Welcome! If you are having trouble with your printer spooler in Windows 10, you have come to the right place. Restarting the printer spooler can solve a lot of issues related to printing, such as print jobs getting stuck in the queue. In this article, we will guide you through the steps on how to restart the printer spooler in Windows 10.
Steps: How to Restart Printer Spooler Windows 10
Step 1: Open the Services Manager
The first step is to open the Services Manager in Windows 10. You can do this by pressing the Win + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box, typing “services.msc” and then pressing Enter.
Step 2: Navigate to the Printer Spooler Service
Once the Services Manager is open, you need to locate the Printer Spooler service from the list of services. You can do this by scrolling down or using the search function.
Step 3: Stop the Printer Spooler Service
To stop the Printer Spooler service, right-click on it and select “Stop” from the context menu.
Step 4: Delete Print Jobs
After stopping the Printer Spooler service, you need to delete the print jobs that might be stuck in the queue. You can do this by opening the “Printers” folder in the Control Panel, selecting your printer, and then selecting “Cancel All Documents” from the context menu.
Step 5: Delete Printer Spooler Files
The next step is to delete the files associated with the Printer Spooler service. To do this, navigate to the following folder: C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS. Once you are in the folder, delete all the files.
Step 6: Start the Printer Spooler Service
After deleting the files, go back to the Services Manager, right-click on the Printer Spooler service and select “Start” from the context menu.
Step 7: Restart your Computer
To ensure that the changes take effect, it is recommended that you restart your computer.
Step 8: Install Latest Printer Drivers
If you are still experiencing problems with your printer, it may be due to outdated or corrupt printer drivers. To fix this, you should download and install the latest printer drivers from the manufacturer’s website.
Step 9: Check Windows Updates
Another reason for printer issues could be outdated Windows updates. It is important to regularly check for updates and install them as needed.
Step 10: Run Troubleshooter
Windows 10 comes with a built-in printer troubleshooter. You can access it by going to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Printer.
Step 11: Reinstall Printer
If all else fails, you may need to reinstall your printer. To uninstall your printer, go to the “Devices and Printers” folder in the Control Panel, right-click on your printer and select “Remove device”. Then, reinstall your printer and its drivers.
Step 12: Contact Technical Support
If you have followed all of these steps and are still experiencing issues with your printer, it may be time to contact technical support for further assistance.
Explanation
Restarting the printer spooler is often a quick fix for printer issues in Windows 10. The printer spooler is responsible for managing print jobs and if it gets stuck or corrupted, it can cause a lot of problems. By following the steps above, you can reset the printer spooler and get your printer working as it should.
Tips and Tricks
1. Check for updates
Make sure you regularly check for Windows updates and install them as needed. Outdated updates can cause printer issues.
2. Use the troubleshooter
Windows 10 comes with a built-in printer troubleshooter. Use it to diagnose and fix any printer issues you may be experiencing.
3. Restart your computer
Sometimes, simply restarting your computer can solve a lot of problems related to printers.
4. Check your connections
Make sure your printer is connected to your computer properly. Loose or disconnected cables can cause issues.
5. Uninstall old printers
If you have old printers installed on your computer, uninstall them. They can cause conflicts with your current printer and make printing difficult.
6. Use high-quality paper
Using high-quality paper can prevent paper jams and other printing issues.
7. Keep your printer clean
Regularly cleaning your printer can prevent clogs and other issues.
8. Use the correct ink or toner
Using the correct ink or toner for your printer can prevent quality issues and other problems.
9. Don’t forget to turn on your printer
Make sure your printer is turned on before you try to print anything.
10. Contact technical support
If all else fails, don’t be afraid to contact technical support for further assistance. They may be able to help you fix your printer issues.
Advantages and Disadvantages of How to Restart Printer Spooler Windows 10
Advantages
1. Clear Print Queue: Restarting printer spooler in Windows 10 clears the print queue and removes any stuck print jobs. This helps in avoiding printing problems and ensures that your printer is ready to receive new print jobs.
2. Fixes Errors: Restarting the printer spooler can help to fix errors that prevent document printing. It removes corrupted files and establishes a new connection between the printer and the computer, resulting in better performance and increased productivity.
3. Easy Troubleshooting: Restarting printer spooler in Windows 10 is a simple and easy troubleshooting step that can help to solve common printer-related issues. It can save time and money by avoiding the need to call a professional technician.
