How To Fix Spooling Error on Printer

Printers have become part of our everyday lives. Not only are printers important for businesses, but many people have them at home and use them to print documents and photos and scan stuff more easily. Printers, like other home or office equipment, are prone to breakdowns and errors. One of the most common errors you can encounter is the “spooling” error.

Before delving into ways to fix a spooling error on your printer, let’s first cover what a printer spooler is.

A printer spooler is a computer software that processes storing and sharing documents with your printer in the correct order. Spooling generally refers to a computer application that organizes information and sends it to a low-memory device like a printer which is slower at data handling.

Because printers are slow and have low memory, they need a program that decides which documents to print first. This is where the spooler comes in. Computers with Windows OS already have a built-in spooler. This is why you don’t have to load jobs continuously. After queuing documents, they print one after the other.

Common Spooling Errors

Various spooling errors can occur despite the printer you’re using. Typically, these errors occur because there’s an issue with the document causing a jam in the queued documents. Some of the most common spooling errors include:

• A document is getting stuck in the queue.
• The spooler failed to translate the document to the printer because the document had been corrupted.
• Your computer or spooler is experiencing a service failure or crash when sending the document to the printer.

Other spooling errors may include the printing service failing or the printer failing to work.

Spooling errors are pretty common. If you encounter any of these errors, it’s best to begin with the most straightforward solutions. Usually, the quickest solution will fix most minor errors. If these solutions fail, you can try some of the advanced fixes.

Examples of notifications you might receive indicating a spooling error include:

• Operation failed with error.
• The printer driver was not installed. Operation could not be completed or operation failed
• Operation failed with error 0x000005b3
• Operation failed or could not be completed (error 0x00000bc4). No printers were found.
• Windows cannot connect to the printer. Operation could not be completed (error 0x00000002)

Older Windows platforms like Windows XP and Vista can display the following notification when you attempt to print a document.

• The Spooler system app has experienced an error and needs to close.

Another spooler issue you might experience with older Windows platforms includes not seeing your printer from the device list even though it’s properly connected. You can try restarting the printer to see if it works. If it doesn’t, try using the methods described herein.

Next, we cover various ways to fix spooling errors on a printer.

Quick Solutions For Spooling Errors

Here are some of the best solutions for spooling errors:

Method #1: Run the Printers Troubleshooter

Latest Windows platforms like 10 and 11 have a built-in troubleshooter for scanning, finding, and resolving common printer issues like the spooling error.

Here are steps to troubleshoot the printer:

1. Press the Windows + I keys to launch Settings.
2. On the left side of the screen is a System tab. Click on it.
3. Scroll down the menu on the right side of the screen until you get to the Troubleshoot tab. Click on it.
4. Next, click Other Troubleshooters.
5. Click the Run button next to the Printer option.
6. Select your printer from the list and click Next.
7. Wait for the computer to scan for the spooling error, then apply the recommended solutions.

Method #2: Stop and Restart Print Spooler Service

Another straightforward method to fix the spooling error is stopping and restarting the print spooler. Follow the steps below:

1. Click the Start icon on the left-side end of the taskbar.
2. Press the Windows key.
3. Enter services.msc into the text field and click Ok.
4. Navigate to the Print Pooler on the list.
5. Right-click on Print Poler and click the Stop option.
6. Wait for about 30 seconds.
7. Right-click on the Print Pooler tab again and select the Start option.
8. Click the X icon at the top-right corner of the Services window to close.
9. Ensure that the spooling error is resolved by creating a new print job.

Method #3: Switch Spooler Service Startup Type

Spooling errors sometimes occur because you’ve set the spooler system to reboot manually instead of automatically. Changing the startup type can fix this error. Just follow the steps below:

1. Press the Windows + R keys to launch the Run window.
2. Type services.msc and click Ok to launch the Services window.
3. Scroll to the Print Spooler option close to the top of the list.
4. Right-click on the Print Spooler tab, then click Properties.
5. Click on the drop-down arrow under the Startup type section in the open popup window.
6. Select Automatic.
7. Next, click Apply, then Okay.
8. If the startup type is already set at automatic, select the Disabled option instead of Automatic, then click Apply and Ok.
9. After, go back to Properties and choose the Startup type as Automatic.
10. Click Apply, then Okay.
11. Click the X icon at the top-right edge of the popup window to close it.
12. Restart your computer.
13. Try sending a document to the printer and see if the spooling error has been resolved.

