How to start a Print spooler?

If your print spooler is set correctly, you never need to start it manually since this service is started with the operating system and runs to the end. In case of minor malfunction, you can just restart your system, and print spooler service will start automatically. However, in the process of troubleshooting and error fixing, it is easier to start your print spooler by hand than restart your operating system over and over again. To make your print spooler fixing effort more efficient, you need to know how to stop and start this service  manually.

There are two basic ways to start your print spooler service that Windows OS offers with all system services. You can either manage your system services with a Services administrative tool with a graphical user interface, or you can start print spooler using Windows command shell. The first way is more suitable for exploring your services. You can check current state of some particular service and get the information about its purpose. The second way is faster if you just need to stop or start print spooler or some other service.

Start the Services Administrative Tool Using Control Panel

Click Start button, find and open Control Panel. 

Double-click Administrative Tools group.

Double-click Services option in the Administrative Tools window.

Start a Print Spooler With Services Administrative Tool

In the Services window, scroll down to the Print Spooler line.

Right-click Print Spooler service and choose Start.

Double-click the Print Spooler service and set Startup Type option to Automatic.

Start a Print Spooler Service Using Command Shell    

Click Start button and type Command in the Search input box.

Right-click Command Prompt at the top of the search results menu and click Run as Administrator option. In the User Account Control dialog click Yes to confirm opening command shell.

Type Net Stop Spooler at the prompt and press Enter. 

"The printer spooler service is stopping" message appears. It changes to "The print spooler service was stopped successfully" after print spooler service is stopped.

Type Net Start Spooler at the prompt and press Enter.

"The printer spooler service is starting" message appears and changes to "The print spooler service was started successfully" after the print spooler service is started.

Type Exit and press the Enter key to close the command prompt or click close window button.

Summary

In the normal state, the print spooler service is started automatically by the operating system. You might need to start print spooler manually during troubleshooting and fixing print spooler malfunctions.

Use Services administrative tool to explore Windows services and check the current state of some particular service such as print spooler subsystem app.

Use Command shell to start and stop print spooler service quickly.