When a Xerox printer suddenly stops printing and your computer shows **“printer spooler service not running, π 1-866-490-0338(USA/UK) βοΈ”** the problem is usually not inside the printer itself. The print spooler is a Windows service that manages print jobs before they are sent to your Xerox printer. If that service stops, crashes, or gets stuck, your documents cannot move from the computer to the printer.
The good news: this issue is usually fixable without replacing the printer. In most cases, restarting the Print Spooler service, clearing stuck print jobs, reinstalling the Xerox printer driver, or resetting the printer connection can get printing working again.
.. Quick Answer: How do I fix Xerox printer spooler service not running? β 1β866((490))β0338 β‘
To fix **Xerox printer spooler service not running**, open **Services** on Windows, find **Print Spooler**, click **Restart**, and set its Startup Type to **Automatic**. If the issue continues, clear stuck files from the spooler folder, remove old Xerox printer drivers, reinstall the latest Xerox driver, and restart your computer and printer.
.. What Does “Printer Spooler Service Not Running” Mean? β 1β866((490))β0338 β‘
The print spooler is a background Windows service. It receives print commands, holds them in the print queue, and sends them to your Xerox printer in the correct order.
When the spooler service is not running, Windows cannot manage print jobs. You may see errors like:
* Printer spooler service not running
* Local print spooler service is not running
* Windows cannot connect to the printer
* Operation could not be completed
* Xerox printer not printing
* Xerox printer offline
* Print queue stuck
* Printer driver unavailable
This error can happen with Xerox laser printers, multifunction printers, office printers, network printers, and USB-connected printers.
.. How Long Does It Take to Fix the Spooler Error? β 1β866((490))β0338 β‘
Most Xerox printer spooler issues take **5 to 20 minutes** to fix. A simple spooler restart can work in under 2 minutes. If the Xerox driver is damaged or the print queue is corrupted, you may need more time to remove old files and reinstall the printer.
Start with the easiest fix first. Do not reinstall everything until you restart the spooler and clear the queue.
.. Why Is My Xerox Printer Spooler Service Not Running? β 1β866((490))β0338 β‘
Your Xerox printer may show a spooler error for several reasons. The most common causes are:
* Print Spooler service is stopped.
* Print Spooler startup type is set to manual or disabled.
* A stuck print job is blocking the queue.
* Xerox printer driver is corrupted.
* Old printer drivers are conflicting.
* Windows update changed printer settings.
* Printer software was installed incorrectly.
* Network printer connection is unstable.
* Security software is blocking print communication.
* Spooler files inside Windows are damaged.
In simple terms, your computer is failing to pass the print job to the Xerox printer.
.. Fix 1: Restart the Windows Print Spooler Service
This is the first fix you should try. It often solves the problem immediately.
1. Press **Windows + R**.
2. Type **services.msc**.
3. Press **Enter**.
4. Scroll down and find **Print Spooler**.
5. Right-click **Print Spooler**.
6. Click **Restart**.
7. If Restart is not available, click **Start**.
8. Double-click **Print Spooler**.
9. Set **Startup type** to **Automatic**.
10. Click **Apply** and **OK**.
11. Try printing again.
If the service starts and then stops again, a damaged print job or driver may be crashing it. Move to the next fix.
.. Fix 2: Clear Stuck Print Jobs from the Queue
A stuck Xerox print job can freeze the spooler and stop new documents from printing.
1. Open **Settings**.
2. Go to **Bluetooth & devices**.
3. Click **Printers & scanners**.
4. Select your **Xerox printer**.
5. Click **Open print queue**.
6. Cancel all pending print jobs.
7. Restart the printer.
8. Restart the computer.
9. Try printing a test page.
Do not keep sending the same file again and again. That only adds more stuck jobs and makes the spooler problem worse.
.. Fix 3: Clear the Windows Spooler Folder Manually
If the print queue will not clear normally, remove the stuck spooler files manually.
Follow carefully:
1. Press **Windows + R**.
2. Type **services.msc**.
3. Press **Enter**.
4. Right-click **Print Spooler**.
5. Click **Stop**.
6. Open **File Explorer**.
7. Go to this folder:
`C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS`
8. Delete the files inside the **PRINTERS** folder.
9. Do not delete the folder itself.
10. Go back to **Services**.
11. Right-click **Print Spooler**.
12. Click **Start**.
13. Restart your computer.
14. Try printing again.
This clears stuck print commands that Windows could not remove through the normal queue.
