Spooler SubSystem App stopped working and was closed

"Spooler Subsystem App stopped working and was closed" you might encounter this error in both windows xp and windows vista operating system, most commonly for any of the HP printers caused when the print spooler is stopped.

First you need to check the print spoler settings, follow the below steps.

Click the Start button.

Click Control Panel.

Click System and Maintenance.

NOTE: This step is not required when using Classic view in Windows Vista.


Click Administrative Tools.

Double-click Services.

Locate the Print Spooler entry.

Right-click the Print Spooler icon and then click Restart.

A progress message will be displayed.

Right-click "Print Spooler" and select "Properties".

In the General tab make sure that the startup type is set to Automatic. Click on the Start button of the Service Status is Stopped.

Click on the "Recovery" tab and change all 3 drop-down boxes to "Restart The Service".

Make sure the 2 text boxes underneath say "1" in them.

Select the 'Log on' Tab and make sure that the 'Local system Account' is selected and click Apply and OK

Then, try to print or to access the Print Properties or install the drivers as applicable.

if you are still unable to access or print from the printer, follow the below steps:


1.Click Start > Control Panel.

2.Go to Programs and Features in Control Panel.

3.In the left side, Click "Turn Windows features on or off"

4.Click + sign of Print services

3. Check Mark and select LPD and LPR. You should remove the check box against "Internet Printing Client".

4.Restart the PC to ensure there is no error of spooler service.

Important:

This sometimes require two attempts, first Select LPD and LPR and save the changes. Select the "Internet Printing Client" as well.

Click Apply and OK.

Restart the PC to ensure that the steps are enabled.

Go back and de-select Internet Printing Client. This one causes a reboot again

Alternatively, try selecting the option print directly to printer in the printer properties instead of using the spooler option.

hope the above information helps you.

Thanks
HP Answers!!

80 comments:

  1. I have done and tried all these things, but nothing works. I can see the printer in the network and sharing center after doing a search, but it still wont get past the spooler issue

    ReplyDelete
  2. 1. Go to Programs and Features in Control panel > click Turn Windows features on or off

    2. click + sign of Print services

    3. Select LPD and LPR. You should remove Internet Printing Client. > restart your PC to ensure there is no error of spooler service.



    4. Add your printer driver again.



    It worked for me. Let try.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you, the first solution helped me :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm sorry, but where do you find "Programs and Features" in control panel. I can't find anything close to that in category or classic view.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mike, check for programs in control panel.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm still lost, maybe the reference is for Vista? This microsoft approach seemed a lot easier for XP: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q324757

    I'm all set here. It just looked like an elegant solution if I could have figured it out. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  7. yes the program and features is for windows vista operating system

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you so so much! My spooler wasn't working and I needed to print a document for school. After more than an hour of messing around with the services and printers, I decided to google my problem, and found you. The solution to print directly to printer worked like a charm (I had already tried the restarting the spooler to no avail) Thanks once again!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I went through all of these and the only one that worked with the 'print directly to printer' option which works good but now I can not print any Adobe Acrobat files. I went to the Adobe support site and some people are having similar issues but it is more focused on new printers, not after the sub spooler error.

    I am thinking that I need to use the spooler to print adobe and now that I am going direct I can not print Adobe files? Does this make sense, any and all help is appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am receiving this error message when I print from a computer connected via a network connection through a router.

    The computer connected directly to the printer is operating just fine. I only receive this error message when printing from the other computer.

    Any ideas on fixing this?

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am frustrated. I have done all this and STILL get the Spooler stopped working message. By reading here it seems this has been an ongoing problem for a long time now. Seems there should be a fix for it....I am sorry I bought this HP printer now! Any OTHER ideas to help?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Started getting the "spooler subsystem App stopped working and was closed" message this AM. Have followed the fixes. Message still coming back as I type.

    Am using LaserJet 1022 and Vista 64

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have done everything that you have suggested above and still get the spooler print message. There must be some other fix for this?

    ReplyDelete
  14. I finally gave up and connected the printer to my XP box and shared it. I can print from any computer on the network without a problem and didn't have to jump through any hoops.
    Vista. What a swell operating system.

    ReplyDelete
  15. @ Clay. I have been facing the same problem. I have been using the same printer (HP LaserJet 1022) but my OS is vista 32. I've even re-installed Vista yesterday, but it's still causing the same problem. I hope somebody will pay attention to this.

    ReplyDelete
  16. did you try installing the printer through add printer wizard from control panel, just try installing the drivers through add printer wizard.

