The printer spooler issue is one of the most common problems seen in printers. It occurs when the print job sent by the user fails to be printed, due to an error in the printer spooler service. The spooler is responsible for managing the print jobs and sending them to the correct printer. This problem can be caused by a number of different issues. Luckily, there are several methods that can be used to fix the printer spooler issue, so that it can be avoided in the future.
The first step that should be taken when attempting to fix the printer spooler issue is to restart the computer and printer. If a print job has been sent to the printer but it has not printed, restarting both the computer and the printer can often solve the issue. This is because the printer spooler must reload any data after the restart and therefore will start fresh.
If restarting the computer and printer does not resolve the issue, then the next step is to ensure that all of the printer’s drivers and software are up to date. Outdated drivers or software can cause various errors, including those related to the print spooler. To check for updates, connect the printer to the computer and open the Printer Properties window. Here, click on “Driver Updates” and allow any available updates to be installed.
If the printer spooler still will not work, the next step is to check the Windows services. Windows services are components of the operating system that control a variety of features and functions. One of these services is the print spooler. To activate the print spooler, go to the Start menu, select “Control Panel” and then choose “Administrative Tools”. Select “Services” and then find “Print Spooler”, right-click on it and then select “Start”. Alternatively, you can use the Command Prompt to start the Print Spooler by typing “net start spooler”.
If the above steps have all been completed, but the printer spooler still won’t work, then the issue may be caused by a virus or malware. Performing a full scan of the computer with a reputable anti-virus program will help to detect any malicious programs and eliminate them.
Finally, if the issue still persists, then the last option is to uninstall and reinstall the printer. Uninstalling and reinstalling the printer will delete any attempt at a print job that is sitting in the spooler and reset the entire system. This process can be done from the Control Panel and is usually successful in fixing the printer spooler problem.
These steps should provide an effective solution for fixing printer spooler issues. If the problem persists, though, it may be best to contact a tech support team for further advice and assistance.