The print spooler is the background Windows service that manages every print job. Restarting it fixes a wide range of stuck-queue and offline errors.

Quick Answer

Open the Services app, find Print Spooler in the list, right-click it, and choose Restart.

On This Page
  1. Quick Checks Before Troubleshooting
  2. 1. Open the Services App
  3. 2. Find Print Spooler
  4. 3. Right-Click and Restart
  5. 4. Confirm It's Running
  6. 5. Try Printing Again
  7. What If It's Still Not Fixed?
  8. Frequently Asked Questions

Quick Checks Before Troubleshooting

Before you start:
  • You'll need administrator access on the computer to restart a system service.

1. Open the Services App

1

Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.

2. Find Print Spooler

2

Scroll through the alphabetical list until you find "Print Spooler."

3. Right-Click and Restart

3

Right-click the service and select Restart from the menu.

4. Confirm It's Running

4

The Status column should show "Running" once the restart completes.

5. Try Printing Again

5

Resend your document to confirm the spooler restart resolved the issue.

What If It's Still Not Fixed?

If you've worked through every step above and the problem continues, it's worth checking a nearby cause rather than repeating the same steps. The guides below cover the most common related issues.

Still stuck? Try describing the problem in your own words using the search bar — different symptoms of the same root cause are often covered on a related page.

Frequently Asked Questions

It manages the queue of documents waiting to print, sending them to the printer in order and tracking their status.

Yes, restarting it is a routine, low-risk fix, though any jobs currently in the queue will be cleared.

People Also Ask

  • Confirm both devices are on the exact same WiFi network (not a guest network), then remove and re-add the printer in your system settings. Read the full guide →
  • Clear the spooler folder of temporary files, then update or reinstall the printer driver, which is the most common cause of repeated crashes. Read the full guide →
  • Restart the print spooler service through Windows Services — this is the most reliable way to force-clear a job that won't delete. Read the full guide →
  • Stop the print spooler service, delete the temporary print files manually, then restart the spooler to fully clear the queue. Read the full guide →

Related Guides

Why Does Print Spooler Keep Stopping? How Do I Clear a Stuck Print Queue? Why Can't I Delete a Print Job?