How to Start Print Spooler Service: Instructions & Troubleshooting Guide

The Print Spooler Service is a Windows service that is responsible for printing in Windows.
This service is essential to the overall functioning of the Windows operating system, and users can’t print without it.
Nonetheless, many users reported that they can’t start this service.

• The Print Spooler service plays an important role in printing, and without it, you can’t print at all.
• If your Print Spooler service is not starting, you won’t be able to print anything, and that is unacceptable.

Check if Print Spooler service is running

1. Click Start button -> type services.msc -> press Enter.
2. Locate the Print Spooler service -> right click on it -> select Properties.
3. In the General tab -> switch to the Startup type -> select Automatic (Delayed Start).
4. Press Start button -> type services.msc -> press Enter.
   
5. Locate the Print Spooler service -> right click on it -> select Properties.
6. In the General tab -> switch to the Startup type -> select Automatic (Delayed Start).

Run the Print Spooler troubleshooter

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings, and click on the Update & Security option.
2. Choose Troubleshoot from the left pane, and click on Additional troubleshooters from the right.
3. Scroll down, and click on the Printer troubleshooter (if there’s more than one, select Print Spooler).
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process.
   

Run the SFC scan

1. Go to Start > type cmd > right click on Command prompt > click on Run as administrator
2. Inside the Command prompt, type the following command and press Enter:
   sfc/scannow
3. The SFC scan will now start. Wait until the scan is complete (this may take some time).
   

Run the DISM repair tool

1. Download the latest version of DISM from Microsoft’s website.
2. Double-click the Dism.exe file to start the tool.
   
3. Select the Offline Scan option from the User Account Control (UAC) prompt.
4. Select the operating system from the Type the desired operating system list and click Next.
5. Click Browse and select the Windows installation directory.
6. Click Scan.
   
7. Restart the computer after the scan finishes.

Uninstall

1. Press Windows + R to open Run, type services.msc in the text field, and click OK.
2. Double-click Print Spooler to open its properties in the snapshot directly below.
   
3. Select the Startup type dropdown menu to select Automatic.
4. Then, tick both the options under the General tab, and click the Apply and OK buttons.
5. Restart Windows if advised.
6. Check printer status
   

Reinstall Print Spooler

1. Press Windows Key + R to open Run.
2. Type services.msc in Run and click OK.
   
3. Locate Print Spooler, right-click it and choose Stop.
4. Now, right-click Print Spooler again and choose Start.