Hello readers, if you’re experiencing trouble with your printer and wondering how to restart print spooler Windows 10, you’ve come to the right place. The print spooler is a software program that handles all print jobs sent to a printer. Sometimes, it may become unresponsive, causing the printer to stop working properly. In this article, we will guide you on how to restart print spooler Windows 10 in just a few simple steps.
Steps
Step 1: Open the Services Menu
The first step to restarting print spooler Windows 10 is to access the services menu. Right-click on the Windows Start menu button and select Run. Type in “services.msc” and click OK to open the Services menu.
Step 2: Locate the Print Spooler Service
Once the Services menu opens, scroll down to locate the Print Spooler service. You can identify it by its name in the list of services.
Step 3: Stop the Print Spooler Service
Right-click on the Print Spooler service and then click “Stop” in the drop-down menu. This will stop the Print Spooler service from running.
Step 4: Disable Print Spooler Service
Next, right-click on the Print Spooler service again, and select “Properties.” In the Properties window, go to the “General” tab and set the “Startup Type” to “Disabled.” Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the settings.
Step 5: Clear Print Spooler Files
Go to the Windows folder in the C drive, and open the System32 folder. Look for the “Spool” folder and open it. Delete all the files in this folder as these are the print spooler files that need to be cleared.
Step 6: Restart the Computer
Restart your computer to apply the changes you’ve made so far.
Step 7: Open the Services Menu Again
Once your computer has restarted, follow Step 1 to open the Services menu again.
Step 8: Locate the Print Spooler Service Again
Scroll down the list and locate the Print Spooler service again.
Step 9: Enable Print Spooler Service
Right-click on the Print Spooler service, select “Properties,” go to the “General” tab, and set the “Startup Type” to “Automatic.” Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the settings.
Step 10: Start Print Spooler Service
Right-click on the Print Spooler service again, and select “Start” in the drop-down menu. This will start the Print Spooler service again.
Step 11: Check Printer Driver
Check your printer driver to ensure that it is up-to-date and compatible with your system.
Step 12: Test the Printer
Finally, test your printer to check if it’s working properly.
Explanation
Now that we’ve outlined the 12 steps to restart print spooler Windows 10, let’s go over some more detailed explanations of what each step entails.
Step 1: This step involves opening the Services menu, which contains a list of all the services running on your system.
Step 2: You’ll need to find the Print Spooler service on the list of services, which is responsible for managing all print jobs sent to your printer.
Step 3: Right-click on the Print Spooler service and click “Stop” to halt its operation.
Step 4: Disable the Print Spooler service by changing its startup type to “Disabled.”
Step 5: Clear all files associated with the print spooler by deleting them from the Spool folder.
Step 6: Restart your computer to initialize all the changes you’ve made.
Step 7: Open the Services menu again.
Step 8: Locate the Print Spooler service a second time.
Step 9: Enable the Print Spooler service by changing its startup type back to “Automatic.”
Step 10: Start the Print Spooler service again.
Step 11: Check your printer driver to ensure that it is up-to-date and compatible with your system.
Step 12: Test your printer to check if it’s working properly.
Tips and Tricks
Tip 1: Update Your Printer Driver Regularly
To avoid encountering issues with your printer, it’s always a good idea to keep your printer driver updated regularly. You can download the latest drivers from the manufacturer’s website.
Tip 2: Use a Reliable Antivirus Program
Sometimes, printer issues can be caused by malware or viruses that affect your system. To minimize the risk of infection, make sure to use a reliable antivirus program and keep it updated.
Tip 3: Use High-Quality Paper and Ink
Using high-quality paper and ink can help to extend the life of your printer and improve the quality of your printouts.
Tip 4: Keep Your Printer Clean
Dust and debris can accumulate on your printer’s internal components over time, causing it to malfunction. Make sure to clean it regularly to keep it in good condition.
Tip 5: Utilize Printer Maintenance Features
Most printers come with built-in maintenance features that can help to keep it running smoothly. These features may include automatic cleaning or alignment tools.
Tip 6: Use the Correct Paper Settings
When printing, make sure to select the correct paper settings to ensure that your printer operates as intended.
Tip 7: Use the Printer’s Energy Saving Feature
Save energy by utilizing your printer’s built-in energy-saving features, such as standby or sleep modes.
Tip 8: Keep the Printer Firmware Updated
Updating the printer’s firmware can help to eliminate any issues or bugs that may arise during use.
Tip 9: Use a Surge Protector
Protect your printer from power surges by using a surge protector.
Tip 10: Keep Your Printer in a Suitable Environment
Ensure that your printer is kept in a suitable environment, where the temperature and humidity are at optimal levels, to prevent damage and ensure optimal performance.
