Print Spooler Service won't stay running - Windows 11

Question

Is there a fix for the Windows 11 Print Spooler Service that I can't get to run? It was working fine until last Tuesday - then no printing. I've removed the printers, uninstalled/reinstalled the software, updated everything. Gone through the suggested steps but problem isn't resolved. I keep getting the following: "The local print spooler is not running. Please restart the spooler or restart the machine." I get this whether I try to print or run print properties.

I can print to the printer(s) from a Windows 10 machine (laptop) with no problems so I don't think it's the printer(s) (Canon Pro-300 and HP Office Jet).

In the control panel there is an Inkjet Printer that I cannot remove - says it's a Canon inkjet printer with Driver unavailable (I found a driver listed at one time - C:\Windows|system\32\drivers\ksthunk.sys). How can I remove this device?

Any suggestions before I start over.

Thanks.

Answer 1

We have exactly the same problem.

We’ve been through all the steps proposed on the various postings on this problem, even down to completely reinstalling Windows 11 using the downloadable media creation tool (retaining files and apps). We’ve still got the problem. Manually restarting the print spooler can occasionally allow a test page to print, but the next attempt fails and the Services app shows the print spooler has stopped again.

Help, please.

Answer 2

Well - back to the same problem, can't print from my Windows 11 machine. The problem started last Friday. Retried all the fixes but no luck. I can print using my Windows 10 machine so I don't think its the printer.

The print spooler won't stay running. I restart it and try to print - nothing, just the error message. And the spooler is stopped again.

 Also - using this "%systemroot%\system32\spool (usually C:\windows...), and delete the .shd and .spl files you find there" - there are no .shp or .spl files in the PRINT spooler, so it seems the software isn't communicating with itself..

Answer 3

Hello - thank you for your quick reply. The solution didn't fix the problem however. I've tried it a few times including reloading the drivers and software but no luck. The Print Spooler will show that it's running but does not allow a job or connection to the printer. I tried to print a page from Word but I keep getting the error message. The printer will print a test page from the printer side but not from the computer.

Also, I could not delete the inkjet printer - sometimes it is not listed in the control panel and then it pops back up. It is not shown in HKEY_CURRENT_USER_Printer_Connections

However - there is NULL machine listed in the ConvertUserDEvModesCount - could that be it?

Anyway - if you have any other thoughts, I greatly appreciate them. Is the last resort reinstalling Windows 11?

Thanks.

Answer 4

Hi ChipDonahue,

Thanks for your update. Also, you can check the Windows Update record, uninstall updates that were installed before the issue occurred.

Select Start > Settings > Windows Update > Update History to operate.

Answer 5

Hi ChipDonahue,

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

It sounds like your Windows 11 Print Spooler Service can't get to run. Sorry to hear this. Try the solution below to see if the problem can be solved.

1. Click Windows Search and enter: cmd > Open the Command Prompt as an administrator > Type in net stop spooler and hit Enter key.
2. In Windows Explorer, navigate to %systemroot%\system32\spool (usually C:\windows...), and delete the .shd and .spl files you find there, but do not delete the sub-folders.
3. Again in the Command Prompt, type in net start spooler and hit Enter key.

Regarding the Inkjet Printer that you're unable to remove. Try to delete it from the Registry.

Press Windows and R key together > Type in regedit and click OK to open the Registry Editor > Expand the folders in sequence: HKEY_CURRENT_USER_Printer_Connections > Select the Inkjet Printer from the list and right-click on it to delete.

Feel free to keep me updated.

Best Regards,

Lynn Sun | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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