How to Stop or Restart Print Spooler Service on Windows 10?

Navigating the Windows ecosystem, many might recognize the term “Print Spooler service.” Still, not everyone fully grasps its importance. Thankfully, this risewindows guide sheds light on the matter. The Print Spooler, at its core, functions as the mediator between your computer and the printer. Think of it as a manager, diligently queuing up your print jobs, ensuring they’re executed in order. But, like any software, it isn’t immune to hiccups. Whether it’s a crash, hang, or an unexpected stop, these disruptions can leave your print jobs stranded mid-process. Such instances necessitate a manual intervention — restarting the Print Spooler service. Dive in as we detail how to address and resolve these Print Spooler seamlessly challenges on Windows 10.

We are going to give you four methods that you can use to do the same, namely:-

1. Stop or Restart Print Spooler Service from Service Manager
2. Stop or Start Print Spooler Service from Command Prompt
3. Use a Batch File to Stop or Start Print Spooler Service
4. Enable or Disable Print Spooler Service from System Configuration

The following steps will be helpful if you are facing the same issue and want to restart the Printer Spooler Service on your computer manually.

How to Stop or Restart Print Spooler Service from Service Manager?

Use the following steps to stop or restart the Print Spooler service using Service Manager on Windows 10:-

Step 1: On your keyboard, press the Windows logo and R keys simultaneously. It will open the Run dialog box.

Step 2: In the Run dialog box, type the following and press Enter:-

services.msc

Step 3: Find the Print Spooler in the list of services in the Services window.

Step 4: In the pop-up window that shows up on your screen, click either on Stop or Restart.

How to Stop or Start Print Spooler Service from Command Prompt?

Use the following steps to stop or restart the Print Spooler service using Command Prompt on Windows 10:-

Step 1: First, Open Command Prompt with administrative privileges.

Right-click the Start button on the taskbar and type CMD. In the search results, click on the Run as administrator option after right-clicking on the Command Prompt entry.

Once you do that, Command Prompt with administrative rights will show up on your screen.

Step 2: To stop the Print Spooler service, run the following command:-

net stop spooler

To start the Print Spooler service, run the following command:-

net start spooler

How to Use a Batch File to Stop or Start Print Spooler Service?

Step 1: Open a new Notepad document and paste the following commands:-

@echo off
NET stop spooler
NET start spooler

Step 2: Next, in the File menu, select the Save As option from the drop-down menu.

Step 3: A File name box will appear on your screen; type Print Spooler.bat in it. Once you do that, select All Files from the drop-down menu in Save as type.

Step 4: Now select the location where you want the batch file to be saved and click on Save.

Step 5: Next, right-click on the batch file (Print Spooler.bat) and go to Run as administrator.

Now a Command Prompt window will show up. When it does, the Print Spooler service will be stopped and started consequently. Finally, the Command Prompt window will be closed.

How to Enable or Disable Print Spooler Service from System Configuration?

You can also enable or disable the Print Spooler service in Windows 10 from the System Configuration. To do so, use the following steps:-

Step 1: Open the Run dialog box by simultaneously pressing the Windows + R keys on your keyboard.

Step 2: Next, run the following command in the dialog box:-

MSConfig

Step 3: The System Configuration window will appear on your screen.

Step 4: In the Window, go to the Services tab. Uncheck or check the box beside Print Spooler to disable or enable the Print Spooler services.

Step 5: Finally, click on Apply and then OK.

Once you have completed all the above steps, you can enable/ disable the Print Spooler Service on your system.

Conclusion

The Print Spooler is an integral component in the Windows 10 framework, managing print tasks and ensuring a streamlined printing process. However, when faced with unexpected disruptions or malfunctions, it’s crucial to know how to troubleshoot. Whether you’re a seasoned tech professional or a casual user, these four methods provide a comprehensive toolkit to address the Print Spooler service’s hiccups effectively. Each technique, ranging from the Service Manager to System Configuration, caters to different user comfort levels and situations. By mastering these methods, you ensure that your print jobs will always run smoothly and any interruptions can be swiftly addressed. So the next time you encounter a Print Spooler snag, remember, the solution is just a few steps away.