Printer Extensions and Notifications (PrintNotify) Service Defaults in Windows 11
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\x64\3\PrintConfig.dll |
| Registry key: | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\PrintNotify |
Default Behavior
Printer Extensions and Notifications is an interactive service that can show message boxes and receive input data from users. In Windows 11 it starts only if the user, an application or another service starts it. If Printer Extensions and Notifications fails to start, the failure details will be recorded into Event Log. Then Windows 11 should boot up and notify the user about the PrintNotify service startup failure.
Dependencies
Printer Extensions and Notifications cannot be started, if the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service won't start.
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\x64\3 directory. If the file is removed or corrupted, read this article to restore its original version from Windows 11 installation media.