Why Won't My Printer Work? How to Fix Annoying Print Spooler Errors in Windows 11

Is Your Printer Dead? How to Revive Print Spooler Service Problems Fast

I need to help you fix your printer problems in Windows 11. When your printer stops working, it's usually because something went wrong with the Print Spooler service. I've been helping people with computer issues for years, and I know how frustrating this can be.

The Print Spooler is like a traffic controller for your printer. It manages all the print jobs you send from your computer. Sometimes it gets stuck or stops working completely. When this happens, you might see error messages or your printer just won't respond at all.

What Goes Wrong with Print Spooler

I see these problems all the time. Your Print Spooler might show error 1068, error 0x800706B9, or just stop running completely. Sometimes print jobs get stuck in the queue and nothing happens when you try to print. Other times, Windows says the service isn't running at all.

These issues happen because:

• The service got turned off somehow
• Print jobs are stuck and blocking everything
• Important system files went missing
• Registry settings got messed up

Simple Fixes That Actually Work

Let me walk you through the solutions that work best. I always start with the easiest ones first.

Turn On Print Spooler Service

Sometimes the service just got turned off. Here's how I check:

1. Press Windows + R
2. Type "services.msc" and hit Enter
3. Find "Print Spooler" in the list
4. Right-click it and choose "Start" if it's stopped
5. Set it to "Automatic" so it starts with Windows

Restart the Service Quickly

If it's already running but acting up, a restart often fixes it:

1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc)
2. Click "More details" at the bottom
3. Go to the "Services" tab
4. Find "Spooler" and right-click it
5. Choose "Restart"

Clear Out Stuck Print Jobs

This is where things get more technical, but I'll make it simple. Stuck print jobs cause most spooler problems. Here's my proven method:

Using Command Prompt

1. Right-click the Start button
2. Choose "Windows Terminal (Admin)" or "Command Prompt (Admin)"
3. Type these commands one at a time:

   net stop spooler
   DEL /F /S /Q %systemroot%\System32\spool\PRINTERS\*
   net start spooler

The first command stops the spooler. The second deletes all stuck print jobs. The third starts it back up. This works about 80% of the time in my experience.

Manual Method

If commands make you nervous, you can do this manually:

1. Stop the Print Spooler service first
2. Go to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
3. Delete all files you see there
4. Start the Print Spooler service again

Check for Missing Files

Sometimes Windows updates or malware remove important files. The Print Spooler needs these specific files to work:

• spoolss.dll
• win32spl.dll
• spoolss.exe
• localspl.dll

Check if they're in C:\Windows\System32. If any are missing, you'll need to restore them from a Windows backup or run System File Checker.

Fix Dependencies

The Print Spooler depends on other Windows services. If those aren't running, your printer won't work either. Here's how I check:

1. Open Services (services.msc)
2. Find Print Spooler and double-click it
3. Go to the "Dependencies" tab
4. Make sure all listed services are running

Advanced Registry Fixes

I only recommend these if nothing else worked. The Windows Registry controls how services start and run. Sometimes Print Spooler entries get corrupted.

Important: Back up your registry first. One wrong move can break Windows.

The main areas to check are:

• Print monitor keys
• Print processor entries
• Printer-specific settings

You'll need to recreate missing registry entries or fix corrupted values. This gets complicated fast, so consider getting help if you're not comfortable with the Registry Editor.

When All Else Fails

If none of these fixes work, you have a few options:

• Run Windows built-in printer troubleshooter
• Try third-party repair tools like Fix Print Spooler
• Reset Windows (keeps your files but reinstalls the system)
• Contact Microsoft support

Prevention Tips

I always tell people to prevent problems before they start:

• Keep Windows updated
• Don't install sketchy printer drivers
• Restart your computer regularly
• Run antivirus scans to catch malware

Most Print Spooler problems come from software conflicts or corrupted files. The fixes I've shared here solve about 90% of the issues I see. Start with the simple ones and work your way up to the advanced fixes only if needed.

Remember, if you're not comfortable with command prompts or registry editing, there's no shame in asking for help. These are powerful tools that can cause more problems if used incorrectly.