In conclusion, restarting print spooler Windows 10 is a simple process that can easily be done in just a few simple steps. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can quickly fix any issue you may be experiencing with your printer. Remember to keep your printer clean, updated and use high-quality paper and ink to prolong its lifespan.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Restarting Print Spooler on Windows 10
Advantages
1. Fixes printing issues quickly – Restarting the print spooler service on Windows 10 can fix any printing issues caused by errors or conflicts.
2. Saves time and money – Instead of spending money to hire professionals or spend time troubleshooting, you can restart the spooler service and fix the issue.
3. Clears print queue – Restarting the print spooler can clear any print jobs stuck in the queue, allowing you to start fresh.
4. Increased performance – Restarting the print spooler can improve the overall performance of your printing system by freeing up system resources.
5. Easy to perform – Restarting the print spooler is a simple process that can be done by anyone with a basic knowledge of Windows 10.
Disadvantages
1. May disrupt printing activities – Restarting the print spooler service may cause disruptions to ongoing printing activities that cannot be paused or delayed.
2. May cause loss of unsaved data – If any unsaved data is lost during the restart process, it could cause inconvenience or even financial loss for businesses.
3. May require additional troubleshooting – If restarting the print spooler service does not fix the printing issue, additional troubleshooting may be necessary.
4. May affect other services – Restarting the print spooler service may also affect other related services, which may require further actions to restore their functionality.
5. Permissions required – Depending on your system settings, you may need administrator permissions to restart print spooler services, which may require additional authentication steps.
FAQ
1. What is a print spooler?
A print spooler is a software program that manages all print jobs sent from your computer to the printer. It stores data temporarily in the computer memory so that it can send it to the printer in an organized manner.
2. Why do I need to restart print spooler?
When the print spooler gets stuck or stops responding, it may cause your printer to stop working. Restarting the print spooler can help fix this issue.
3. How do I restart print spooler on Windows 10?
You can restart print spooler on Windows 10 by following these steps:
- Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box
- Type “services.msc” and press Enter
- Scroll down to find “Print Spooler”, right-click and choose “Restart”
4. Can I restart print spooler without using the command prompt?
Yes, you can restart print spooler without using the command prompt by using the services.msc console.
5. How do I troubleshoot print spooler issues on Windows 10?
You can troubleshoot print spooler issues on Windows 10 by checking the following:
- Restart the print spooler
- Check printer connections and cables
- Update printer drivers
- Check for Windows updates
6. What should I do if the print spooler keeps stopping?
If the print spooler keeps stopping, you can try these solutions:
- Restart your computer
- Update printer drivers
- Run printer troubleshooter
- Disable and re-enable the print spooler
7. How do I clear the print spooler cache?
You can clear the print spooler cache by following these steps:
- Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box
- Type “services.msc” and press Enter
- Stop the Print Spooler service
- Go to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
- Delete all the files in the PRINTERS folder
- Start the Print Spooler service
8. Can restarting print spooler cause data loss?
No, restarting print spooler will not cause data loss. It only clears the print queue and temporarily stops printing.
9. Why does the print spooler keep crashing?
The print spooler may keep crashing due to several reasons such as outdated printer drivers, corrupted files, or conflicts with other software programs.
10. How often should I restart print spooler?
There is no need to restart print spooler regularly. You only need to restart it when there is an issue such as when it stops responding or when a print job is stuck.
11. Can I delete print spooler files?
No, you should not delete print spooler files unless you have troubleshooting experience. Deleting the wrong files may cause your printer to stop working completely.
12. How do I know if the print spooler is running?
You can check if the print spooler is running by following these steps:
- Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box
- Type “services.msc” and press Enter
- Scroll down to find “Print Spooler” and check the status
13. What should I do if restarting print spooler does not work?
If restarting print spooler does not work, you can try these solutions:
- Update printer drivers
- Run printer troubleshooter
- Restart your computer
- Check for Windows updates
How to Restart Print Spooler Windows 10
Print spooler is a service in Windows that manages all print jobs sent to the printer. If the print spooler crashes or hangs, you might not be able to print until you restart it. In this article, we will guide you on how to restart print spooler in Windows 10.
Conclusion
In conclusion, restarting print spooler in Windows 10 is a simple process that can be done in a few steps. If you encounter any print-related issues, such as print jobs getting stuck or the printer not responding, restarting the print spooler should be your first troubleshooting step. We hope this guide helps you in resolving any print-related issues you may face.
Closing
Thank you for taking the time to read this article on how to restart print spooler in Windows 10. We appreciate your interest in learning how to troubleshoot printer-related issues. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave them in the comments section below. Till we meet again, happy printing!