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  17. @Ans, it's not simply about adding a printer. Once window Vista "proclaims" that "Spooler SubSystem App stopped working and was closed", all of my printers disappear from control panel - printer menu. Maybe for reference, I see this problem when printing PDF files (whether be it printed by Adobe or Foxit reader). Any ideas? Can I provide more information for reference?

    ReplyDelete
  18. Ofcourse !1 it might help

    ReplyDelete
  19. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  20. thank you thank you thank you... i've been dealing with this for months. now- in 5 minutes- it's resolved. GREAT!!! thank you

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thanks so much just the first step of `Click on the "Recovery" tab and change all 3 drop-down boxes to "Restart The Service".` for the spooler service worked for me. I didnt need to do the next steps even.

    This worked for HPLaserjet1020 printer that was shared on an XP machine and I was on new Vista machine trying to install it as network printer.

    ReplyDelete
  22. None of this is working for me. The print spooler quits working. I have run through these suggestions as well as several others from other blog posts on this topic.

    From step 1 above:
    Click Administrative Tools.

    Double-click Services.

    Locate the Print Spooler entry.

    Right-click the Print Spooler icon and then click Restart.

    A progress message will be displayed.

    Right-click "Print Spooler" and select "Properties".


    In the General tab make sure that the startup type is set to Automatic. Click on the Start button of the Service Status is Stopped.

    Click on the "Recovery" tab and change all 3 drop-down boxes to "Restart The Service".

    Make sure the 2 text boxes underneath say "1" in them.

    Select the 'Log on' Tab and make sure that the 'Local system Account' is selected and click Apply and OK

    The print spooler will not restart. Everything else is set up as suggested. Nothing prints.

    In regards to step 2:
    1.Click Start > Control Panel.

    2.Go to Programs and Features in Control Panel.

    3.In the left side, Click "Turn Windows features on or off"

    4.Click + sign of Print services

    3. Check Mark and select LPD and LPR. You should remove the check box against "Internet Printing Client".

    4.Restart the PC to ensure there is no error of spooler service.

    Important:

    This sometimes require two attempts, first Select LPD and LPR and save the changes. Select the "Internet Printing Client" as well.

    Click Apply and OK.

    Restart the PC to ensure that the steps are enabled.

    This is all set up as suggested. Still no printer.

    In regards to step 3:
    Alternatively, try selecting the option print directly to printer in the printer properties instead of using the spooler option.

    The spooler will not start. When I attempt the above suggested action, I get an error message that informs me "The printer setting could not be saved. The local print spooler service is not running. Please restart the spooler or restart the machine." However, on restart, I get the the message "Spooler SubSystem App stopped working and was closed.".

    I have also tried to delete the printer registry. That has failed. I have tried to update my drivers. The driver downloads but will not install and I receive the following error message: Windows encountered a problem installing the driver software for your device. windows found driver software for your device but encountered an error while attempting to install it. One of the installers for this device cannot perform the installation at this time.

    I am at the end of line here. Are there any alternatives to reinstalling Vista or XP?

    ReplyDelete
  23. I have exactly the same problem as cyberjf (11 May 2009 post) -- only get the spooler error (on the direct-connect CPU) when printing from a networked CPU. Added wrinkle: The test page will print from the networked CPU, but anything from Word or Outlook gives the spooler error. I tried the "fix" from HP at the start of this chain -- worse than ineffective: my computer wouldn't boot until I went back to a Restore Point. (But that may be an independent problem.) I've also gotten several suggestions directly from HP -- no effect. So I finally (after many hours) did the fallback "solution" from the HP advice above: disabled the spooler for this printer. Gross. This has been around for a LONG time, so why no real fix? -- I could find no mention of the error on the Microsoft or HP websites.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Count me in with the frustrated. Vista won't load my SQL patch, and now won't print to my HP LJ 1020.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I tried the "Services - Print Spooler" idea, no, did not work. Then I tried the 2nd one, "Programs and Features - select LPD and LPR", no, did not work.

    But I left the 2nd one as that.

    I installed Vista Service Pack 2. no, did not help.

    Then I found the Original intall CD from my HP LaserJet 1018. I followed some suggestion from printer forum, deleted the driver, reboot.

    Then I could see my printer in folder, tested a TEST page, it delivered but no printout.

    OK, re-install the driver from original CD, chose "replace current driver".....

    YAHOOOOOOooooo~ I got it!!!

