Print Spooler Service Defaults in Windows 11
This service spools print jobs and handles interaction with the printer. If you turn off this service, you won't be able to print or see your printers.
Default Settings
| Startup type: | Automatic |
| Display name: | Print Spooler |
| Service name: | Spooler |
| Service type: | interact |
| Error control: | normal |
| Group: | SpoolerGroup |
| Object: | LocalSystem |
| Path: | %SystemRoot%\System32\spoolsv.exe |
| Registry key: | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Spooler |
| Privileges: |
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Default Behavior
Print Spooler is an interactive service that can show message boxes and receive input data from users. In Windows 11 it starts automatically during the operating system startup. If Print Spooler fails to start, the failure details will be recorded into Event Log. Then Windows 11 should boot up and notify the user about the Spooler service startup failure.
Dependencies
Print Spooler cannot be started, if the following services won't start:
If Print Spooler doesn't work properly, the Fax service can't start.
Restore Default Startup Configuration of Print Spooler
Before you begin doing this, make sure that all the services on which Print Spooler 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 commands below, paste them into the command window and press ENTER:
sc config Spooler start= auto
sc start Spooler
3. Close the command window and restart the computer.
The Spooler service is using the spoolsv.exe file that is located in the C:\Windows\System32 directory. If the file is removed or corrupted, read this article to restore its original version from Windows 11 installation media.