It's incredibly frustrating when you click the "print" button and nothing happens. Your document disappears into the print queue, your printer remains silent, and your work comes to a standstill. Before considering any drastic measures, the simplest solution is to restart the print spooler. In this article, we'll explain how to restart print spooler for both Windows and Mac users, and address some security and permission-related issues.
Table of Contents
- I. Is It Safe to Restart Print Spooler?
- II. How to Restart Print Spooler?
-
1. How Do I Restart Print Spooler in Windows 7/10/11?
- 2. How to Restart Printer Spooler on a Mac?
- III. How to Restart Printer Spooler: Frequently Asked Questions
I. Is It Safe to Restart Print Spooler?
Yes, restarting the print spooler is completely safe. This is the first step recommended by Microsoft to resolve various printer problems. It's just a routine refresh operation, similar to resetting the network settings on your HP printer, when things get stuck.
What happens when you restart it? The service will clear the current print queue. This means any documents that are stuck or pending will be canceled and lost. You will need to resend these documents to print them again. Importantly, your printer drivers, installed printers, and any saved files on your computer will remain unchanged and unaffected.
II. How to Restart Print Spooler?
The following are some methods for resetting the Print Spooler on Windows and Mac.
1. How Do I Restart Print Spooler in Windows 7/10/11?
Method 1: Using the Services Manager
This is the fastest way to restart the print spooler in Windows.
- Press the Windows key + R key on your keyboard. This will open the "Run" window.
- Type "services.msc" in the box and then press Enter.
- The "Services" window will open, with services listed alphabetically. Scroll down the list to find "Print Spooler".
- Right-click on "Print Spooler". If the service is running, you will see the "Restart" option. Click it. Windows will stop the service and then immediately restart it.
- If the service is stopped, the option will be "Start". Click it. Then, right-click again, select "Properties", and under "Startup type", make sure it is set to "Automatic".
Method 2: Using Command Prompt
This method is faster than the one above. You can also use this method when you press the Windows key + R key but the Run panel doesn't respond.
- In the Windows Start menu search bar, type "cmd" or "Command Prompt". Right-click on "Command Prompt" in the search results and select "Run as administrator". Click "Yes" in the permission prompt window.
- In the black command prompt window, type the following stop command and press "Enter": net stop spooler
You will see a message: "The Print Spooler service is stopping..." followed by "The Print Spooler service was stopped successfully."
3. Then type the following start command and press "Enter": net start spooler
You will see a confirmation message indicating that the service has started successfully.
Method 3: Empty the Print Queue Folder
If the above procedure doesn't work, you'll need to manually clear all pending print jobs, which can be considered a hard reset of the print queue.
- Press the "Windows key + R," type "services.msc," and then press "Enter." Find "Print Spooler," double-click it, click "Stop," and then click "OK."
- Press the "Windows key + R" again. Paste "%WINDIR%\system32\spool\printers" and then press "Enter." The folder where print jobs are temporarily stored will open. Delete all files in it.
Encountering a "You need permission" error? First, if a permission pop-up window appears, simply click "Yes."
If that doesn't work, use an administrator command prompt: Type "cmd" in the Start menu search box. Right-click "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator." Copy and paste the following command: "del /F /Q C:\Windows\System32\spool\printers\*" and then press "Enter." This will force the deletion of the files and usually resolves the problem.
3. Next, you need to restart the Print Spooler service. Return to the "Services" window. Double-click "Print Spooler" again, click "Start." Set the "Startup type" to "Automatic." Then click "OK."
The above core method works for Windows 7, Windows 10, and Windows 11.
2. How to Restart Printer Spooler on a Mac?
For most users, the simplest and most effective solution is to remove and re-add your printer.
Go to "System Settings," then "Printers & Scanners." Select the problematic printer from the list on the left. Click the "-" button to remove the printer. Then, click the "+" button to reinstall the printer. Your Mac will usually automatically set up the printer again.
Alternatively, you can restart the underlying CUPS service. Macs handle printing quite differently from Windows systems; they don't have a "print spooler" service in the Windows sense. Instead, they use CUPS (Common Unix Printing System).
Open "Applications." Find "Utilities," then open "Terminal." Type "sudo cups restart" and press "Enter." You will be prompted to enter your administrator password. Enter the password (no characters will appear for security), and then press "Enter" again.
III. How to Restart Printer Spooler: Frequently Asked Questions
1. How to Restart Print Spooler Without Admin Rights?
You're likely to encounter this problem in a workplace or school environment. If you don't have administrator privileges, you can try restarting your computer or using the built-in troubleshooting tools.
- Simple Restart: Restart your computer. This will refresh all services, including the print spooler. It works for temporary printing issues and doesn't require specific admin rights.
- Use Built-in Troubleshooters: Go to "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Troubleshoot" > "Additional troubleshooters" (or "Other troubleshooters" in Win 11). Run the printer troubleshooter. This built-in tool can detect and fix spooler problems without requiring administrator privileges.
If none of the above methods work, you must contact your IT department or system administrator. They have the rights to restart the service or investigate network printing issues.
2. I Restarted the Printer Spooler, but My Printer Is Still Not Working?
If you have restarted the print spooler but your printer still isn't working, the problem might be elsewhere. Try updating or reinstalling your printer driver.
Press the "Windows key + X," then select "Device Manager." Expand the "Print queues" section, right-click on your printer model, and select "Update driver." Choose "Search automatically for drivers."
If that fails, right-click again and select "Uninstall device." Then, restart your computer. Windows will usually automatically reinstall the basic driver, or you can download the latest driver from the printer manufacturer's website.
IV. Conclusion
Knowing how to restart print spooler is an important digital troubleshooting skill. It can quickly and safely resolve most temporary printer errors. By following this guide, you'll be able to solve one of the most common technical problems yourself without waiting for assistance.
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