    Share with you all~
    2009 Sept.25

    ps. below is the 1st and 2nd trial which did not work for me, but for your reference.
    -----------------------------
    Click Administrative Tools.

    Double-click Services.

    Locate the Print Spooler entry.

    Right-click the Print Spooler icon and then click Restart.

    A progress message will be displayed.

    Right-click "Print Spooler" and select "Properties".


    In the General tab make sure that the startup type is set to Automatic. Click on the Start button of the Service Status is Stopped.

    Click on the "Recovery" tab and change all 3 drop-down boxes to "Restart The Service".

    Make sure the 2 text boxes underneath say "1" in them.

    Select the 'Log on' Tab and make sure that the 'Local system Account' is selected and click Apply and OK

    Then, try to print or to access the Print Properties or install the drivers as applicable.
    if you are still unable to access or print from the printer, follow the below steps:


    1.Click Start > Control Panel.

    2.Go to Programs and Features in Control Panel.

    3.In the left side, Click "Turn Windows features on or off"

    4.Click + sign of Print services

    3. Check Mark and select LPD and LPR. You should remove the check box against "Internet Printing Client".

    4.Restart the PC to ensure there is no error of spooler service.

    ReplyDelete
  26. i've tried all these and I still get the nag mesage: spooler subsystem app stopped working and was closed
    I've lost half a day trying to sort it out, but it didn't work.
    Can anybody give me a hand please?
    Thanks for your help
    ARTURO

    ReplyDelete
  27. What do you with XP? Please help??????

    ReplyDelete
  28. There is an incompatibility between Postscript and some HP drivers. This causes errors when trying to print pdf files. When you print a pdf file to an hp printer, use the pulldown menus, choose Print, then Advanced and choose "Print as Image", that will prevent the printer from trying to format it as Postscript.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I love it when you say there is "incompatibility" Let me tell you the only thing not compatible is Microsoft with everything else and not the other way around. Sick of this stupid OS not working and makeing all IT personells lives a living hell! MS should be paying us to use this junk!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Thank you so much for this HP Answer.

    ReplyDelete
  31. None of this works. Any other ideas???

    ReplyDelete
  32. I am going to buy a Mac

    ReplyDelete
  33. I've had the same problem for some time and had to turn the spooler off - which is an awful annoyance.

    At the weekend I downloaded a program called Registry Mechanic and ran that. After it had repaired the errors that it had identified, I no longer have this problem. The spooler is switched back on and (so far) everything is printing correctly.

    ReplyDelete
  34. processor hp no

    processor print = winprint - raw

    ReplyDelete
  35. WELL I TRIED ALL THE STEPS ABOVE N ITS NOT WORKING.IM PRINTING PDF FILES AT LEAST.

    "When you print a pdf file to an hp printer, use the pulldown menus, choose Print, then Advanced and choose "Print as Image", that will prevent the printer from trying to format it as Postscript"

    THIS WORKS!

    ReplyDelete
  36. tried all above, and this was only one that worked for me!
    "There is an incompatibility between Postscript and some HP drivers. This causes errors when trying to print pdf files. When you print a pdf file to an hp printer, use the pulldown menus, choose Print, then Advanced and choose "Print as Image", that will prevent the printer from trying to format it as Postscript."

    ReplyDelete
  37. I tried all of this. Nothing is working. The printer has been working fine for several months. Now I have been getting this stupid spooler message, and nothing in this forum seems to help. It is very frustrating, probably I have to try using a non-HP printer

    ReplyDelete
  38. ok so I tried firs the two options above to no results -- now my printer is working so here's what happened:

    I read this whole thread while downloading service pack 2 for vista, then installed it.

    I deleted the following registry keys listed on this site:
    http://forums.techarena.in/vista-help/686461.htm

    don't delete the xps or one-note(if you have office 2007) because those are just virtual...

    I went to program files on the C: drive & deleted the hp 1022n software folders under hewlett packard....

    unplued the usb cable & plugged it in again ina different port... downloaded hp printer drivers even though vista had them built in so the hp wizard never finished because vista installed it automatically & I had to cancel the hp wizard..

    also noticed that in one of the sections above it says:

    Important:

    This sometimes require two attempts, first Select LPD and LPR and save the changes. Select the "Internet Printing Client" as well. I then disabled the internet printing client.

    for the print directly to printer option it didnt work it gave me an error saying:

    printer settings could not be saved. operation could not be completed (error 0x0000070c)

    googled that & I didn't want to research that but now my printer is working so for those whom it didn't work:

    you'll just have to fiddle between these options until you get it working, never give up....

