How to Clear the Print Spooler in Windows 10?

Are you having trouble with your printer? Are you trying to clear the print spooler in Windows 10? If so, you’re in luck. In this article, you will learn how to quickly and easily clear the print spooler in Windows 10. We will walk you through the steps you need to take to free up space and improve your printer’s performance. So if you’re ready to get started, let’s dive in and learn how to clear the print spooler in Windows 10.

Clearing the Print Spooler in Windows 10

Print spoolers are used by Windows 10 to manage print jobs sent to your printer. It stores these print jobs until your printer is ready to print them. If the print spooler isn’t working correctly, it can cause problems for your printer, such as slow printing, failed printing jobs and even printer errors. To prevent these issues from happening, you need to clear the print spooler in Windows 10.

Stopping the Print Spooler

Before you can clear the print spooler, you need to stop it first. To do this, open the Run dialog box by pressing the Windows key + R, then type “services.msc” and press Enter. This will open the Services window. Scroll down to the Print Spooler service and double-click it. In the Properties window, click the Stop button. Once the service has stopped, click OK to close the window.

Deleting the Print Spooler Files

Now that the print spooler has been stopped, you can delete any files stored in the print spooler’s folder. To do this, open the File Explorer and navigate to the C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS folder. Select all of the files in this folder and delete them. This will delete all of the print jobs stored in the print spooler.

Restarting the Print Spooler

Once you’ve deleted the files in the print spooler’s folder, you can restart the print spooler. Go back to the Services window and double-click the Print Spooler service. Then, click the Start button. Once the service has been started, click OK to close the window.

Checking the Print Spooler

Now that the print spooler has been restarted, you should check to make sure it’s working correctly. To do this, open the Run dialog box again and type “services.msc” and press Enter. Then, scroll down to the Print Spooler service and double-click it. The status should say “Started” and the Startup Type should say “Automatic”. If these settings are correct, then the print spooler has been successfully cleared.

Changing the Startup Type of the Print Spooler

If you want to make sure that the print spooler starts automatically when your computer starts up, you can change its startup type. To do this, open the Services window and double-click the Print Spooler service. Then, click the drop-down menu next to Startup Type and select “Automatic”. Click Apply and then OK to save the changes.

Changing the Log On Settings of the Print Spooler

The print spooler also needs to be set to log on as a specific user. To do this, open the Services window again and double-click the Print Spooler service. Then, click the Log On tab and select the “This account” option. Enter the username and password of the user that you want the service to log on as. Click Apply and then OK to save the changes.

Verifying the Print Spooler Settings

Once you’ve changed the startup type and log on settings of the print spooler, you should check to make sure that the settings have been applied correctly. To do this, open the Services window again and double-click the Print Spooler service. The Startup Type should say “Automatic” and the Log On As should say “This account”. If these settings are correct, then the print spooler has been successfully configured.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Print Spooler?

Print Spooler is a service in Windows 10 that stores print jobs in a queue and sends them to the printer for printing. It also allows multiple users to send print jobs to the same printer at the same time. The spooler also helps to keep track of the status of your print jobs. If the spooler is not running, your printer will not be able to receive print jobs.

What Causes Print Spooler Errors?

Print spooler errors can be caused by corrupted or missing system files, incorrect registry entries, malware, or even a full hard drive. It can also be caused by a misconfigured printer, outdated printer drivers, or even a faulty printer itself.

How Do I Clear the Print Spooler?

The easiest way to clear the print spooler is to use the Windows 10 Settings app. Go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners and select the printer you want to manage. Then click on Open Queue and select Clear Print Queue. This will delete all pending print jobs in the queue and reset the spooler.

What Else Can I Do to Fix Print Spooler Errors?

If clearing the print spooler does not fix the issue, then you can try restarting the service. To do this, open the Run box (Windows + R) and type services.msc. Then scroll down and find the Print Spooler service. Right-click on it and select Restart. This should resolve any errors with the spooler.

How Do I Stop the Print Spooler Service?

If you want to stop the Print Spooler service, you can do so by going to the Services list (Start > Run > services.msc). Once there, find the Print Spooler service and right-click on it. Then select Stop. This will stop the service and prevent any further print jobs from being sent to the printer.

What Happens If I Delete the Print Spooler Service?

Deleting the Print Spooler service is not recommended and can cause problems with your printer. If the service is deleted, it will not be able to receive any print jobs and you will be unable to print from the computer. You should only delete the service if you know what you are doing and have a backup of your system.

How to Clear Print Spooler and Fix Forever Printing Problem in Windows 10

The process of how to clear the print spooler in Windows 10 is a straightforward one that requires minimal technical knowledge. Following the steps outlined above, you can quickly and easily clear the print spooler on your Windows 10 computer. Whether you’re a tech-savvy user or a novice, you should now have no problem clearing the print spooler in Windows 10.