How to fix printer spooler problems on Windows 11

To fix the printer spooler on Windows 11, open Services, select and open the “Print Spooler” service properties, and stop the service. Then open the “printers” folder and delete its contents. Finally, start the “Print Spooler” service again.
Another way to repair the print spooler is to open Command Prompt (admin) and run the “net stop spooler,” “del /Q /F /S “%systemroot%\System32\Spool\Printers\*.*,”” and “net start spooler” commands.

UPDATED 11/24/2025: On Windows 11, you can fix the printer spooler in at least two ways, and in this guide, I will teach you how to resolve this problem. Dealing with a document that becomes stuck during printing can be frustrating, and attempting to cancel the print job may leave it in the “deleting” state indefinitely, further adding to the inconvenience.

Usually, this problem occurs because of issues with the “print spooler,” a service that handles print jobs queued between the computer and the printer. When a user sends a document to print, the spooler temporarily stores the data until the printer is ready to process it. This functionality allows users to continue working without waiting for the entire printing process to finish. Although rare, the print spooler sometimes can stop working, even after restarting the computer.

If you can’t print due to this issue, on Windows 11, you can reset the print spooler using the Services console or Command Prompt to resolve the problem.

In this guide, I’ll teach you the steps to fix the print spooler on Windows 11.

Fix print spooler on Windows 11 from Services
Fix print spooler on Windows 11 from Command Prompt
FAQs about fixing the printer spooler on Windows 11

Fix print spooler on Windows 11 from Services

To fix the print spooler on Windows 11, follow these steps:

Open Start on Windows 11.
Search for services.msc and click the top result to open the Services console.
Right-click the Print Spooler service and select the Properties option.
Click the General tab.
Click the Stop button.
Use the “Windows key + R” keyboard shortcut to open the Run command.
Type the following path to the “printers” folder and press Enter:
```
C:\Windows\System32\spool\printers
```
Click the Continue button (if applicable).
Select everything in the “printers” folder (Ctrl + A keyboard shortcut) and hit the Delete button to remove the contents.
Click the General tab on the “Printer Spooler Properties” page.
Click the Start button to restart the service.
Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the Windows 11 spooler should be able to send the job to the printer for printing.

Fix print spooler on Windows 11 from Command Prompt

To fix print spooler problems from the Command Prompt on Windows 11, follow these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as Administrator option.
Type the following commands (one line at a time) to stop the print spooler, delete the “printers” folder content, restart the printer spooler, and press Enter:
```
net stop spooler
del /Q /F /S "%systemroot%\System32\Spool\Printers\*.*"
net start spooler
```

After you complete the steps, sending a print job from Windows 11 to the printer should work.

FAQs about fixing the printer spooler on Windows 11

Here’s a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers about resolving issues with the printer spooler.

Why does the print spooler stop working on Windows 11?

The print spooler can fail because of a corrupted print job, driver conflicts, leftover temporary files in the spooler folder, or issues created by printer software.

What happens if I delete the files inside the “printers” folder?

These files are only temporary print-job cache files. Deleting them clears stuck or corrupted jobs and does not affect your printer drivers or settings.

Do I need to restart my computer after fixing the print spooler?

A restart is optional. Restarting the “Print Spooler” service is usually enough to restore printing functionality.

Will resetting the print spooler remove my installed printers?

No. Resetting the spooler only clears the queue of print jobs. Your installed printers, drivers, and settings remain untouched.

Why do print jobs get stuck in the “Deleting” state?

This occurs when the spooler cannot release or process a job, typically due to corruption in the queue file or a communication issue between the operating system and the printer.

Is it safe to run the spooler reset commands in Command Prompt?

Yes. These commands only stop the service, remove temporary files, and restart the service. They do not modify system files or printer drivers.

What should I do if the spooler keeps crashing repeatedly?

Check for updated printer drivers, remove and reinstall the printer, or run the printer Troubleshooter. In some cases, removing old third-party print management software is necessary.

Does this fix work for both USB and network printers?

Yes. The spooler manages all print jobs regardless of whether the printer is connected through USB, Wi-Fi, or Ethernet.

What if the “printers” folder is empty, but the spooler still isn’t working?

In this case, the problem may be related to drivers or system components. Try reinstalling your printer, running the printer Troubleshooter, or checking for Windows updates.

Do I need administrator permissions to fix the print spooler?

Yes. Stopping the print spooler service and deleting spooler files both require administrative privileges.

Why can’t I delete the files in the “printers” folder?

This usually means the spooler service is still running. Confirm the “Print Spooler” service is fully stopped before attempting to delete the files.

Update November 24, 2025: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and add more information.