    Believe it!!!!!!!!!

    any questions hit me up:

    http://jiraya-sensei.livejournal.com/

    I opened an account but dont have time to figure out why this stupid site is giving me issues.....

    ReplyDelete
  39. thanks! this works for me

    ReplyDelete
  40. I did the two steps above and it didnt help me.
    After that I went to microsoft support and used the fix it icon for it to detect and automatically fix it for me. It didnt work either.

    Then I googled another website
    http://forums.techarena.in/vista-help/686461.htm and this is what someone mentioned ...

    'I got this same spooler problem and after three days I finally got someone that fixed it and I did the same. I went to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and deleted the content (not the folder itself). Then I started the printer spooler and voila!'

    Mine worked too after doing it! Printer is working great!

    ReplyDelete
  41. 'I got this same spooler problem and after three days I finally got someone that fixed it and I did the same. I went to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and deleted the content (not the folder itself). Then I started the printer spooler and voila!'

    Also worked for me...

    ReplyDelete
  42. Still had the same issue, this resolved it for me:
    Start -> Run - Regedit -> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -> SYSTEM -> ControlSet001 ->
    Control -> Print -> Environments -> Windows NT x86 -> Version -3 -> Remove
    All Printers From Here (Delete HP First See If that resolves the problem)

    ReplyDelete
  43. The post dated March 29, 2010 worked for me, after three days of trying all the other suggestions.

    ReplyDelete
  44. "I went to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and deleted the content (not the folder itself). Then I started the printer spooler and voila!"


    This also worked for me. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  45. After going through all the advice in the original posting, no luck, I finally found the advice posted on April 6 by Anonymous, and it's worked, hurrah!!!!! THANKYOU so much!!!! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  46. Live-Tech will fix this problem for you RIGHT NOW. NO more wondering or frustrations. Leave it to Live-Tech! http://www.mylive-tech.com OPEN A SUPPORT TICKET ONLINE> :)

    ReplyDelete
  47. Deleting the files in the PRINTERS folder is great solution. Thank you very much

    ReplyDelete
  48. I cannot get to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS @ command prompt. Says it's unrecognizeable as an internal or external command...can someone walk me thru getting there?

    ReplyDelete
  49. I've done everything suggested but none worked for me. Any other alternatives?

    ReplyDelete
  50. C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
    doesn't have anything in it - but still
    I get the error message and things shut down

    and the printer is in another part of the network
    on a different machine anyway.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Me too. I have done everything suggested but still nothing. The same message again and again. When I tried "print direct to print" the programm from which I tried to print closed automatically. Word excel autocad and acrobat reader. HP should do simething about it. I bought the printer (HP Officejet 4500) for 120 euros and I called for someone to come anf fix it since I cannot do it on my own and they asked 60 euros.
    There has to be something. Is it the vista. hp or my computer. If anyone has an alternative please help

    ReplyDelete
  52. After having wasted a couple of days trying other fixes, including MS FixIt, I found the recipe below posted here April 4/6

    "I went to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and deleted the content (not the folder itself). Then I started the printer spooler and voila!"


    This also worked for me. Thanks!

    And it worked for me, also, even here in Norway!

    Eternally grateful,
    Olav

    ReplyDelete
  53. My folder C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS is already empty and still nothing. Noone from HP reads this blog? It is been two years now and they still havent fixed it. I will have to buy a new printer.

    Vantina

    ReplyDelete
  54. Thanks so much, this worked for me!!

    ReplyDelete
  55. I tried several things that are mentioned in this discussion thread, starting from the top and working my way down the list. The first suggestions did not change the problem. I then went to a different site that had a suggestion that I now see near the end of the list on this site.
    The solution was to go to the folder at C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS, and then see what files are in that folder. Some sites say to delete everything in that folder. I found that there were 3 files there, and 2 of the 3 had been added at the day and time the problem appeared for me. The other one was from an earlier date. So I left the earlier dated one, and deleted the other two, with the idea that I could get them back from teh recycle bin if I needed them.
    Deleting those two files fixed the problem for me. All of my printers then started working again.
    The problem appeared for me when I did a firmware update for two Laserjet printers. Doing that apparently introduced those two new files into the referenced folder.
    It might be that the other steps that I took earlier to correct the problem (the ones that appear earlier in this discussion thread) were part of the cure. Maybe they were part of the cure, but they weren't the entire cure. The cure occurred when I deleted those two files from the C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS folder.

