Are you tired of dealing with a stubborn printer that refuses to print? One of the most common issues that can cause printing problems is a malfunctioning printer spooler. The printer spooler is a service that manages print jobs and communicates with the printer. If it becomes stuck or corrupted, it can prevent your printer from working properly. In this article, we will explore the program used to restart the printer spooler in Windows and provide step-by-step instructions on how to do it.
What Is The Printer Spooler?
The printer spooler is a service that runs in the background of your Windows operating system. Its primary function is to manage print jobs and communicate with the printer. When you send a print job to the printer, the spooler receives the job and stores it in a queue. The spooler then sends the job to the printer, which prints the document. The spooler also manages the print queue, allowing you to pause, cancel, or reorder print jobs.
Why Restart The Printer Spooler?
There are several reasons why you may need to restart the printer spooler. Some common issues that can be resolved by restarting the spooler include:
- Print jobs stuck in the queue: If a print job becomes stuck in the queue, it can prevent other jobs from printing. Restarting the spooler can clear the queue and allow printing to resume.
- Printer not responding: If the printer is not responding or is not printing, restarting the spooler can often resolve the issue.
- Corrupted print jobs: If a print job becomes corrupted, it can cause problems with the spooler. Restarting the spooler can clear the corrupted job and allow printing to resume.
Which Program Is Used To Restart The Printer Spooler?
The program used to restart the printer spooler in Windows is the Services console. The Services console is a built-in utility that allows you to manage services, including the printer spooler. To access the Services console, follow these steps:
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type services.msc and press Enter.
- The Services console will open, displaying a list of services.
How To Restart The Printer Spooler
To restart the printer spooler, follow these steps:
- In the Services console, scroll down and find the Print Spooler service.
- Right-click on the Print Spooler service and select Stop.
- Wait for the service to stop. This may take a few seconds.
- Once the service has stopped, right-click on the Print Spooler service again and select Start.
- The Print Spooler service will start again, and the spooler will be restarted.
Alternative Method: Using the Command Prompt
You can also restart the printer spooler using the Command Prompt. To do this, follow these steps:
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type cmd and press Enter.
- In the Command Prompt, type the following command: net stop spooler
- Press Enter to stop the Print Spooler service.
- Type the following command: net start spooler
- Press Enter to start the Print Spooler service again.
Conclusion
Restarting the printer spooler can often resolve printing issues and get your printer working again. By using the Services console or the Command Prompt, you can easily restart the spooler and get back to printing. Remember to always restart the spooler if you experience printing problems, as it can often resolve the issue quickly and easily.
What Is The Printer Spooler And Why Does It Need To Be Restarted?
The Printer Spooler is a service in Windows that manages the printing process. It acts as an intermediary between the operating system and the printer, handling tasks such as queuing print jobs and communicating with the printer. The Printer Spooler may need to be restarted if it becomes unresponsive or if there are issues with printing.
Restarting the Printer Spooler can resolve issues such as print jobs getting stuck in the queue, error messages appearing when trying to print, or the printer not responding. By restarting the service, you can clear out any stuck print jobs and reset the communication between the operating system and the printer.
How Do I Know If The Printer Spooler Needs To Be Restarted?
If you’re experiencing issues with printing, such as error messages or stuck print jobs, it may be a sign that the Printer Spooler needs to be restarted. You can also check the Event Viewer in Windows to see if there are any error messages related to the Printer Spooler. Additionally, if you’ve recently installed new printer drivers or made changes to your printer settings, it’s a good idea to restart the Printer Spooler to ensure everything is working properly.
If you’re still unsure whether the Printer Spooler needs to be restarted, you can try restarting it as a troubleshooting step. Restarting the Printer Spooler is a relatively safe process and won’t cause any harm to your system or printer.
How Do I Restart The Printer Spooler In Windows?
To restart the Printer Spooler in Windows, you can use the Services console or the Command Prompt. To use the Services console, press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box, type “services.msc” and press Enter. In the Services console, find the “Print Spooler” service, right-click on it and select “Restart”. To use the Command Prompt, press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box, type “cmd” and press Enter. In the Command Prompt, type “net stop spooler” and press Enter, followed by “net start spooler” and press Enter.
Alternatively, you can also restart the Printer Spooler by stopping the print queue. To do this, press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box, type “services.msc” and press Enter. In the Services console, find the “Print Spooler” service, right-click on it and select “Stop”. Then, go to the “C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS” folder and delete any files in the folder. Finally, go back to the Services console and start the “Print Spooler” service again.
Will Restarting The Printer Spooler Delete My Print Jobs?
Yes, restarting the Printer Spooler will delete any print jobs that are currently in the queue. If you have any important print jobs that you don’t want to lose, it’s a good idea to cancel them before restarting the Printer Spooler. You can cancel print jobs by going to the Devices and Printers folder, right-clicking on the printer and selecting “See what’s printing”, and then canceling the print job.
However, if you’ve already restarted the Printer Spooler and lost your print jobs, you can try recovering them by going to the “C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS” folder and looking for any files with a “.spl” or “.shd” extension. These files may contain your print jobs, and you can try printing them again by dragging and dropping them into the print queue.
Can I Schedule The Printer Spooler To Restart Automatically?
Yes, you can schedule the Printer Spooler to restart automatically using the Task Scheduler in Windows. To do this, press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box, type “taskschd.msc” and press Enter. In the Task Scheduler, create a new task and give it a name, such as “Restart Printer Spooler”. Then, set the trigger to “Daily” and the action to “Start a program”, and enter the command “net stop spooler” followed by “net start spooler”.
You can also use the Task Scheduler to restart the Printer Spooler at startup or at a specific time of day. To do this, create a new task and set the trigger to “At startup” or “Daily” at a specific time, and then set the action to “Start a program” and enter the command “net stop spooler” followed by “net start spooler”.
Are There Any Other Troubleshooting Steps I Can Take If Restarting The Printer Spooler Doesn’t Work?
Yes, if restarting the Printer Spooler doesn’t resolve your printing issues, there are several other troubleshooting steps you can take. First, try updating your printer drivers to the latest version. You can do this by going to the Devices and Printers folder, right-clicking on the printer and selecting “Update driver”. Then, try printing a test page to see if the issue is resolved.
If updating the printer drivers doesn’t work, try uninstalling and reinstalling the printer. To do this, go to the Devices and Printers folder, right-click on the printer and select “Remove device”. Then, go to the Control Panel and select “Devices and Printers”, and click on “Add a printer” to reinstall the printer.
If none of these troubleshooting steps work, you may want to try resetting the printer to its default settings or contacting the manufacturer for further assistance.