How to Fix Print Spooler Problems

Check your print spooler when troubleshooting printing issues.

Many computer owners are not even aware that the print spooler service exists until something goes wrong, but knowing how to troubleshoot the service is very important. When the print spooler service crashes, it is impossible to add a new printer, or print to an existing one. Any time you have problems with your printer, including print jobs not appearing on the printer, the print spooler service is one of the first things you should check.

Instructions

1. Click the "Start" button and choose "Control Panel" from the menu. Click the "Classic View" button to see the full list of control panel icons.

2. Double-click the "Administrative Tools" icon and then the "Services" icon. Scroll down the list of services until you see the "Print Spooler."

3. Right-click on the "Print Spooler" option and choose "Start" to start the service. Watch the screen until the status of the service changes to "Started."

4. Double-click the "Print Spooler" service to open its properties window. Go to the "Startup Type" and change the option to "Automatic." Changing the service to automatic means that it will start automatically each time your computer reboots.

5. Restart your computer and log back on. Send your print job to the printer and make sure the output prints properly.

References

• Microsoft Support: Error message when you use the Add Printer Wizard: "Operation could not be completed"

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish