The Print Spooler is a service that handles printers and print jobs in Windows 10. But multiple things—such as corrupt files, obsolete drivers, and insufficient permissions—can stop it from functioning correctly.
So if the Print Spooler crashes, fails to start, or keeps stopping as you perform a printer-related action on your PC, the fixes and suggestions below should let you get it working again.
Run Printer Troubleshooter
Windows 10 comes with a built-in troubleshooter that can automatically sort printer issues on your computer. So it’s best to kick things off by running it.
Open the Start menu and select Settings .
Select Update & Security .
- Switch to the Troubleshoot tab and select the option labeled Additional troubleshooters .
- Select Printer > Run the troubleshooter .
- Follow all prompts on the Printer troubleshooter to find and fix problems with printing.
Check Print Spooler Configuration
If running the Printer troubleshooter didn’t help, follow up by double-checking the configuration of the Print Spooler. Then, make any changes to match the steps that follow.
Press Windows + R to open the Run box.
Type services.msc and select OK . The Services app should load momentarily.
- Double-click the service labeled Print Spooler .
Set Startup type to Automatic .
Select Start to set Service status to Running .
- Select Apply , then OK .
Check the Print Spooler Recovery Response
Should the issue recur, you must follow by tweaking the Print Spooler’s recovery response in a way that restarts the service even after it fails.
Re-open the Services app.
Double-click the Print Spooler service.
Switch to the Recovery tab.
Select Restart the Service on the drop-down menus next to First failure , Second failure , and Subsequent failures .
- Select Apply , then OK .
Delete the Print Spooler Cache
An obsolete or corrupt Print Spooler cache can cause it to crash repeatedly. Try deleting them to check if that helps. However, before you do that, you must manually stop the service from running.
Open the Services app.
Right-click Print Spooler and select Stop .
Open File Explorer and go to Local Disk (C:) > Windows > System32 > spool > PRINTERS .
Delete all files inside the directory. However, leave folders (if you see any) intact.
- Restart your computer.
Delete Temporary Files in Windows 10
Temporary files that belong to applications and the operating system can also create conflicts and prevent the Print Spooler from working correctly. Try deleting them.
Press Windows + R to open the Run box.
Type %temp% and select OK .
Delete all files within the folder.
Open another Run box, type temp , and select OK .
Delete all files within that folder as well.
Restart your computer.
For additional instructions, check out this guide to deleting temporary files in Windows 10 .
Reinstall Printer Drivers
Corrupt or broken printer drivers can also cause the print spooler to keep stopping. If the service stops working while interacting with a specific printer, try reinstalling it.
Open the Start menu and go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners .
Select a printer under the Printers & scanners section.
Select Remove device .
Select Home and go to Apps > Apps & features .
Select and remove any printer-related support software.
Restart your computer.
Re-open the Settings app and go to Devices > Printers & scanners . Then, choose the Add a printer or scanner option and select Add device .
Select the printer and follow all on-screen prompts to reinstall it.
Reinstall any support software for the printer.
If you run into issues while following the steps above, you may want to learn about additional ways to remove printer drivers in Windows 10 .
Update Printer Drivers
Newer printer drivers contain fixes that resolve bugs and compatibility issues with the operating system. So it’s always a good idea to download and install the latest drivers or support software from your printer manufacturer’s website. Also, consider using a driver updater tool if you have any trouble procuring drivers manually.
Update Windows 10
Updating Windows 10 helps fix any persistent bugs and glitches preventing the Print Spooler from working correctly. Check for any pending updates and apply them now.
Open the Start menu and go to Settings > Update & Security .
Select Check for updates .
- Select Download and install to apply all pending updates.
If you see the View optional updates option within the Windows Update screen, select it and apply any Microsoft-verified driver updates for your printer.
Fix Broken Registry Keys
Broken registry keys in Windows 10 can also result in Print Spooler-related issues. A free registry cleaning application such as Wise Registry Cleaner should help you both scan and fix errors automatically.
Scan for Malware
Computer viruses and malicious programs often cause essential functions in Windows 10 to stop working. However, you can use Windows Security to rule that out by performing a comprehensive scan for malware.
Select the Windows Security icon on the system tray.
Select Virus & threat protection .
Select Scan options .
Select the radio button next to Full scan .
- Select Scan now .
Run the System File Checker
The System File Checker is a command-line tool that can help you fix file corruption and stability issues in Windows 10. You can run it via an elevated Windows PowerShell console.
