The Print Spooler service is a necessary element for printing documents on any Windows operating system. It is responsible for managing print jobs sent from computers to the printer and can become dysfunctional due to errors or corrupted files.
Restarting the print spooler service using specific methods can help resolve those issues and get your printer working properly again. This guide will explain how to restart the Print Spooler service on Windows.
What Is the Print Spooler Used For?
Have you ever been in the middle of printing something important and suddenly your printer stopped working? Frustrating, right? Well, it might just be a problem with the Print Spooler. But what exactly is a Print Spooler? And what is it used for?
The Print Spooler is a Windows system service that manages the printing process. It acts as an intermediary between the user, applications, and the printer. The Print Spooler also keeps track of which documents have been printed and how many copies have been printed. It is an integral part of the Windows operating system and must be running for printing to function properly.
Without this tool, printers may not work as expected or at all. If you encounter any issues with your printer, it is always worth checking if the Print Spooler service is running. If it isn’t, you can try restarting the service or reinstalling your printer driver.
How to Restart the Print Spooler Service Using Windows Services
Restarting the Print Spooler service is a quick and easy way to fix common printing issues on Windows. To restart the Print Spooler service using Windows Services, follow these steps:
- Press Win + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. For more information, you can read our detailed guide on how to open the Run Command dialog box on Windows.
- Type services.msc in the text box and click OK. This will take you to the Services window where you can see all the services running on your system.
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Next, scroll down and look for the Print Spooler service.
- Once you find the service, right-click on it and select Restart.
- If the service is already running, stop it first from the context menu and then restart it again.
How to Restart the Print Spooler Service Using Command Prompt
You can also open Command Prompt as an administrator and run a command to restart the Print Spooler service. Here's how to do it:
- Press Win + X on your keyboard, then select Run from the menu list.
- In the Run dialog box, type cmd and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter on your keyboard.
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If the UAC prompt appears on the screen, click Yes to grant privileges.
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Once you're in the Command Prompt window, type the following command and hit Enter. This will stop the Print Spooler service.
net stop spooler
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Next, type the command below and press Enter to restart it.
net start spooler
And that's it! The Print Spooler service should now be restarted.
How to Restart the Print Spooler Service via Task Manager
Alternatively, you can restart the Print Spooler using Task Manager. To do this, follow these steps:
- Press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys on your keyboard to open Task Manager. If that doesn't work, right-click on your Taskbar and select Task Manager from the context menu.
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Next, look for the Services tab in the left pane of the Task Manager window. Click on it to open the Services list.
- Scroll down until you find the Spooler service. Right-click on it and select Restart.
So, there you have it - three different ways to restart the Print Spooler service on your Windows 11 PC. Whether you choose to use the Services window, Command Prompt, or Task Manager, the steps are simple and straightforward. So, go ahead and give it a shot!
Restarting the Print Spooler on Windows, Made Easy
Did your printer stop working while printing something important? Don't worry, it might just be a simple fix. Sometimes the print spooler service on Windows just needs a quick restart to get things up and running again.