    ReplyDelete
  56. it hit me too after I printed a 2.1GB file, how frustrating. none of the solutions work, no files in print folder, uhhhhhh, will install my old canon, just a shame I spent $150 on ink for the hp

    ReplyDelete
  57. I went into C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and my printer is now working. I have spent two days trying to figure out what was happening. Thanks to my brother who suggested that I google my problem. I tried the first and second steps mentioned at the beginning and those did not work. As I scrolled down to read the comments, I noticed many had to go to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and I did also. I just copied and pasted C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS into my address window and there where the files in which the problem started. I have had my HP 1600 since 2006 and it works great. Thanks for all the comments.

    ReplyDelete
  58. 'I got this same spooler problem and after three days I finally got someone that fixed it and I did the same. I went to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and deleted the content (not the folder itself). Then I started the printer spooler and voila!'

    ALSO WORKED FOR ME... BLESS YOU!

    ReplyDelete
  59. Same problem here today with a HP Photosmart Plus B210 wireless. Turned out the issue was a shockwave file in C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS (Vista Home) that DEP stopped by stopping the spooler subsystem. No idea how that file got there, a full scan is running now. Well, at least I learned how to restart the print spooler without having to restart the computer ;-).

    ReplyDelete
  60. Thank you very much!

    ReplyDelete
  61. I have had almost exactly the same problems as Anonymous posted January 3, 2010 9:55 PM. I had been trying for hours to solve the problem trying all these methods. I use Vista 32 and have a Lexmark X1270 and thought I had completely uninstalled it, but still the Spooler failed. When I checked the registry there was still a Lexmark folder which could not be deleted, no matter how much I changed the Permissions. In the end I googled 'delete Lexmark from registry' and found this site:

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/155516

    I followed its instructions for deleting those specific Lexmark keys, and suddenly the spooler has stopped crashing. I know this is a fix for a Lexmark, but hope this helps you find a similar HP registry fix...

    ReplyDelete
  62. i don't have any files in the printer folder. This is really annoying me !!

    ReplyDelete
  63. Thank you so much! You are a life saver (and printer saver, I was getting ready to throw it out the window, haha)

    ReplyDelete
  64. I have this issue and I DO NOT have a HP printer.. I have a Lexmark, wireless, and I'm using Nortons 360.. and the problem only started when Norton 360 was upgraded.. anyone else using it??

    ReplyDelete
  65. uh why don't you just make a printer that works from the get go without all the finagling.

    ReplyDelete
  66. I ALSO TRIED THIS TO GET RID OF THE SPOOLER SUB APP PROBLEM MESSAGE AND THANK GOD IT WORKED (GOT NO HAIR LEFT NOW BUT AT LEAST I CAN PRINT AGAIN!)

    C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and deleted the content (not the folder itself). Then I started the printer spooler and voila!'

    ReplyDelete
  67. Hurray! This worked after many attempts at trying other ways. Many thanks!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  68. thanx for your best idea to recover from the printer spooling problem.

    ReplyDelete
  69. Thanks Ans for posting this useful information, it worked for me.

    ReplyDelete
  70. 'I got this same spooler problem and after three days I finally got someone that fixed it and I did the same. I went to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and deleted the content (not the folder itself). Then I started the printer spooler and voila!'

    THANKS SO MUCH - THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM!!

    ReplyDelete
  71. 'I got this same spooler problem and after three days I finally got someone that fixed it and I did the same. I went to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and deleted the content (not the folder itself). Then I started the printer spooler and voila!'

    It worked for me too! 10x so much!

    ReplyDelete
  72. To people who have tried these fixes to no avail, try this:

    1. Delete all pending print jobs. If like me, your issue was a pdf, you need to get the pdf out of the print queue or the problem will just persist.

    2. Try the "HP Print Diagnostic Utility" This has also helped me with this problem (and can be used to do step 1 above and empty the queue if you can't get access to it another way). http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&docname=c02073861

    ReplyDelete
  73. The problem is that printer manufacturers went for the "Gillette" business model so need to sell their own cartridges to make money.

    ReplyDelete
  74. Nothing works for me
    my problem is that when i give print command to my HP 1018 network printer it prints after restart the host computer. I think if the "print directly to printer" option is enabled then it might be ok. But when I try to change this option the error 0x0000070xc appears.

    ReplyDelete
  75. Finally a simple solution which got my printer working again.
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  76. Nice blog its so informative click this link, and fix your problem.
    Fix Windows 7 Error 1068
    Thank you
    Aalia lyon

    ReplyDelete