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How to restart Print Spooler Service on Windows - Micro Center
<main> <article class="userContent"> <p>If your printer is connected properly but you’re experiencing issues, such as:</p><ul><li>Files are not being sent to the printer</li><li>Documents are getting stuck in the queue</li><li>An error message stating ‘the print spooler service is not running’</li></ul><p>Restarting the Print Spooler can often fix these common printer problems. In case you don’t know what the Print Spooler is, it is a program built into the Windows operating systems. The purpose is to manage any print jobs that need to be sent to either the printer itself or a print server.</p><p>Here is our step by step guide to complete this process:</p><h2 data-id="step-1)-restart-the-print-spooler-service">Step 1) Restart the Print Spooler service</h2><ul><li>Search<strong> Services</strong> in the Windows Search Bar, typically found at the lower left corner of the screen, then click the <strong>Services </strong>app</li></ul><div class="embedExternal embedImage display-large float-none"> <div class="embedExternal-content"> <a class="embedImage-link" href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/z1t5dkIoWqZ1IEgDl00wLOjANkVAuk7o5bW1CXNCqYtu8CGr_QuqGQ-00SHdbqcpTib5aTLEvccCujpJGosuc6CM5FYywL4DCsBt2EBY0VCsNHDPsT-xF6HhWGhHmV-crjmj3Ar2" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener ugc" target="_blank"> <img class="embedImage-img" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/z1t5dkIoWqZ1IEgDl00wLOjANkVAuk7o5bW1CXNCqYtu8CGr_QuqGQ-00SHdbqcpTib5aTLEvccCujpJGosuc6CM5FYywL4DCsBt2EBY0VCsNHDPsT-xF6HhWGhHmV-crjmj3Ar2" alt="z1t5dkIoWqZ1IEgDl00wLOjANkVAuk7o5bW1CXNCqYtu8CGr_QuqGQ-00SHdbqcpTib5aTLEvccCujpJGosuc6CM5FYywL4DCsBt2EBY0VCsNHDPsT-xF6HhWGhHmV-crjmj3Ar2"/> </a> </div> </div> <p><p><br></p></p><ul><li>Find the Print Spooler service on this list. It is an alphabetical order list by default. <strong>Right-click</strong> on it, then click <strong>Restart</strong>.</li></ul><div class="embedExternal embedImage display-large float-none"> <div class="embedExternal-content"> <a class="embedImage-link" href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_wzoRvdXYw5lQxxS90ePcOFD2FNnJln396KIsMQJrs5crI0wacY9NpHQd76YtkzRQuCbV31wHv7RgUYt053dwgmQxRcEdpuOgWj67-5whB92mJAdmwfIxe17brMjHhygNGDy1Jgw" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener ugc" target="_blank"> <img class="embedImage-img" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_wzoRvdXYw5lQxxS90ePcOFD2FNnJln396KIsMQJrs5crI0wacY9NpHQd76YtkzRQuCbV31wHv7RgUYt053dwgmQxRcEdpuOgWj67-5whB92mJAdmwfIxe17brMjHhygNGDy1Jgw" alt="_wzoRvdXYw5lQxxS90ePcOFD2FNnJln396KIsMQJrs5crI0wacY9NpHQd76YtkzRQuCbV31wHv7RgUYt053dwgmQxRcEdpuOgWj67-5whB92mJAdmwfIxe17brMjHhygNGDy1Jgw"/> </a> </div> </div> <p><p><br></p></p><p>Now, go ahead and try to print something. If it does not work, then move onto the next step.