Method #4: Update Your Drivers

Outdated drivers can cause the printer to display several errors, including the spooling error. If you suspect your printer drivers are outdated or corrupt, try using the Device Manager to update. Follow the steps below:

1. Press the Windows + R keys to launch the Run window.
2. Typedevmgmt.msc and click Ok to launch the Device Manager.
3. Under Device Manager, click on Print queues.
4. Select your printer from the list and right-click on it.
5. Select the Update Driver option.
6. Next, click on Search automatically for drivers.
7. Windows will display any new driver updates.
8. Download and install if available.

If the search doesn’t display any updates, go to the printer’s official website to find and download the latest drivers for your specific model. After installing the latest drivers, try sending a document for printing to ensure the spooling error is resolved.

Method #5: Clear The Spooler Files

Corrupted or pending print jobs can lead to a spooling error. The quickest way to resolve this is to clear the spooler files and then restart them manually. Follow the steps below:

1. Press the Windows + R keys to launch the Run window.
2. Enter services.msc in the text field, then click Ok.
3. Navigate to the Print Spooler service, close to the top of the list.
4. Right-click on the Print Spooler tab and click Stop.
5. Press the Windows + E keys to launch File Explorer.
6. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS. You can copy and paste the location name to find it conveniently.
7. Next, open the Printers folders and delete all its files. If you receive a User Account Control prompt, click Yes. Please note that you are supposed to delete the files under the Printers folder and not the folder.
8. After deleting the files, Close the File Explorer window and revert to the Services window.
9. Right-click on the Print Spooler tab and click the Start option.
10. Verify that the spooling error is resolved by creating a new print job.

Method #6: Remove All Unused Printers

A backlog of several printers in your computer can sometimes lead to spooling errors. If you work in an office setup, your PC is linked to several printers that are no longer in use. Remove them from the system and retain only the one in use. Use the steps below:

1. Click the Search icon at the bottom-left corner of your screen and go to Settings.
2. Click Devices.
3. Click Printers and Scanners.
4. Under Printers & Scanners, you’ll see a list of printers connected to your PC.
5. Check the printers you want to remove and then click the Remove Device button.
6. Click Yes.
7. Follow these steps for all the printers you don’t use.

If you’re using an older Windows version, try using the following steps:

1. Click the Search icon at the bottom-left corner of your screen and go to Settings.
2. Type Control Panel in the text field.
3. Next, click on Hardware and Sound, then select Devices and Printers.
4. Right-click on the printer you want to remove, then click Remove Device.
5. Click Yes.

After removing the unnecessary printers, use a new print job to verify that the spooling error is fixed.

Method #7: Disable Windows Defender Firewall

Sometimes the Windows Defender Firewall can interfere with the printer’s network resulting in a spooling error. Even though entirely disabling Windows Defender Firewall is not viable, it can work temporarily. You can reconnect after testing if the spooling error is fixed.

Use the steps below to disable Windows Defender Firewall:

1. Press the Windows + I keys to launch Settings.
2. Click on the Privacy & Security tab on the left side section of the screen.
3. Click Windows Security.
4. Click Open Windows Security.
5. Click on the network you’re using, Private/Public. Slide the toggle next to Microsoft Defender Firewall to disable it. If you receive a UAC prompt, click Yes.
6. After disabling Windows Defender Firewall, try printing a document and see if the spooling error is resolved.

Remember that disabling Windows Defender Firewall makes your device vulnerable to malware and hackers. If the print job is successful, repeat the steps above to enable Windows Defender Firewall.

Summary

If you use a printer regularly at home or in the office, you’ve likely encountered a spooling error. These errors can occur for several reasons, including corrupt or outdated printer drivers, a jam or crash in the queued files, or the spooler failing to interpret a corrupt file.

Some quick fixes you can utilize for spooling errors on printers include troubleshooting the printer, stopping and restarting the print spooler service, and updating your drivers. If these methods fail, try switching the spooler service startup type or clearing the spooler files.