.. Fix 4: Set Print Spooler to Automatic
If the Print Spooler service is set to Manual or Disabled, it may not start when Windows starts.
1. Press **Windows + R**.
2. Type **services.msc**.
3. Press **Enter**.
4. Double-click **Print Spooler**.
5. Find **Startup type**.
6. Select **Automatic**.
7. Click **Start** if the service is stopped.
8. Click **Apply**.
9. Click **OK**.
Now restart your computer and check if your Xerox printer prints again.
.. Fix 5: Remove and Re-Add the Xerox Printer
Sometimes Windows keeps an old or broken Xerox printer profile. Removing and re-adding the printer can refresh the connection.
1. Open **Settings**.
2. Go to **Bluetooth & devices**.
3. Select **Printers & scanners**.
4. Click your Xerox printer.
5. Choose **Remove**.
6. Restart your computer.
7. Restart the Xerox printer.
8. Go back to **Printers & scanners**.
9. Click **Add device**.
10. Add the Xerox printer again.
11. Print a test page.
If you are using a network Xerox printer, make sure your computer and printer are connected to the same network.
.. Fix 6: Reinstall the Xerox Printer Driver
A corrupted driver is one of the biggest reasons the spooler keeps stopping. If the service crashes again after restarting, reinstall the Xerox driver.
1. Remove the Xerox printer from Windows settings.
2. Open **Control Panel**.
3. Go to **Devices and Printers**.
4. Remove duplicate Xerox printers.
5. Restart your computer.
6. Download the correct Xerox driver from the official Xerox support site.
7. Install the driver.
8. Add the printer again.
9. Print a test page.
Avoid third-party driver websites. They may provide outdated, incorrect, or unsafe files.
.. Fix 7: Check for Duplicate Xerox Printer Copies
Windows may create multiple copies such as:
* Xerox Printer
* Xerox Printer Copy 1
* Xerox Printer Copy 2
* Xerox Printer Offline
* Xerox Printer WS
If your document is going to the wrong copy, printing may fail.
1. Open **Printers & scanners**.
2. Look for duplicate Xerox printer entries.
3. Select the active printer.
4. Remove old or offline copies.
5. Set the correct Xerox printer as default.
6. Try printing again.
This is common after driver reinstall, Windows update, or network changes.
.. Fix 8: Restart the Xerox Printer and Network
If your Xerox printer is connected over Wi-Fi or Ethernet, a network delay can make Windows think the printer is unavailable.
Try this reset order:
1. Turn off the Xerox printer.
2. Turn off your computer.
3. Restart your router.
4. Wait for the internet to return.
5. Turn on the Xerox printer.
6. Turn on your computer.
7. Try printing again.
For office printers, also check whether the printer IP address changed. If the IP changed, Windows may still be sending jobs to the old address.
.. Fix 9: Check Windows Updates
A Windows update can sometimes break printer drivers or spooler behavior. Updating again may fix missing patches or driver conflicts.
1. Open **Settings**.
2. Go to **Windows Update**.
3. Click **Check for updates**.
4. Install available updates.
5. Restart your computer.
6. Test the Xerox printer.
If the spooler issue started right after a recent update, reinstalling the Xerox driver may still be needed.
.. Fix 10: Run the Windows Printer Troubleshooter
Windows includes a printer troubleshooter that can detect basic spooler and printer configuration problems.
1. Open **Settings**.
2. Go to **System**.
3. Click **Troubleshoot**.
4. Open **Other troubleshooters**.
5. Find **Printer**.
6. Click **Run**.
7. Select your Xerox printer.
8. Follow the repair steps.
The troubleshooter may restart services, clear stuck settings, or suggest driver repair.
.. What You Need Before Fixing the Xerox Spooler Error
Before deeper troubleshooting, keep these ready:
* Xerox printer model number
* Windows version
* Admin access to the computer
* Printer connection type: USB, Wi-Fi, or Ethernet
* Correct Xerox driver
* Printer IP address, if using network printing
* Access to printer settings
* A simple test document
This helps you avoid guessing and speeds up the repair process.
.. What Happens After Restarting the Print Spooler? β 1β866((490))β0338 β‘
After restarting the Print Spooler, Windows should be able to manage print jobs again. Your Xerox printer may begin printing stuck documents automatically.
