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Print Spooler Keeps stopping Automatically (Fixing Guide)

Print Spooler Keeps stopping Automatically  (Fixing Guide)

In Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, 8.1 Windows 10

Question

I got an error message “The print spooler service is not running” when I try to print. Then I go to services page to start the service manually. I start the printer spooler service and it started successfully but after few seconds it stopped automatically. It seems like print spooler service keeps crashing windows 7 automatically. The print spooler service doesn’t stay ON.  Eventually, I gave a print command to print a document but it’s again shown me the same error message. Then I checked the “print spooler” service in services page, it was stopped there again.

print spooler keeps stopping

 

Solved Answer

This post will guide you how to solve this problem “Print Spooler service keeps Stopping Automatically”, actually there are many reasons behind that, The main reason is the driver conflicting (Please update the printer drivers), however we explained everything in this post, please follow the following steps  to get rid of this problem “Print Spooler keeps Stopping Automatically”. If you followed all above steps properly, i am sure about it the problem can not persist any more. Print spooler service stopping automatically, print spooler service is automatically stopping, spooler stop, print spooler stops suddenly, print spooler stopped can’t install printer.




Steps

1. Open Services page

  • (For windows xp) Click on Start and then click on RUN then Type Services.msc in RUN box then hit enter
  • (For windows 7, 8, Vista) Click on Start and then Type Services.msc in Search  box then hit enter

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2. Find “Print spooler” Service and then Double click on it.

print spooler keeps crashing

2. You will see a “Stop” button, Stop the Service for while

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3. Go to “Recovery Tab”

4. (Important Step) Change “First Failure” & “Second Failure” Value under “Recovery Tab”

  • Change the value of  “First Failure” to “Restart the Service”
  • Change the value of  “Second Failure” to “Restart the Service”

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5. Make sure  the RPC Service is the dependencies of the “print spooler”

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6. Then Leave it until next step is completed

7. Delete all the print job from this path “c:\windows\system32\spool\PRINTERS”

  • Delete all the files under this following path (make it clean)
  • c:\windows\system32\spool\PRINTERS

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8. Now Start the print Spooler Service.

  • Come again “print spooler” Configuration page and click on “Start” Button.

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Restart your computer

If the problem is still persist then you must try these more Additional Advanced Steps

9. (Important Step) Run a command “SFC /scannow” in Command prompt (with Administrative Right)

SFC /scannow

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10 (Important Step) Run one more command “chkdsk /f /r” in Command prompt (with Administrative Right)

chkdsk /f /r

cmd-command-type-to-repair-print-spooler

11. (Important Step) Delete all unwanted printers from the computer.

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12. (Important Step) Make sure all printers are installed with correct drivers “there is not driver conflicting”(Please reinstall printer drivers again)

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Step 13 : Get the “.dll” file name & path which one is making conflicting with print spooler service.

  • Right click on MyComputer and then click on  Manage. You’ll get an another window.
  • Click on the arrow of the “Event Viewer” (to Expand it).
  • Click on the arrow of the  “Windows Logs” (to Expand it).
  • Click on “Application” under windows Logs.
  • Now look on the right side pane, there have listed all the system LOGS.
  • Now scroll down/up to find the error (Red Cross Error) which is related to print spooler service. Once you get it, double click on it to get more details about error (These logs create when system get any error or problem, so please find the error, that time you get crashed your printer spooler service.)

eventlogs

 

  • Now you have the exact error message details. Here, find the name & path of “.dll” file in this detail.
  • Now you have the particular “.dll” file name & path which one is doing conflicting with print spooler service.
  • So, stop the conflicting via repair, rename that “.dll” file.
    Do appropriate action on that file using following method below.1. If found “.dll” file is related to printer drivers then you can rename & delete the file, and then  reboot your computer and then you can easily reinstall your printer driver.2. If found “.dll” file is related to any 3rd party application then you can uninstall that application and install it again if you want to use that application. You also can rename & delete the file if it is not related to windows system files any how. After that reboot your computer once.3. If found “.dll” file is related to windows system files or location then you must not rename & delete the file, because it maybe harmful for your operating system itself. To fix this issue you have to repair your windows through “SFC /scannow” or “chkdsk” or Combo Fix tool (Comobofix is a third party tool (Free Tool) however it can fix most of the windows issues). After that reboot your computer once.

