Printer Extensions and Notifications (PrintNotify) Service Defaults in Windows 10
This service opens custom printer dialog boxes and handles notifications from a remote print server or a printer. If you turn off this service, you won't be able to see printer extensions or notifications.
Default Settings
| Startup type: | Manual |
| Display name: | Printer Extensions and Notifications |
| Service name: | PrintNotify |
| Service type: | interact |
| Error control: | normal |
| Object: | LocalSystem |
| Path: | %SystemRoot%\system32\svchost.exe -k print |
| File: | %SystemRoot%\system32\spool\drivers\W32X86\3\PrintConfig.dll |
| Registry key: | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\PrintNotify |
Default Behavior
Printer Extensions and Notifications shows message boxes when it is necessary. In Windows 10 it is starting only if the user, an application or another service starts it. If Printer Extensions and Notifications fails to start, the failure details are being recorded into Event Log. Then Windows 10 will start up and notify the user that the PrintNotify service has failed to start due to the error.
Dependencies
Printer Extensions and Notifications cannot be started under any conditions, if the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service is disabled.
Restore Default Startup Configuration of Printer Extensions and Notifications
Before you begin doing this, make sure that all the services on which Printer Extensions and Notifications depends are configured by default and function properly. See the list of dependencies above.1. Run the Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Copy the command below, paste it into the command window and press ENTER:
sc config PrintNotify start= demand
3. Close the command window and restart the computer.
The PrintNotify service is using the PrintConfig.dll file that is located in the C:\Windows\system32\spool\drivers\W32X86\3 directory. If the file is removed or corrupted, read this article to restore its original version from Windows 10 installation media.