Print spooler did not start on a Windows 11 Version 23H2 (x64) Laptop

Clear the spool folder while the service is stopped, then set Print Spooler to start automatically; repeatedly starting it in Services will not resolve a corrupted queued job.

1. Clear and reset the Print Spooler

Deleting these files removes all pending print jobs, but it does not delete installed printers.

1. Press Windows key + R, enter services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Double-click Print Spooler.
3. If it is running, select Stop, then OK. If it has already stopped, continue.
4. Press Windows key + R, enter the following path, and press Enter:

      %WINDIR%\System32\spool\PRINTERS
   

5. Approve the administrator prompt, then delete all files inside that folder. Do not delete the PRINTERS folder itself.
6. Return to Services, double-click Print Spooler, and set:
   • Startup type: Automatic
   • Select Start
   • Select Apply, then OK
7. Restart the laptop and verify that Print Spooler remains Running.

This is Microsoft’s documented Windows 11 procedure for resetting the spooler and removing files that can cause it to fail.^1^

2. If it stops again, remove conflicting printer drivers

Printer drivers and vendor-supplied print components can cause the spooler to terminate.^2^

1. Disconnect or turn off the printer temporarily.
2. Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
3. Select each unused or affected printer and choose Remove.
4. Open Device Manager from Start.
5. Expand Print queues and Printers.
6. Uninstall old, duplicate, or affected printer devices.
7. Restart Windows and check whether Print Spooler now stays running before reconnecting the printer.
8. Install the latest Windows 11 x64 driver for the exact model from the printer manufacturer, then reconnect or add the printer.

If the spooler runs until a particular driver or printer is reinstalled, that component is the likely trigger. Microsoft specifically documents that third-party printer drivers or services can affect an existing spooler and cause start/stop errors.^3^

3. Identify the failing component from Event Viewer

If the service still stops with an empty queue and the printer disconnected:

1. Press Windows key + R, enter eventvwr.msc, and press Enter.
2. Open Windows Logs → Application.
3. Select Filter Current Log.
4. Select levels Critical and Error, then inspect events recorded at the exact time the spooler stopped.
5. Look for entries involving Print Spooler, spoolsv.exe, a printer driver DLL, or a local print provider.
6. Record the event ID, faulting module name, and exception code.

Microsoft recommends checking event logs for initialization failures when the spooler cannot remain running.^2^

4. Conditional checks

• Business-managed laptop: Ask the administrator to verify that Group Policy is not configured to disable Print Spooler. Disabling it can be an organizational security measure.^2^
• Third-party antivirus or endpoint security installed: Check its event history for blocked spooler files. Microsoft notes that security software can interfere with files required by the service.^2^
• Windows component corruption indicated: Open Command Prompt as administrator and run DISM before SFC:

    DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
    sfc /scannow
  

  Wait for each command to finish, restart Windows, and test the service again. DISM repairs the Windows component image; SFC then scans and replaces damaged protected system files.^4^

If it still stops, provide the Application log’s event ID, faulting module, exception code, and the printer make/model to the device administrator or Microsoft Support; those details distinguish a driver crash from a policy or Windows-component failure.

References

1. Windows 11
2. Troubleshoot printing issues caused by Print Spooler service not running
3. You experience Print Spooler error messages after you install or upgrade a Third-Party print driver
4. Using System File Checker in Windows | Microsoft Support