- Right-click the Start button and select Windows PowerShell (Admin) .
- Type the following command:
sfc/ scannow
- Press Enter .
Take Ownership of Spoolsv
Taking ownership of the executable file that runs the Print Spooler can also help stop crashes and other issues with the service.
Open File Explorer and go to Local Disk (C:) > Windows > System32 .
Right-click the file labeled spoolsv and select Properties .
Switch to the Security tab and select Advanced .
- Select Change .
- Type in your Windows username and select Check Names . If you typed it correctly, you should see the path to your user account listed automatically.
Select OK .
Confirm that you see your username next to Owner . Then, select Apply , then OK .
- Restart your computer.
Perform a System Restore
If your print spooler still keeps stopping, you can choose to revert your computer to an earlier state when the Print Spooler worked without problems. However, you can only do that if you took the time to activate the System Restore functionality in Windows 10 previously.
Open the Run box.
Type sysdm.cpl and select OK .
Switch to the System Protection tab.
Select System Restore .
- Select Recommended restore or Choose a different restore point and select Next .
- Follow all on-screen instructions to reset your computer.
Print Spooler Working Non-Stop
Any of the fixes above should’ve helped get the Print Spooler up and running correctly. But if none of them worked and you keep receiving errors frequently, you must consider restoring Windows 10 to factory settings . You might be dealing with a severe underlying issue that only setting up the operating system from scratch can fix.
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Dilum Senevirathne is a freelance tech writer and blogger with three years of experience writing for online technology publications. He specializes in topics related to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Google web apps. When he isn’t hammering away at his Magic Keyboard, you can catch him binge-watching productivity hacks on YouTube. Read Dilum’s Full Bio
If you connect to different printers across several locations all the time, you’ll probably not use all of the printers installed on your device – probably just once or twice. However, your device ends up with many printers installed on it without you realizing it.
Thankfully, you can remove any printer you’re no longer using, except it doesn’t completely get erased from your device – the printer driver remains in your device’s inventory in case you need it again.
If you’re sure you won’t need it, you can remove or uninstall old, obsolete or uninstalled printer drivers , and leftover driver packages or registry entries from your device.
We’re going to walk you through five ways to completely uninstall printer drivers in Windows 10.
How To Remove Or Uninstall Printer Drivers In Windows 10
These are a few of the ways you can remove printer drivers in Windows 10:
- Uninstall printer software using Settings.
- Remove printer driver from Print Server Properties.
- Uninstall printer driver using Control Panel.
- Use Print Management to remove old printers.
- Delete old printers via Registry Editor.
- Uninstall printer using Command Prompt.
- Remove a printer using PowerShell.
- Delete remnants from Windows driver store.
Uninstall Printer Software Using Settings
If you don’t need a particular printer anymore, you can follow the usual steps to uninstall a printer from Settings and then uninstall its software, especially if using a third-party utility.
If the Settings app installed other tools to manage your printer automatically, you’ll have to manually remove the leftover software.
- Open Settings>Devices.
- Click Printers & Scanners .
- Select your printer, click Remove device , and click Yes when asked to confirm the deletion.
Note: The steps above only remove the printer from the list, so you’ll need to remove any leftover printer software or related applications.
- Open Settings>Apps .
- Click Apps & Features and select the printer software you’d like to remove.
- Click Uninstall and follow the steps to completely remove any leftover printer-related applications.
Remove Printer Driver From Print Server Properties
If you’re still seeing an old printer, or one that you previously uninstalled, appearing on the Printers & Scanners page, you can remove or uninstall the printer driver and driver packages.
- Open Settings>Devices>Printers and Scanners on the left pane.
- Scroll down to Related settings and click Print Server Properties . Alternatively, you can right-click Start>Run and type printui /s /t2 to go to the Print Server properties page directly.
- Select the Drivers tab. From the list, click on the old printer entry and select Remove .
- You’ll get two options in a popup – Remove driver or Remove driver and driver package . Select the latter and click OK .
- If you get a confirmation prompt to Remove Driver Package , click Delete .
Uninstall Printer Driver Using Control Panel
You can remove and uninstall your printer and leftover printer driver or related apps from Control Panel using these steps.
- Open Control Panel>Hardware and Sound .
- Click Devices and Printers .
- Under Printers , right-click your device and click Remove device . Click Yes to confirm the action.
- Next, go to Settings>Apps>Apps & Features and select the software you want to remove.
- Click Uninstall and follow the on-screen steps to completely remove the printer software.
Use Print Management To Remove Old Printers
Ideally, if you used the Print Server properties method above, it should remove and uninstall the printer driver. However, you can use the Print Management console to completely remove printers you no longer use, and their drivers.
The Print Management dialog shows you the printers and current print jobs on your device. Before you delete the old printer driver though, make sure it’s not being used by any other printer.
- Open Control Panel>System and Security .
- Click Administrative Tools .
- Double-click the Print Management shortcut.
- Under Custom Filters , select All Printers .
- Right-click the printer you want to remove.
- Click Delete and Yes to confirm the action.
- Open Settings>Apps>Apps & Features and click the printer software you want removed.
- Click Uninstall and follow on-screen instructions to completely remove the printer driver.
Delete Old Printers Via Registry Editor
If you open the Add a printer page and find old printers still listed there, edit the registry to remove leftover entries. To do this, start by creating a system restore point, and then follow the steps below.
- Right-click Start>Run .
- Type regedit.exe and click OK (or press Enter on your keyboard) to open the Registry Editor.
Find the registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREClassesLocal SettingsPrintersRoamed
- Right-click the printer from the right pane, and select Delete .
- Check printer entries and delete unwanted items by going to this key: HKEY_CURRENT_USERPrintersConnections
Next, go to this key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlPrintPrinters
- Click to expand the key, right-click your printer and select Delete .
Some subkeys may still have references to your old printer, so you can clear the following as well:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlPrintEnvironmentsWindows NT x86DriversVersion-3 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlPrintEnvironmentsWindows x64DriversVersion-3 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlPrintEnvironmentsWindows x64DriversVersion-4
Once this is done, exit the Registry Editor.
Uninstall Printer Using Command Prompt
If you’re a fan of command lines, the Command Prompt is another tool you can use to delete a printer and remove related drivers and apps.
- Click Start and type CMD in the search bar.
- Click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator from the right pane.
- In the Command Prompt window, type this command: wmic printer get name and press Enter to see the list of printers on your device.
- To uninstall the printer, type printui.exe /dl /n “YOUR-PRINTER-NAME” and press Enter. Remember to replace YOUR-PRINTER-NAME with your printer’s full name. For example, printui.exe /dl /n HP DJ 2600 Series CL3 .
- To uninstall the printer software, open Settings>Apps>Apps & Features and select the printer software you want to remove. Click Uninstall and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
Remove a Printer Using PowerShell
If you prefer PowerShell over Command Prompt, here are the steps to take to remove the printer and related software.
- Right-click Start > Windows PowerShell (Admin) .
- Type this command: Remove-Printer –Name “YOUR-PRINTER-NAME” .
- Open Settings > Apps > Apps & Features , and click the software you want removed.
- Click Uninstall and follow the directions to remove it completely.
Delete Remnants From The Windows Driver Store
This solution is meant to remove any remnants of drivers that may still be on your device even after deleting driver packages.
In the driver store, you’ll find inbox and third-party driver packages, which were installed and stored in the folder even before the driver itself got installed.
Each of the subfolders in the store holds a driver package and corresponding .inf file , but it’s a bit difficult to find the specific driver package you’d like to remove.
The good news is you can use a third-party tool to explore the Windows driver store and completely remove the old printer driver once for all. It’ll also save you lots of space that would otherwise have been occupied by junk files.
What Happens When Drivers Are Deleted?
A device driver is a piece of software that tells your computer’s operating system how to communicate with the device it’s connected to.
For example, to connect to your printer and execute the print command, a printer driver is needed to bridge the gap between the two devices, and deliver the print job to you.
Without the printer driver, your printer is just hardware that doesn’t work. Similarly, deleting the printer driver after deleting the printer from your computer renders it inoperative.
However, if you delete the driver, you can undo the deletion using System Restore , from the previous restore point created when you deleted the driver from your computer.
Alternatively, Windows will automatically install the driver on your operating system by searching for it from its extensive library of drivers. If it doesn’t find a suitable driver, it’ll search for a driver online through Windows Update. Otherwise, you can visit the device manufacturer’s website to find the specific driver for your printer.
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Elsie is a technology writer and editor with a special focus on Windows, Android and iOS. She writes about software, electronics and other tech subjects, her ultimate goal being to help people out with useful solutions to their daily tech issues in a simple, straightforward and unbiased style. She has a BCom degree in Marketing and currently pursuing her Masters in Communications and New Media. Read Elsie’s Full Bio