    SFC /scannow
    chkdsk

FAQs

Q: “local print spooler service keeps stopping” it starts and immediately stops. I tried restarting via Computer Management Services but a few seconds after print spooler keeps crashing.

A: Hopefully, above solution will work for you to solve your problem.

Q: I have deleted the print queue from the spool folder. But it still stuck and printing nothing. A printing message appear and disappear. So why the print spooler keeps stopping. I tried to restart the print spooler.

A: Please check if print spooler service is running or not. If not then refer print spooler service not running for the fix. If it is running then the steps given in this article should work for you. Or if you are still facing the issue, then please leave your comment with more detail.

Q: I tried to print from the HP printer diagnostic Print. And got the same problem Spooler starts and stops.

A: I suggest you to please remove your all printer then you can get rid of Printer Spooler service crashes problem, you can try Restarting spooler via services.msc then you can resolve that problem, Print spooler starts and automatically stops Because of print spooler service.

Q: I had the same problem Printer Spooler Service Terminated Unexpectedly.  I have tried to stop and start the service but problem still persist printer spooler service is not running/stopped.

A: Hopefully steps mentioned above will fix your issue.

150 thoughts on “Print Spooler Keeps stopping Automatically (Fixing Guide)”

  1. Hi this didn’t work for me either and like another poster, my chkdsk /f /r prompted me to do the check on the next start up which I agreed to. But then the chkdsk just got hung up at 27%. Luckly i was able to get into the advanced boot-up that HP installs. Where I was able to start in safe mode and turn off chkdsk with chkdsk X/ C:

  2. chkfdsk /f /r is not recognised as per your solution

    10 (Important Step) Run one more command “chkfdsk /f /r” in Command prompt (with Administrative Right)

    1. Techexpert

      So sorry for mis-type of “chkfdsk”. There is no “F” in between “chk” “dsk”. The right command is “chkdsk /f /r”. We’ll change it in our article very soon. Please let us know if your spooler issue still persist, we will help you further as well.

  3. Gurinder Singh Kooner

    Thanks… It works like a magic…. Earlier… I tried my self start stopping the printer spool service but it not worked untill I cleaned the PRINTERS Q as suggested by you…. Thanks once again….

  4. I did all the steps and chk dsk just hung at 27% for hours. Solution did not work for me, I am also unable to do prior restore. 🙁

  5. When I open the Dependencies, I see HTTP and below is the RPC. Is there a way in CMD that I can remove HTTP from the dependencies?

    1. Hi
      No need to remove http entry in dependencies. If you seen http in there, it is OK, it should be there. We just need to check RPC is there or not.

  6. I was printing a document when the printer stopped responding. I tried to cancel printing but it didn’t work. After that I repeatedly got ‘Spooler subsystem app has encountered a problem ….”. Tried many fixes over a period of 3 hours. Finally, landed on this page, tried the solution and it immediately fixed the problem.
    Thank you.

  7. THANK YOU SO SO SO SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’ve tried so many things listed on numerous web sites. After 3 days of trying and many hours … you really helped. Thanks for sharing your wisdom!!

  8. The article is so clear and very helpful. I followed all instructions and finally get rid of delta serach. Thank you guys.

  9. I would appreciate if you can help me to solve problem regarding the Print Spooler service in window 8 64 bit. How can i do?

  10. Hi there, thx for helping with tech problems. I have a problem with my printer, it offline. I do not have RPC in dependencies. How can I fix that

    1. Techexpert

      To get RPC back in print spooler’s dependency you have to follow below steps:

      Automatic Fix
      You can use following fix it to get automatic fix.
      Download this Fix it and run it.
      http://www.techsupportall.com/download/tools/Spooler_1068_Fixit.exe
      Check this link also
      http://www.techsupportall.com/solved-print-spooler-error-1068-the-dependency-service-or-group-failed-to-start/

      Fix it myself manually
      1. Open “Command Prompt” with administrative privileges and then copy and paste these following commands one by one and hit enter every time.

      Net stop spooler
      sc config spooler depend= RPCSS
      Net start spooler
      exit

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