</p><h2 data-id="step-2)-clear-the-print-queue">Step 2) Clear the print queue</h2><ul><li>Search <strong>Control Panel</strong> in the Windows search bar, typically found at the lower left corner of the screen, then click on the<strong> Control Panel </strong>app</li></ul><div class="embedExternal embedImage display-large float-none"> <div class="embedExternal-content"> <a class="embedImage-link" href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/STVrFOG2utvxzgsh2xLV5jNrhnKAkoOWHs0bX-2JSUkBUtE42DDUVRSDOm_xY3NrwOvUY8noM_j34Y5KZqrQzt2SfXSlPOZxU5l0S6WcPrGfYD3aX8vEplQcpX57rv0I8v_cSoBX" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener ugc" target="_blank"> <img class="embedImage-img" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/STVrFOG2utvxzgsh2xLV5jNrhnKAkoOWHs0bX-2JSUkBUtE42DDUVRSDOm_xY3NrwOvUY8noM_j34Y5KZqrQzt2SfXSlPOZxU5l0S6WcPrGfYD3aX8vEplQcpX57rv0I8v_cSoBX" alt="STVrFOG2utvxzgsh2xLV5jNrhnKAkoOWHs0bX-2JSUkBUtE42DDUVRSDOm_xY3NrwOvUY8noM_j34Y5KZqrQzt2SfXSlPOZxU5l0S6WcPrGfYD3aX8vEplQcpX57rv0I8v_cSoBX"/> </a> </div> </div> <p><p><br></p></p><ul><li>Click <strong>Devices and Printers</strong> in the Control Panel window.</li></ul><div class="embedExternal embedImage display-large float-none"> <div class="embedExternal-content"> <a class="embedImage-link" href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Zm-q02YSI-qp4AlicxL4MpN_8-AN1ip4YEl5cwZ0Hkd5LME9sdiy6-T7QhfCtvtnXNpsbmWAQ-vyuWlokNHdj-apMlQARkB4w_LhJaYW1IfjOPU1UQYHzjXAQvJfMKHaZwzUnLet" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener ugc" target="_blank"> <img class="embedImage-img" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Zm-q02YSI-qp4AlicxL4MpN_8-AN1ip4YEl5cwZ0Hkd5LME9sdiy6-T7QhfCtvtnXNpsbmWAQ-vyuWlokNHdj-apMlQARkB4w_LhJaYW1IfjOPU1UQYHzjXAQvJfMKHaZwzUnLet" alt="Zm-q02YSI-qp4AlicxL4MpN_8-AN1ip4YEl5cwZ0Hkd5LME9sdiy6-T7QhfCtvtnXNpsbmWAQ-vyuWlokNHdj-apMlQARkB4w_LhJaYW1IfjOPU1UQYHzjXAQvJfMKHaZwzUnLet"/> </a> </div> </div> <p><br></p><ul><li><strong>Right-click</strong> on your printer, then click <strong>See what's printing</strong></li></ul><div class="embedExternal embedImage display-large float-none"> <div class="embedExternal-content"> <a class="embedImage-link" href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/TsDR7trllkMkfciPDyh0sBdFkBdnTwfXTCxO54yDgfkeYeo08vRvVdZ4I5HM1XNFPaqMfgEnMP4imam8pZbIH-a1xrQtdz_XJHZxhUdH5Lp2GqcU2lwO_aTsyImeq0C2vhl4ln5_" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener ugc" target="_blank"> <img class="embedImage-img" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/TsDR7trllkMkfciPDyh0sBdFkBdnTwfXTCxO54yDgfkeYeo08vRvVdZ4I5HM1XNFPaqMfgEnMP4imam8pZbIH-a1xrQtdz_XJHZxhUdH5Lp2GqcU2lwO_aTsyImeq0C2vhl4ln5_" alt="TsDR7trllkMkfciPDyh0sBdFkBdnTwfXTCxO54yDgfkeYeo08vRvVdZ4I5HM1XNFPaqMfgEnMP4imam8pZbIH-a1xrQtdz_XJHZxhUdH5Lp2GqcU2lwO_aTsyImeq0C2vhl4ln5_"/> </a> </div> </div> <p><br></p><ul><li>Then <strong>right-click</strong> each document and click <strong>Cancel</strong></li></ul><div class="embedExternal embedImage display-large float-none"> <div class="embedExternal-content"> <a class="embedImage-link" href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/X4EBosrqjWq-TyNIG4Hyw6KN9r3ymN249z4GCNFa9DeV3vnjl1xqodssFYJ12O-WVE_RBI2iK9r8OveB_eI-F2BuH4JXW0ll-_L4uJL37WDCBblnBrNj9iampbhX0cHwKYEtQiNx" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener ugc" target="_blank"> <img class="embedImage-img" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/X4EBosrqjWq-TyNIG4Hyw6KN9r3ymN249z4GCNFa9DeV3vnjl1xqodssFYJ12O-WVE_RBI2iK9r8OveB_eI-F2BuH4JXW0ll-_L4uJL37WDCBblnBrNj9iampbhX0cHwKYEtQiNx" alt="X4EBosrqjWq-TyNIG4Hyw6KN9r3ymN249z4GCNFa9DeV3vnjl1xqodssFYJ12O-WVE_RBI2iK9r8OveB_eI-F2BuH4JXW0ll-_L4uJL37WDCBblnBrNj9iampbhX0cHwKYEtQiNx"/> </a> </div> </div> <p><p><br></p></p><p>At this point, you can try to print something again. If it does not work, then just continue to the next step.