicians hear about the “printer spooler service is not running” error. Here’s a quick rundown to help you make sense of these pesky issues.

Why Does My Print Spooler Keep Stopping?

If your Print Spooler service stops immediately after a restart, it is rarely a random glitch. This scenario almost always points to one of two culprits: a corrupted print job stuck in the queue or a faulty printer driver.

When the service starts, it attempts to process the next job in line. If that job is corrupted, the service can crash, creating a frustrating loop. Similarly, an incompatible, outdated, or poorly written driver can introduce instability that causes the entire service to fail.

Can a Virus Cause the Print Spooler to Stop?

Yes, this is possible, though it is less common than issues with drivers or the job queue. The Print Spooler service (spoolsv.exe) runs with significant system privileges, which has historically made it an attractive target for malware. Certain viruses can interfere with its operation, causing it to shut down unexpectedly.

If you have already cleared the print queue and checked your drivers without success, performing a full system antivirus and anti-malware scan is a prudent step. It helps ensure a security breach isn’t the root cause of your printing problems.

Is It Safe to Disable the Print Spooler Service?

This depends entirely on the server’s function. On a machine that serves as a dedicated print server, disabling the service is not an option—it is essential for its operation.

However, on servers that never interact with a printer—such as a Domain Controller or a database server—disabling the Print Spooler is actually a recommended security best practice.

Leaving the service running on non-printing servers creates an unnecessary attack surface, exposing you to vulnerabilities like the infamous PrintNightmare. Turning it off closes a potential entry point for attackers and hardens your server’s security. If you ever need to re-enable it, first be absolutely certain of the server’s role.

Battling recurring printer issues can drain your IT team’s time and energy. 1-800 Office Solutions offers comprehensive Managed Print Services designed to take that entire burden off your plate. We keep your print infrastructure secure, stable, and cost-effective, so your team can focus on what they do best. Let our experts handle the printers. Learn more about our services at 1-800 Office Solutions.