How to Fix Printer Spooler Error on Windows: Complete Guide

The print spooler is a Windows service that manages print jobs — it receives documents from your applications, queues them, and sends them to the printer. When this service stops or errors out, nothing will print, and you might see error messages like “The print spooler service is not running” or “Operation could not be completed (error 0x000006ba).”

This guide covers every method to fix print spooler errors on Windows 10 and 11.

What Causes Print Spooler Errors?

Before fixing the problem, it helps to know what might be causing it:

• Corrupted print jobs stuck in the spooler queue
• Outdated or conflicting printer drivers
• Printer driver conflicts from previously installed printers
• Malware or virus infections that target system services
• Windows Update bugs that corrupt the spooler service
• Registry corruption in the print spooler keys
• Third-party print management software conflicting with the Windows spooler

Fix 1: Restart the Print Spooler Service

This is the simplest fix and resolves the problem about 50% of the time.

Using the Services Console:

1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter
2. Scroll down to Print Spooler
3. Right-click it and select Restart
4. If “Restart” is greyed out, right-click and select Stop
5. Wait 10 seconds, then right-click and select Start
6. Try printing again

Using Command Prompt:

1. Click Start, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, select Run as administrator
2. Type the following commands, pressing Enter after each:

   net stop spooler
   net start spooler

3. Close Command Prompt and try printing

Fix 2: Clear the Print Spooler Queue

Corrupted print jobs stuck in the spooler folder can cause the service to crash repeatedly.

1. Stop the print spooler first (see Fix 1 — make sure it’s stopped, not running)
2. Press Win + R, type the following path, and press Enter:

   %WINDIR%\system32\spool\printers

3. Delete all files in this folder (these are temporary spool files — deleting them is safe)
   • If the folder is empty, that’s fine — move to the next fix
   • If you get “File in use” errors, the spooler is still running — stop it first
4. Start the print spooler service (see Fix 1)
5. Try printing

:::info[Tip] Clearing the spool folder removes stuck print jobs that prevent the service from starting. This is safe — these are temporary files that are normally deleted after printing. :::

Fix 3: Remove and Reinstall Problematic Printer Drivers

Corrupted or conflicting drivers are a major cause of spooler crashes.

Step 1: Remove Old Printers

1. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners
2. For each printer you no longer use, click it and select Remove
3. For your current printer, also remove it — you’ll reinstall it later

Step 2: Remove Old Drivers

1. Press Win + R, type printui.exe /s and press Enter (this opens Print Server Properties)
2. Go to the Drivers tab
3. Select each old/unused printer driver and click Remove
4. Choose Remove driver and driver package and click OK
5. Leave only the drivers you actively need (or remove all and reinstall fresh)

Step 3: Reinstall Your Printer

1. Restart your computer
2. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Add device
3. Let Windows install a fresh driver, or download the latest from your manufacturer’s website

Fix 4: Change Print Spooler Recovery Settings

You can configure Windows to automatically restart the spooler if it fails.

1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, press Enter
2. Double-click Print Spooler (don’t right-click — double-click to open properties)
3. Go to the Recovery tab
4. Set First failure to Restart the Service
5. Set Second failure to Restart the Service
6. Set Subsequent failures to Restart the Service
7. Set Reset fail count after to 1 day
8. Set Restart service after to 1 minute
9. Click Apply then OK

This doesn’t fix the root cause but prevents the spooler from staying down if it crashes.

Fix 5: Run the Windows Troubleshooter

Windows has a built-in printer troubleshooter that can detect and fix common spooler issues.

On Windows 11:

1. Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters
2. Find Printer and click Run
3. Follow the on-screen prompts
4. Apply any recommended fixes

On Windows 10:

1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot
2. Click Additional troubleshooters > Printer > Run the troubleshooter
3. Follow the prompts

Fix 6: Run System File Checker

Corrupted Windows system files can cause spooler errors. The SFC tool scans and repairs them.

1. Click Start, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, select Run as administrator
2. Type the following command and press Enter:

   sfc /scannow

3. Wait for the scan to complete (it takes 5-15 minutes)
4. If it finds and fixes errors, restart your computer
5. Try printing again

Also Run DISM:

If SFC doesn’t fix it, run the Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
2. Type:

   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

3. Wait for it to complete (10-20 minutes)
4. Restart your computer

Fix 7: Clean the Registry (Advanced)

If the spooler keeps crashing, there may be corrupted registry entries. Warning: Editing the registry is risky — back it up first.

Step 1: Back Up the Registry

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, press Enter
2. Click File > Export
3. Save the backup file somewhere safe (e.g., your Desktop)
4. Name it “RegistryBackup” and save

Step 2: Clean Print Spooler Keys

1. Navigate to:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Spooler

2. On the right side, find DependOnService and double-click it
3. Make sure the value is RPCSS (nothing else). If there are other values, remove them, leaving only RPCSS
4. Click OK

Step 3: Clean Old Printer Entries

1. Navigate to:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows x64\Print Processors

   (Use “Windows x86” on 32-bit systems)
2. Under Print Processors, you should see: winprint (and possibly hpproc or others)
3. If there are entries from old printer manufacturers that you no longer use, you can delete those keys
4. Keep winprint — never delete this one
5. Restart your computer

:::warning[Critical] Never delete registry keys unless you’re certain they’re safe to remove. The registry controls critical Windows functions — a mistake can make your system unbootable. Always export a backup first. :::

Fix 8: Check for Malware

Malware can specifically target the print spooler service. Run a full system scan:

1. Open Windows Security (search for it in the Start menu)
2. Go to Virus & threat protection > Scan options
3. Select Full scan and click Scan now
4. Wait for the scan to complete (can take 30+ minutes)
5. If threats are found, follow the recommended actions
6. Restart your computer

Fix 9: Perform a Clean Boot

If third-party software is conflicting with the spooler, a clean boot can identify the culprit.

1. Press Win + R, type msconfig, press Enter
2. Go to the Services tab
3. Check Hide all Microsoft services at the bottom
4. Click Disable all
5. Go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager
6. Disable all startup items
7. Close Task Manager, click OK in msconfig
8. Restart your computer
9. If the spooler works now, re-enable services one by one to find the conflicting software
10. Once identified, uninstall or update the problematic software

Preventing Future Spooler Errors

• Keep Windows updated — Microsoft releases patches for spooler bugs
• Remove old printer drivers when you get a new printer
• Avoid installing multiple printer management programs — they can conflict
• Run regular malware scans to catch threats early
• Keep your printer drivers updated from the manufacturer’s website
• Don’t cancel print jobs mid-transfer — let them complete or fail naturally

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:::disclaimer[Disclaimer] This article is provided for informational purposes only. Solve Tech Problems Online is an independent blog and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Microsoft Corporation or any printer manufacturer. All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. Editing the Windows registry carries risks — always create a backup before making changes. The steps above are general recommendations and may vary by Windows version. We are not responsible for any damage or data loss resulting from the use of this information. :::