4. Works with Multiple Printers: You can restart the printer spooler service on all printers connected to your Windows 10 computer, making it a convenient tool that works with multiple devices.
5. Improves Network Printing: Restarting printer spooler on a networked printer can help to improve network printing performance, especially when multiple users are sending print jobs at the same time.
Disadvantages
1. Temporary Solution: Restarting the printer spooler service is a temporary solution that only addresses immediate problems. It may not solve the underlying cause of the issue and may require further troubleshooting in the future.
2. Interrupts Printing: When you restart the printer spooler service, it interrupts any ongoing print jobs, which may cause inconvenience if you are in the middle of an important document printing process.
3. Could Cause Further Issues: Restarting the printer spooler service may cause further problems, such as data loss or system crashes, especially if it is not done correctly or if there are other underlying issues with your computer.
4. May Require Administrative Rights: To restart the printer spooler service, you may need to have administrative rights to your Windows 10 computer, which could create security issues if accessed by unauthorized users.
5. Incompatible with Some Printers: Restarting the printer spooler service may not work on all printers, especially older or outdated models, which could limit its effectiveness as a troubleshooting tool.
FAQ
1. What is a printer spooler?
A printer spooler is a system service that manages the printing process on a Windows operating system. It manages the printing jobs in the order they were sent to the printer.
2. Why do I need to restart the printer spooler?
The printer spooler may need to be restarted if you are experiencing issues such as print jobs not completing, printer errors, or if the printer is stuck on a particular job.
3. How do I restart the printer spooler?
To restart the printer spooler in Windows 10, go to the Windows search bar and type in “services”. Select the Services app, find “Print Spooler” in the list of services, right-click on it, and select “Restart”.
4. What if the “Restart” option is greyed out?
If the “Restart” option is greyed out, you may need to stop the service first and then start it again. Right-click on “Print Spooler” and select “Stop”, wait a few seconds, and then right-click on it again and select “Start”.
5. Can I restart the printer spooler from the command prompt?
Yes, you can restart the printer spooler from the command prompt by typing “net stop spooler” followed by “net start spooler”.
6. Will restarting the printer spooler delete any print jobs?
Restarting the printer spooler will not delete any print jobs. They will remain in the queue and resume printing once the spooler has restarted.
7. What if restarting the printer spooler doesn’t fix my printing issues?
If restarting the printer spooler doesn’t fix your printing issues, you may need to try other troubleshooting methods such as updating the printer driver, checking for paper jams, or resetting the printer.
8. Is it safe to restart the printer spooler?
Yes, it is safe to restart the printer spooler. It is a standard troubleshooting method for fixing printing issues on Windows operating systems.
9. How often should I restart the printer spooler?
There is no set frequency for restarting the printer spooler. You should only restart it if you are experiencing printing issues.
10. Can I disable the printer spooler?
You can disable the printer spooler, but it will prevent you from printing anything on your Windows operating system.
11. What should I do if the print spooler keeps stopping by itself?
If the print spooler keeps stopping by itself, try restarting it manually or updating your printer driver. If the issue persists, you may need to seek further technical assistance.
12. How do I know if the printer spooler is running?
You can go to the Services app and look for “Print Spooler” in the list of services. If it is running, it will say “Running” in the Status column.
13. Can I restart the printer spooler on a remote computer?
Yes, you can restart the printer spooler on a remote computer if you have administrative privileges and the appropriate network access. You can do this through the Services app or using the command prompt.
How to Restart Printer Spooler in Windows 10
Printer spooler is an important component of the printing system in Windows 10. It allows the computer to send print jobs to the printer queue for printing. However, sometimes the printer spooler can stop working due to various reasons such as corrupted files, outdated drivers or conflicts with other software. In this article, we will discuss how to restart printer spooler in Windows 10.
Conclusion and Closing
Restarting printer spooler can be a simple solution to many printer issues. By following the steps mentioned in this article, you can easily restart the printer spooler in Windows 10. Remember to always keep your printer drivers updated and look out for any conflicts with other software that may be causing printer issues. We hope this article has been helpful to you. Happy printing!
Thank you for reading our article on how to restart printer spooler in Windows 10. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. We would be happy to hear from you. Until next time, happy computing!