</p><h2 data-id="step-3)-manually-delete-files-in-print-spooler-folder">Step 3) Manually Delete Files in Print Spooler folder</h2><p><em>Note: This is simply a different way of clearing the print queue as we showed you in step 2.</em></p><ul><li>Open the '<strong>Services'</strong> window again,<em> </em><strong>right-click</strong> the <strong>Print Spooler</strong> service, then click <strong>Stop</strong></li></ul><div class="embedExternal embedImage display-large float-none"> <div class="embedExternal-content"> <a class="embedImage-link" href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/FS5vG-K8H713Vt701EoE2gDjS-uvM935XNIrwG3LxLc5oh0QG0nnwQQNznEQaDci56uUzCPREV8A9Pgw27RtAj7CgHkvU_pACfdKRaIWeILjM6us_Hxd0XwWTcZ4cj8wKzd9oftP" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener ugc" target="_blank"> <img class="embedImage-img" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/FS5vG-K8H713Vt701EoE2gDjS-uvM935XNIrwG3LxLc5oh0QG0nnwQQNznEQaDci56uUzCPREV8A9Pgw27RtAj7CgHkvU_pACfdKRaIWeILjM6us_Hxd0XwWTcZ4cj8wKzd9oftP" alt="FS5vG-K8H713Vt701EoE2gDjS-uvM935XNIrwG3LxLc5oh0QG0nnwQQNznEQaDci56uUzCPREV8A9Pgw27RtAj7CgHkvU_pACfdKRaIWeILjM6us_Hxd0XwWTcZ4cj8wKzd9oftP"/> </a> </div> </div> <p><p><br></p></p><ul><li>Now, open <strong>File Explorer</strong>. Copy and paste this location at the top of the window. </li><li><strong>%windir%\System32\spool\PRINTERS</strong></li><li>Then hit <strong>Enter</strong></li></ul><div class="embedExternal embedImage display-large float-none"> <div class="embedExternal-content"> <a class="embedImage-link" href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/F8zlMRWaX5kie0599Gel9jLj36Qsj8a2SavV8--bJvyIdQcv7U21HZKucdUq338LFIl-glJtsxKvosIq1URm7ApK12o6wFs5G417UFhZJfcKHsTdJw4AhkOQ8m7bJJ9ACof99SXW" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener ugc" target="_blank"> <img class="embedImage-img" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/F8zlMRWaX5kie0599Gel9jLj36Qsj8a2SavV8--bJvyIdQcv7U21HZKucdUq338LFIl-glJtsxKvosIq1URm7ApK12o6wFs5G417UFhZJfcKHsTdJw4AhkOQ8m7bJJ9ACof99SXW" alt="F8zlMRWaX5kie0599Gel9jLj36Qsj8a2SavV8--bJvyIdQcv7U21HZKucdUq338LFIl-glJtsxKvosIq1URm7ApK12o6wFs5G417UFhZJfcKHsTdJw4AhkOQ8m7bJJ9ACof99SXW"/> </a> </div> </div> <p><p><br></p></p><ul><li>Delete all the files in this folder. You can do this by <strong>right-clicking</strong> on each one, then click <strong>Delete</strong></li></ul><div class="embedExternal embedImage display-large float-none"> <div class="embedExternal-content"> <a class="embedImage-link" href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/e0dEZl9Qyx_EVZi-jXJYLGKJisTAZZ7_i2ojh6rcIPbLNfBVAUwmi4qzA1L6_KblRVEdolY68tSaK5Ed_tgqL2hs_M77D-Q5dgUoT9-uG23ybADnvwDHUxUC5feZSZxsfrUH-ecE" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener ugc" target="_blank"> <img class="embedImage-img" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/e0dEZl9Qyx_EVZi-jXJYLGKJisTAZZ7_i2ojh6rcIPbLNfBVAUwmi4qzA1L6_KblRVEdolY68tSaK5Ed_tgqL2hs_M77D-Q5dgUoT9-uG23ybADnvwDHUxUC5feZSZxsfrUH-ecE" alt="e0dEZl9Qyx_EVZi-jXJYLGKJisTAZZ7_i2ojh6rcIPbLNfBVAUwmi4qzA1L6_KblRVEdolY68tSaK5Ed_tgqL2hs_M77D-Q5dgUoT9-uG23ybADnvwDHUxUC5feZSZxsfrUH-ecE"/> </a> </div> </div> <p><p><br></p></p><ul><li>Once you delete all the files in this folder, <strong>start </strong>the <strong>Print Spooler</strong> Service again in the Services window.