What should I check first when I see print spooler error symptoms?

First, proceed with the ‘Turn the printer power off and on and check the status’ step. First check for printer errors, paper, ink, or temporary communication problems. We recommend that you avoid changing multiple settings at once and check to see if your symptoms change after each step.

How do I check for the possible cause ‘spooler service/file corruption’?

If there is no change in the first step, compare in order until ‘Check USB or network connection.’ If symptoms disappear immediately after certain actions or the conditions for their occurrence change, this can be an important clue in narrowing down the cause.

Unable to print due to Print Spooler service error: When do I need professional inspection?

Even if you follow the above solution steps in order, if the print spooler error symptom repeats or hardware abnormal signals such as a burning smell, abnormal noise, overheating, or failure to recognize parts appear together, we recommend backing up important data and having a professional inspection.

PC FIX

Computer Troubleshooting Guide

Printer

Unable to print due to Print Spooler service error

This guide is organized to classify spooler service/file corruption and printer driver conflict items in a safe order in “print spooler error” situations. If you check the printer status and connection, print queue, and driver in that order, it is easy to tell whether the problem is with the PC or the printer.

Solving Order
We've organized the methods starting with the simplest and least expensive ones. Please check the solutions one by one, starting from the top.

Do you have these symptoms?

print spooler error
Stop the spooler service
Printer out of service

main causes

Spooler service/file corruption
printer driver conflict

How to solve

Please check them in order from the top. If the issue is resolved, you do not need to proceed to the next step.

Turn the printer power off and on and check the status

First check for printer errors, paper, ink, or temporary communication problems.

Difficulty Easy time 3-5 minutes cost 0 won

1Turn off the printer and unplug the power plug for about 30 seconds.
2Turn it back on and check for paper jam, cover, and ink/toner warnings.

confirmation point

After these steps, see if the “print spooler error” symptoms decrease or disappear. If there is no change, check for possible spooler service/file damage in the next step.

Check USB or network connection

You need to make sure your PC can actually communicate with the printer.

Difficulty Easy time 5-10 minutes cost 0 won

1For USB printers, check the cable and other ports.
2The wireless printer verifies that your PC and printer are on the same network.
3If the printer has its own network test function, run it.

Clear print queue

One damaged or stuck job can prevent all future printing.

Difficulty Moderate time 5-10 minutes cost 0 won

1Open the print queue for that printer in Settings → Printers & Scanners.
2Cancel a stuck task.
3If cancellation does not work, restart the Print Spooler service.

Remove and re-add a printer

You can create new device registration/port settings in Windows.

Difficulty Moderate time 10-20 minutes cost 0 won

1Remove the printer from settings.
2Reboot the printer.
3Search and install again in Add Printer.

Update or reinstall printer/scanner driver

An outdated or corrupted printer/scanner driver may be causing the symptom.

Difficulty Moderate time 10~30 minutes cost 0 won

1Check the device in Device Manager.
2Check your PC or component manufacturer's site for printer/scanner drivers for your current model.
3If the problem started immediately after an update, consider rolling back to the previous stable version.
4After installing the driver, restart your PC.

Test in other apps

Distinguish between specific document/app issues and printer-wide issues.

Difficulty Easy time 5-10 minutes cost 0 won

1Print a notepad or test page.
2If other apps are normal, reset the page/printer settings of the problem app.

Frequently Asked Questions

We've put together a list of things we frequently check regarding this issue.

Related issues

If the symptoms do not match exactly, please check the issue below.

Printer

Problem with printing only from certain apps such as Word, Excel, and browsers

This guide is designed to classify app settings/file corruption and basic printer/driver interaction items in a safe order in the “Word does not print” situation. If you check the printer status and connection, print queue, and driver in that order, it is easy to tell whether the problem is with the PC or the printer.

View solutions →

Printer

Issue with print jobs getting stuck in the queue and not being deleted

If the current symptom is closer to “print queue not cleared,” first check for spooler operation corruption or printer communication issues. If you check the printer status and connection, print queue, and driver in that order, it is easy to tell whether the problem is with the PC or the printer.

View solutions →

Printer

Problems that prevent printing due to printer driver errors or compatibility issues

If your current symptom is closer to “printer driver error,” first check for outdated or corrupted drivers and Windows Update compatibility. If you check the printer status and connection, print queue, and driver in that order, it is easy to tell whether the problem is with the PC or the printer.

View solutions →

Printer

Scanner not recognized by Windows

If “Scanner not recognized” repeats, it is better to narrow the scope to USB/network connection, scanner driver, and WIA service rather than changing several settings at once. If you check the printer status and connection, print queue, and driver in that order, it is easy to tell whether the problem is with the PC or the printer.

View solutions →

Look for other symptoms too

If you enter the symptoms you are currently seeing in the PC FIX search box, we will find the related problem.

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