What to do when Windows 11 Print Spooler fails to start

Updating Printer Drivers Through Windows Update

Updating printer drivers through Windows Update 🔃 lets you download stable printer software directly from Microsoft without visiting manufacturer websites. Windows checks for certified hardware packages automatically through the system settings menu, ensuring your printer communicates properly with Windows 11 without risking downloaded files from third-party sites.

1. Open Settings ⚙️ by pressing the Win and selecting the gear icon, or by pressing Win+I.

   

2. Select Windows Update 🔃 from the left sidebar or the main menu.
3. Click on Advanced options to view additional system update categories.

   

4. Select Optional updates to expand the list of available driver packages and extra updates.
5. Click on Driver updates to view hardware-specific software waiting for installation.
6. Check the box next to your printer manufacturer’s driver update.
7. Click Download & install to apply the update to your system.
8. Restart your 🔄 computer if prompted to finalize the driver installation.

Using Device Manager to Update Printer Drivers

Using Device Manager to update printer drivers forces Windows to scan your system and online databases for newer hardware software. This built-in tool helps you bypass automatic update delays by letting you target your specific printer queue directly and install missing files immediately.

1. Right-click the Start button ⊞ and select Device Manager (requires administrator privileges).

   

2. Scroll down the hardware list and click the arrow next to Print queues to expand the section.
3. Locate your printer in the expanded list, right-click it, and select Update driver.

   

4. Click Search automatically for drivers to let Windows scan your computer and the internet for the newest available software.
5. Follow any remaining on-screen prompts, then close Device Manager and test your printer.

Downloading and Installing Drivers Manually From the Manufacturer

Downloading ⬇️ and installing 💿 drivers manually from the manufacturer provides the newest features and diagnostic tools when automated Windows updates fail. Visiting official brand websites like HP, Canon, or Epson ensures you get the exact software package needed to fix stubborn printer connection errors.

1. Open your web browser and navigate to the official support website for your printer brand, such as HP, Brother, Canon, or Epson.
2. Locate the support or download section and enter your exact printer model number into the search 🔍 field.
3. Select your operating system version if the website does not detect it automatically.
4. Download the ⬇️ recommended full feature software package or basic driver executable.
5. Double-click the downloaded file (usually ending in .exe) from your Downloads folder (requires administrator privileges).
6. Follow the manufacturer setup wizard instructions to unpack and install the 💿 driver files.
7. Restart your 🔄 PC once the installation completes.

Removing Old Printer Drivers Before Updating

Removing old printer drivers before updating clears out corrupted files that cause print loop errors and failed installations. Deleting outdated driver packages through Windows settings ⚙️ or the Print Management tool forces a clean installation state, giving your new printer software a fresh start.

1. Open Settings and navigate to Bluetooth & devices, then select Printers & scanners.
2. Click on your printer, select Remove, and confirm the deletion.

   

3. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box, type printmanagement.msc, and press Enter to open Print Management (requires administrator privileges).
4. Click All Drivers in the left panel.
5. Right-click the old driver package you want to remove and select Remove Driver Package.
6. Confirm the removal by selecting Remove driver and driver package, then click OK.

Managing Printer Drivers via Command Line

Managing printer drivers via command line lets advanced users view, add, or delete driver packages using text commands in Command Prompt. This administrative method uses tools like PnPutil to handle stubborn printer software that refuses to uninstall through standard Windows menus.

1. Type cmd in the Windows search bar, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator (requires administrator privileges).
2. To view all installed printer drivers, type pnputil /enum-drivers and press Enter.
3. Locate the published name of the printer driver (such as oem12.inf) from the list.
4. To delete a specific driver package, type pnputil /delete-driver oem12.inf /uninstall and press Enter, replacing oem12.inf with your actual driver file name.
5. Close the Command Prompt window once the process finishes.
   

Troubleshooting Common Printer Driver Update Failures

Troubleshooting common printer driver update failures usually involves restarting the Print Spooler, which is a background service that manages print jobs. When this background service freezes, it blocks new driver installations, and restarting it through the Services app clears the stuck queue so updates can finish.

1. Type services.msc in the Windows search bar and press Enter to open the Services app (requires administrator privileges).
2. Scroll down and locate Print Spooler.
3. Right-click Print Spooler and select Stop.
4. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS, then delete all files inside this folder to clear stuck print jobs.
5. Return to the Services window, right-click Print Spooler, and select Start.
6. Attempt your driver update process again.

What to do next

Test your printer by printing a test page from the printer properties menu to verify that the updated software communicates correctly with your hardware. If issues persist, check your network connection settings or configure your firewall rules to allow local print traffic.