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Print Spooler Keeps stopping Automatically (Fixing Guide)

By / April 5, 2021 / ,

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.

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

  3. Phil

    Thanks for the reply. I updated the ethernet driver, everything else is up to date. Should I restart for this to take effect? It didn’t solve the print spooler problem.

    These are two other error messages. The problem happened after I changed some settings trying to set up a network share.

    “Unloading the performance counter strings for service WmiApRpl (WmiApRpl) failed. The first DWORD in the Data section contains the error code.”

    “The performance strings in the Performance registry value is corrupted when process Performance extension counter provider. The BaseIndex value from the Performance registry is the first DWORD in the Data section, LastCounter value is the second DWORD in the Data section, and LastHelp value is the third DWORD in the Data section.”

    Reply
  4. Phil

    I got to step 13 and discovered a conflict with ntldll:
    Faulting application name: spoolsv.exe, version: 6.3.9600.19538, time stamp: 0x5da52c34
    Faulting module name: ntdll.dll, version: 6.3.9600.19478, time stamp: 0x5d6aa558
    Exception code: 0xc00000fd

    How do I fix this?

    Reply
    1. Techexpert

      Thanks for sharing. Ntdll.dll is a system file, so we can’t do much with this file. Actually, this is the module, the main cause would be different. We cannot point out the exact problem at this point. We suggest you please update or reinstall the system drivers like Ethernet driver, graphic driver, audio driver. We have seen that the issue could be fixed while doing this.

      Reply
  5. Bob

    This is the only working solution I found to my issue with spoolsvc crashing in loop.

    Thanks a lot!

    Reply
  6. James Fillion

    This is the only thing that worked after 2 days of headaches. All else did nothing. Thanks a million.
    Microsoft owes you a lot.

    Reply
  7. John Walker

    Using win 7 and ran repair tool in standard mode. Worked perfectly and printer working fine.

    Reply
  8. Henrique Ratao

    One of the biggest problems printing in RDP, is the firewall and windows defender and smartscreen in windows 10. i advice you to disable them and you will probably see the diference.
    Regards

    Reply
  9. Stefano ing. Borsoi

    Fixed, unexpectedly, all the problems of printing “big” files.
    Thank you
    Tip with W10: Check the queue, restart, make sure there are no queues, run the application, then print.

    Reply
  10. Hylyn

    Hello Sir , Same Problem to many errors please help . using teamview please
    I could not print or save pdf . print spooler status stop . I follow the procedure you mention still the same .
    help please Thank you

    Reply
    1. Techexpert

      What happens when you try to start the print spooler service manually? Is it getting error message or starts normally? If it gives you any error message while starting up so please share that error message with us. If it starts normally then please try to print any document and check the print spooler service status after 20 seconds (Don’t forget to refresh the services page to check the exact status.)

      Reply
  11. saju4u

    sir ,
    i have windows 2008 r2 server and clients using rpd sessions from some days i am facing this problem the sppoler services are stopped,i found the error in logs and find the DLL file which is ntdll.dll i cant change his name and dont know is this system file or windows file can you help me in this i will be very thankfull

    Reply
    1. Techexpert

      Hi,
      ntdll.dll is a windows file, so don’t do anything with this. Actually, main cause must be different than ntdll.dll.
      Main cause could be following:
      1. System driver is not installed properly or got cottupted – So reinstall common drivers like, Display driver, network driver, wifi drivers, printer driver etc.
      2. Run SFC /Scannow to scan your computer for any corruption.
      3. Run system sscan disc once.

      Thanks

      Reply
  12. Srini

    Excellent post that I used to troubleshoot the problem of NO PORTS BEING LISTED in the ADD PRINTER window on Windows 10 – that allows selection of existing ports to configure a new printer.

    I tried all the “TROUBLESHOOTING” fixes provided on Windows 10 after typing TROUBLESHOOTING in the Cortana or Search section of the TASKBAR on windows. That did not help.

    I downloaded the Windows Update Troubleshooting software from Microsoft site and that seemed to correct windows update errors….security settings on my laptop but still problem was not solved.

    I typed UAC (for User Access Control) in the windows taskbar search area and lowered the alert option for changes made to the computer…. rebooted the laptop still no solution.

    Finally I saw a post describing that Printer related keys were — “Ports”, “Devices”, “Printer Ports”, “Print”…

    So I ran REGEDIT.EXE as Run as Adminsitrator after typing Regedit in the Searchbar on the taskbar.
    Did a File- Export of the key Printer and Port related keys from another laptop running Windows 10.
    Saved the file in a USB drive and doubleclicked on the file after connecting the USB to the Laptop facing printer problems – i.e. being unable to do a fresh install from downloaded HP Printer driver software and also unable to ADD A PRINTER manually as I wanted to add Print To PDF features to print pages as PDF files. The keys I exported and imported were

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Ports]

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Devices

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\PrinterPorts

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Print\

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Print\

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Print\Monitors\Local Port

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Print\Monitors\USB Monitor

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors\Local Port

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors\USB Monitor

    The Laptop issues got resolved. The PrinterPorts now displayed after doing an ADD PRINTER through View Printers and Devices menu under Control Panel. I was also able to install the failing Print Drivers through the downloaded installation programs. Key here is to install multiple items within the same installation as just installing ONE item at a Time…. HTH

    Reply
    1. Techexpert

      Thank you so much for sharing this useful information with. Others will get help if anyone have the same issue. We respect your thought of shaing the solution.

      Reply
  14. RHod

    My Print spooler keeps stopping. I know how to manually re-start it which is my workaround.

    Following the steps above I don’t see the DCOM SERVER PROCESS LAUNCHER or the RPC Endpoint Locator visible in the Dependencies window.

    The DCOM launcher is active, but the RPC ENd POint locator does not appear on the Services list.

    ON the Event Properties it always says faulting module unknown but gives a consistent fault address of 0x4ec674b2

    Reply
  15. Rajesh

    worked fine for me. Found this tool after lot of search. It fixed my printer pooler. I am going to reinstall my printer and see whether it really worked or not

    Reply
  16. Pawel

    Wow! Great job! It works perfectly on Win10 and solved all issues with slow operating computer + printing issues. Thanks a lot!

    Reply
  18. rahul

    my hp laserjet 1020 connected in xp and its ned to all time printer services restart so give solution

    Reply
  19. Si Thu Tun

    My error is like that, printer show offline even other PC can print form that printer. Then I restart the spooler service and online back again. How can I fix not to be offline again? That error was occur frequently.

    Reply
    1. Techexpert

      When you proter get offline, at that moment, right click on your ptinter icon and do unceck the check-box “use printer offline”

      Reply

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