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Bryan Collins
Bryan Collins

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Print Spooler Keeps Stopping: The Complete Technical Fix Guide 2026

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Your print jobs keep disappearing. The Print Spooler service keeps stopping on its own. Every time you try to print, the system shows an error or the queue just vanishes. This is one of the most frustrating Windows printing issues because it seems random and the fix often feels hidden.

Need immediate help? Chat with a certified tech expert: https://bit.ly/ask-a-tech

Why Print Spooler Stops

The Print Spooler is a Windows service that manages all your print jobs. When it crashes or stops, nothing gets printed. Common causes:

  1. Corrupted print jobs - A stuck or bad print job crashes the spooler
  2. Outdated drivers - Printer drivers conflict with Windows updates
  3. Malware or corruption - Spooler files get infected or corrupted
  4. Port conflicts - Multiple printers fight over the same port
  5. System memory issues - Not enough resources to run the service

Quick Fixes

1. Restart the Print Spooler Service

  • Press Windows key + R
  • Type "services.msc"
  • Find "Print Spooler"
  • Right-click and select "Restart"

2. Clear the Print Queue

  • Stop Print Spooler service
  • Go to: C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
  • Delete all files in this folder
  • Restart Print Spooler service

3. Update Printer Drivers

  • Go to Device Manager
  • Find your printer
  • Right-click and select "Update driver"
  • Choose "Search automatically for updated driver software"

4. Disable and Re-enable Spooler

  • Open Services.msc
  • Right-click Print Spooler
  • Select "Properties"
  • Change Startup type to "Disabled"
  • Click Apply then OK
  • Restart your computer
  • Go back and set Startup type to "Automatic"

External Resources

📺 Video Guide: https://youtu.be/aCKdW9uFgqA
📄 Google Sites Reference: https://sites.google.com/view/mrgrid-io/print-spooler-keeps-stopping
💬 Interactive Tool: https://claude.ai/public/artifacts/1a136014-0d89-4e2b-b4f9-69941177eb77
📰 Medium Deep Dive: https://medium.com/@Bryan_Collins/print-spooler-keeps-stopping-the-complete-technical-fix-guide-2026-05f2cfc18e23
💼 LinkedIn Discussion: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/print-spooler-keeps-stopping-80-fix-deleting-one-folder-collins-fctqe
📧 Substack Newsletter: https://open.substack.com/pub/bryancollinsonline/p/i-wasted-three-hours-on-a-problem

Get Expert Help: https://bit.ly/ask-a-tech

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