</li></ul><div class="embedExternal embedImage display-large float-none"> <div class="embedExternal-content"> <a class="embedImage-link" href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/RZkjs1Je5oaBo6zbzxQTiwi8I0EM0DoA4lDv5rUmqbRAG7Us-RgKv_-lG6nhkQYyDwPsOyDFGQyc9kSXhS5xltTimtvwZxODvUIvivkXRgCOAf8KRKzUwLI5an_kyK9WaOFhw265" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener ugc" target="_blank"> <img class="embedImage-img" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/RZkjs1Je5oaBo6zbzxQTiwi8I0EM0DoA4lDv5rUmqbRAG7Us-RgKv_-lG6nhkQYyDwPsOyDFGQyc9kSXhS5xltTimtvwZxODvUIvivkXRgCOAf8KRKzUwLI5an_kyK9WaOFhw265" alt="RZkjs1Je5oaBo6zbzxQTiwi8I0EM0DoA4lDv5rUmqbRAG7Us-RgKv_-lG6nhkQYyDwPsOyDFGQyc9kSXhS5xltTimtvwZxODvUIvivkXRgCOAf8KRKzUwLI5an_kyK9WaOFhw265"/> </a> </div> </div> <p><p><br></p></p><p>This is where you will want to try and print a file again. If it still does not print then move onto the next step.<p><br></p></p><h2 data-id="step-4)-use-a-batch-file-to-clear-and-restart-the-print-spooler">Step 4) Use a batch file to clear and restart the Print Spooler</h2><p><br></p><ul><li>Create a .txt document.<strong> Right-click</strong> on your desktop wallpaper, hover the cursor over <strong>New</strong>, then click <strong>Text Document</strong></li></ul><div class="embedExternal embedImage display-large float-none"> <div class="embedExternal-content"> <a class="embedImage-link" href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/8bZUDQclr1FMhbmPzGnOLFgmMoBLaW8kdX0h_YTwlOAtQyFtmxw_jAN63sXMzlUFsf3a67vn3-gcVhGaEcgNjUpVZOEduOqmm-1x3j296upDpFca5yqbRD0qziJRUrjdNhjA-5dq" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener ugc" target="_blank"> <img class="embedImage-img" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/8bZUDQclr1FMhbmPzGnOLFgmMoBLaW8kdX0h_YTwlOAtQyFtmxw_jAN63sXMzlUFsf3a67vn3-gcVhGaEcgNjUpVZOEduOqmm-1x3j296upDpFca5yqbRD0qziJRUrjdNhjA-5dq" alt="8bZUDQclr1FMhbmPzGnOLFgmMoBLaW8kdX0h_YTwlOAtQyFtmxw_jAN63sXMzlUFsf3a67vn3-gcVhGaEcgNjUpVZOEduOqmm-1x3j296upDpFca5yqbRD0qziJRUrjdNhjA-5dq"/> </a> </div> </div> <p><p><br></p></p><ul><li>Now, go ahead and open that text document. Then <strong>copy and paste</strong> the text below into that text document:</li><li><em>net stop spooler</em></li><li><em>del /Q /F /S "%windir%\System32\spool\PRINTERS\*.