To fix the **print spooler** issue on a Windows computer, you can follow these steps to clear and restart the spooler service, which often resolves common printing problems:
1. **Stop the Print Spooler Service**
– Press **Windows + R** keys to open the Run dialog.
– Type **services.msc** and press Enter to open Services.
– Find **Print Spooler** in the list, right-click it, and select **Stop**[1][2][3][5].
2. **Clear the Print Queue Files**
– Open the Run dialog again with **Windows + R**.
– Type `%WINDIR%system32spoolprinters` and press Enter.
– Delete all files inside the **Printers** folder to clear stuck print jobs[1][2][5].
3. **Restart the Print Spooler Service**
– Go back to Services.
– Right-click **Print Spooler**, select **Start**.
– Optional: Set its startup type to **Automatic** to ensure it runs on system boot[1][2][3][5].
4. **Further Steps if Problem Persists**
– Try restarting your computer and the printer.
– Clean reinstall printer drivers to fix driver corruption issues[2].
– In some cases, manual removal of the printer from the registry may be necessary (advanced)[5].
These steps fix most print spooler errors including “print spooler not running” or jobs stuck spooling. They work by stopping the service, clearing the job queue, and then restarting the spooler to reset its operation[1][2][3][5]. If security is a concern, note that the print spooler service has had vulnerabilities, and temporarily disabling it may mitigate risk, but this stops all printing[1].
Following these procedures provides a systematic method to resolve common printer spooler problems.