[Full Guide] How to Restart the Print Spooler in Windows

[Full Guide] How to Restart the Print Spooler in Windows

/ Sed Galope

If you’ve ever faced the frustration of a printer that refuses to cooperate, you’re not alone. Printers can sometimes develop issues, often linked to the print spooler, a service that manages your print queue and serves as the bridge between your computer and printer.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the ins and outs of restarting the print spooler using CMD, a surefire way to get your printer back on track. We’ll cover techniques such as Task Manager, Command Prompt, and even Windows Services to ensure you have all the information you need to solve your printer woes.

Plus, we’ll tackle some of the most frequently asked questions surrounding spooler CMD restarts, offering expert insights and reliable solutions for a wide range of printing problems. Eager to take charge of your printing experience once again? Continue reading to discover essential tips and tricks that will transform you into a print spooler command whiz in no time!

Restart Print Spooler in Task Manager

You can get a printer spooler service error often due to multiple issues with the printer service working along with the Windows operating system. It can result in restricted or delayed print jobs. One can restart the print spooler service to resolve the error and keep the print queue flowing. This can be done via task manager. Here are the steps for fixing print spooler windows/local services.

Step 1: Launch task manager from Windows main menu. Type task manager from the taskbar’s search and double-click the list option to open the task manager.

Step 2: In the task manager window, move to the services tab, and from the list, locate the printer spooler service.

Step 3: Right-click the spooler service and then select restart from the context menu. It will restart the spooler service.

restart print spooler service

Restart Print Spooler via Command Prompt

One can use the command prompt action to restart the print spooler service. It will restart the local service and start the print spooler. Here are two ways to incorporate command prompts.

(a)  net Command

For running the restart print spooler cmd net command, here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Launch Run utility via Windows key+ R, and in the run command box, type cmd and click ok to continue.

control find cmd

Step 2: In the prompt window, type net stop spooler and click enter to continue.

stop spooler cmd command

Step 3: Launch file explorer and type the following path location in the address bar. Click enter to continue.

C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Printers 

Step 4: Delete all cache and queued print jobs in the printer folder.

Step 5: Now launch the command prompt by following step 1. In the command prompt, type net start spooler and click enter to execute the command. It will restart the print spooler service.

net start spooler

(b)  sc Command

Like the net command line, the Sc command line option can restart the print spooler service. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Launch the command prompt from the Windows main menu. Type the command prompt in the taskbar’s search and click the option in the list. Select run as administrator.

run as admin cmd

Step 2: in the prompt window, type the following command and click enter to execute the action.

sc stop Spooler

sc start Spooler

sc start and stop spooler

Restart Print Spooler Through Services

Restarting the print spooler service from the Windows services utility can also fix the issue with the print job. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Launch the Run utility from the Windows key+ R. In the run command box, type services.msc and click ok to continue. It will launch the services app from the windows services menu.

Step 2: In the services menu, navigate to the printer spooler option. Right-click it to select the option of the stop from the context menu.

stop print spooler

Step 3: In the next step, launch Windows file explorer and type C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Printer in the address bar. Click ok to continue.

Step 4: Clear all pending files in the printer queue in the next window. Restart the printer spooler service by following the steps mentioned above.

Frequently Asked Questions About Restarting Your Spooler CMD

Why are my type services on my printer not working?

It’s possible that the printer driver is out of date and needs to be updated. To do this, download the latest version to the manufacturer’s website. If you’re still having issues, it could be a hardware issue with your printer. Try resetting the printer by disconnecting it from power for a few minutes before reconnecting it.

Do I need to start print spooler updates regularly?

Regular updates to your print spooler are important for keeping your printer functioning properly. A print spooler is a software program that manages the printing process on computers and other devices. It allows multiple documents to be printed in an orderly fashion, ensuring that they all come out correctly.

Why can’t I stop print spooler demands?

For many people, stopping the print spooler demands can be difficult. This is because the print spooler is an important part of your computer’s operating system and is responsible for managing the printing process. It stores data related to printing jobs and ensures they are sent to the printer orderly.

How do I input net stop spooler?

To input the command ‘net stop spooler,’ you must open a Command Prompt window as an Administrator. To do this, press the Windows key on your keyboard and type in “cmd.” Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator. Enter the command “net stop spooler” and press enter. The Spooler service will be stopped once the command has been executed.

How do I fix print spooler problems?

If the service is not running, enter Services in Administrative Tools and turn the Print Spooler service on. Ensure the service is set to automatic, and then reboot your computer. If the service is running, try stopping it and restarting it again to see if that helps.

How do I know when the print server is down for my PC?

If the print server is down, you will likely notice your printer is malfunctioning. Depending on how your network is set up, you may also see an error message when attempting to access the printer or print a document. If the server remains offline for too long, it can result in documents not being printed.

How can I locate the spool folder to troubleshoot printer problems?

To locate the spool folder and tackle printer problems, follow these steps:
Click on the Start menu and type “Run” in the search bar. Press Enter or click on the Run application in the search results.
In the Run dialog box, type “services.msc” and click OK.
In the services window, scroll down and find the Print Spooler service in the list. Double-click to open its Properties.
In the Print Spooler Properties window, locate the “Path to executable” field. This will display the spool folder’s location (e.g., C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS).
Open File Explorer and navigate to the spool folder path mentioned in Step 4. Here, you can view and manage print jobs to troubleshoot printer problems.
Remember to restart the Print Spooler service after making any changes to the spool folder to ensure the changes take effect.

Sed Galope
Meet the author

Sedfrey is an experienced writer and editor. He's also a PC hardware and gaming enthusiast. In his spare time, he enjoys reading about the latest innovations in the PC market and finding fixes to hardware and software errors.