*"</em></li><li><em>net start spooler</em></li><li>It should look like this:</li></ul><div class="embedExternal embedImage display-large float-none"> <div class="embedExternal-content"> <a class="embedImage-link" href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fsJRAFAVfSjAPDNuL-5BXQL79WCQpvCLmO74vAadcr8RDIlAGBjG1rNSvzuspyM_1P_Cmr1ezOrx8JeYSfnnl5FzQL4ljEJztelko149FNHS5VZ0N8xsXBUo0Qk8NBfDVRr8MDiA" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener ugc" target="_blank"> <img class="embedImage-img" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fsJRAFAVfSjAPDNuL-5BXQL79WCQpvCLmO74vAadcr8RDIlAGBjG1rNSvzuspyM_1P_Cmr1ezOrx8JeYSfnnl5FzQL4ljEJztelko149FNHS5VZ0N8xsXBUo0Qk8NBfDVRr8MDiA" alt="fsJRAFAVfSjAPDNuL-5BXQL79WCQpvCLmO74vAadcr8RDIlAGBjG1rNSvzuspyM_1P_Cmr1ezOrx8JeYSfnnl5FzQL4ljEJztelko149FNHS5VZ0N8xsXBUo0Qk8NBfDVRr8MDiA"/> </a> </div> </div> <p><p><br></p></p><ul><li>Now click <strong>File</strong>, then click <strong>Save As...</strong></li></ul><div class="embedExternal embedImage display-large float-none"> <div class="embedExternal-content"> <a class="embedImage-link" href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fExoYfofczDMreDE28zIcBa_fRJW7OUZksAV2JeiLYjjI4M2xSZ0imY2p2ZdMVc9Zwb9KiCz1mLhRjBR0FcWRxU97TyEl-T7egRHCiK66sExqslnw-P1NUgUy7MMAsaZxqYX3lwA" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener ugc" target="_blank"> <img class="embedImage-img" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fExoYfofczDMreDE28zIcBa_fRJW7OUZksAV2JeiLYjjI4M2xSZ0imY2p2ZdMVc9Zwb9KiCz1mLhRjBR0FcWRxU97TyEl-T7egRHCiK66sExqslnw-P1NUgUy7MMAsaZxqYX3lwA" alt="fExoYfofczDMreDE28zIcBa_fRJW7OUZksAV2JeiLYjjI4M2xSZ0imY2p2ZdMVc9Zwb9KiCz1mLhRjBR0FcWRxU97TyEl-T7egRHCiK66sExqslnw-P1NUgUy7MMAsaZxqYX3lwA"/> </a> </div> </div> <p><p><br></p></p><ul><li>Change the '<strong>Save as type'</strong> to <strong>All Files</strong> by clicking the dropdown. You can create any name for the file, however, <strong>you must type ‘.bat’ at the end of the file name.</strong> (see picture below)</li></ul><div class="embedExternal embedImage display-large float-none"> <div class="embedExternal-content"> <a class="embedImage-link" href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/EOI-qoU4YeM27l_y7nQbpvVGJSO_iFv81_YedXcnQ1v7jTUQD_xSOj0UzHrzoxr88EDotxs-oMYbafZXZKYzKNq9IScrx7Cy7qUWEbXpZVnUKtdNBWg0kwFWr8jjfVszh-rdfJPy" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener ugc" target="_blank"> <img class="embedImage-img" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/EOI-qoU4YeM27l_y7nQbpvVGJSO_iFv81_YedXcnQ1v7jTUQD_xSOj0UzHrzoxr88EDotxs-oMYbafZXZKYzKNq9IScrx7Cy7qUWEbXpZVnUKtdNBWg0kwFWr8jjfVszh-rdfJPy" alt="EOI-qoU4YeM27l_y7nQbpvVGJSO_iFv81_YedXcnQ1v7jTUQD_xSOj0UzHrzoxr88EDotxs-oMYbafZXZKYzKNq9IScrx7Cy7qUWEbXpZVnUKtdNBWg0kwFWr8jjfVszh-rdfJPy"/> </a> </div> </div> <p><p><br></p></p><ul><li><strong><em>Right</em></strong><em>-click</em> the file, then click <strong>Run as Administrator</strong> when you need to clear and restart the print spooler</li></ul><div class="embedExternal embedImage display-large float-none"> <div class="embedExternal-content"> <a class="embedImage-link" href="https://us.v-cdn.net/6031942/uploads/editor/gc/s50gpz5mkc5a.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener ugc" target="_blank"> <img class="embedImage-img" src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6031942/uploads/editor/gc/s50gpz5mkc5a.png" alt="s50gpz5mkc5a.png"/> </a> </div> </div> <p><p><br></p></p><p>That’s it! Just a reminder, you may want to keep the batch file we created in step 3. You can re-use it and it will allow you to restart the print spooler much faster in the future. I hope this helps!</p> </article> </main>