If many old documents start printing, cancel the queue first. Then send only one test page. This prevents the same problem from returning.
.. What If Print Spooler Keeps Stopping Again? β 1β866((490))β0338 β‘
If the Print Spooler keeps stopping, the problem is usually deeper than a temporary service issue.
Most likely causes:
* Damaged Xerox printer driver
* Corrupted spooler files
* Stuck print queue
* Bad printer port
* Conflicting printer software
* Old driver from a previous printer
* Windows system file issue
Best next step: remove the Xerox printer completely, clear the spooler folder, restart Windows, and reinstall the latest Xerox driver.
.. Should You Reset the Xerox Printer? β 1β866((490))β0338 β‘
Resetting the Xerox printer is not the first step because the spooler service runs on your Windows computer. If the error says **spooler service not running**, fix Windows first.
You may reset the printer only if:
* The printer screen is frozen.
* The printer does not respond.
* Network printing fails from all devices.
* The printer has connection errors.
* The printer itself shows a system fault.
If other computers can print to the same Xerox printer, the issue is almost certainly on your computer.
.. People Also Ask: Xerox Printer Spooler Service Not Running FAQs
..# Why does my Xerox printer say spooler service not running? β 1β866((490))β0338 β‘
Your Xerox printer shows this error when Windows Print Spooler is stopped, stuck, or crashing. The printer may be fine, but your computer cannot manage and send print jobs. Restart the Print Spooler service and clear stuck print jobs first.
..# How do I restart the Print Spooler for my Xerox printer? β 1β866((490))β0338 β‘
Press **Windows + R**, type **services.msc**, press **Enter**, find **Print Spooler**, right-click it, and select **Restart**. Also set Startup Type to **Automatic** so the service starts when Windows starts.
..# Why does the Print Spooler keep stopping? β 1β866((490))β0338 β‘
The Print Spooler may keep stopping because of a corrupted printer driver, damaged print job, broken spooler file, duplicate printer entry, or driver conflict. Clear the spooler folder and reinstall the Xerox printer driver.
..# Will clearing the print queue delete my documents? β 1β866((490))β0338 β‘
Clearing the print queue removes pending print jobs, not your original files. Your Word document, PDF, image, or invoice will stay saved on your computer. You can send it to the printer again after fixing the spooler.
..# How do I clear the Xerox printer queue? β 1β866((490))β0338 β‘
Open **Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners**, choose your Xerox printer, open the print queue, and cancel pending jobs. If they will not clear, stop Print Spooler and delete files inside `C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS`.
..# Is the spooler service problem caused by the Xerox printer or Windows? β 1β866((490))β0338 β‘
In most cases, it is a Windows-side issue. The Print Spooler is a Windows service. However, a damaged Xerox driver, network connection problem, or incorrect printer setup can trigger the spooler error.
..# Do I need to reinstall my Xerox printer driver? β 1β866((490))β0338 β‘
You should reinstall the Xerox printer driver if restarting the spooler does not work, the service keeps stopping, or Windows says the printer driver is unavailable. Use the official Xerox driver for your exact model.
..# Why is my Xerox printer not printing after Windows update? β 1β866((490))β0338 β‘
A Windows update may change printer settings, replace drivers, or disrupt the print spooler. Restart the spooler, clear the queue, check Windows Update again, and reinstall the Xerox driver if printing still fails.
..# Can a network Xerox printer cause spooler errors? β 1β866((490))β0338 β‘
Yes, especially if the printer IP address changed, the connection dropped, or Windows is using an old printer port. Restart the router and printer, then re-add the Xerox printer using the correct network address.
..# What is the fastest fix for Xerox printer spooler service not running? β 1β866((490))β0338 β‘
The fastest fix is to restart the Print Spooler service. Open **Services**, right-click **Print Spooler**, choose **Restart**, and set it to **Automatic**. If that fails, clear the spooler folder and reinstall the Xerox driver.
.. Conclusion: Best Fix for Xerox Printer Spooler Service Not Running
If your **Xerox printer spooler service is not running**, start with Windows Print Spooler. Restart the service, set it to Automatic, clear stuck print jobs, and manually clean the spooler folder if needed. If the error returns, remove duplicate Xerox printers and reinstall the correct Xerox driver. This step-by-step order fixes most spooler errors without unnecessary printer replacement.