The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →To start the Print Spooler for Epson printing, open Windows Services, select Print Spooler, and choose Start the service. The Print Spooler is a Windows service—not a separate Epson service—and Epson’s instructions cover Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Start the Print Spooler in Windows 10 or 11
- Press Windows+R, type services.msc, and press Enter to open the Services console. Epson documents this method for Windows 10 and Windows 11: Epson: How to Stop and Restart the Print Spooler Service in Windows.
- In the alphabetical list, locate and select Print Spooler. It temporarily holds print jobs until the printer is ready.
- If the service is stopped, choose Start the service. Check that its status changes to Running. If it is already running but printing is unresponsive, choose Restart the service.
Set the service to start with Windows
In the Print Spooler service properties, check Startup Type. Epson identifies Automatic as the default; this setting starts the service when Windows starts. Microsoft’s spooler-reset instructions also set it to Automatic: Microsoft: Fix printer connection and printing problems in Windows.
If the spooler runs but a print job is stuck
Cancel the stalled job first
Open the Epson printer’s Windows print queue and cancel stalled jobs. This removes pending jobs from the queue and is the first step to try if restarting the service does not clear the problem. Epson also lists stalled Windows Spooler jobs among the causes to address in its Nothing Prints troubleshooting guide.
Clear spool files only if queue cancellation is not enough
Microsoft documents a deeper reset that deletes queued spool files. This clears the pending print jobs, so use it only when you are prepared to remove them:
#1 Best Overall
- Innovative Cartridge-Free Printing ― High-capacity ink tanks mean no more tiny, expensive ink cartridges; Epson’s exclusive EcoFit ink bottles make filling easy and worry-free
- Impressive Print Quality ― Unique Micro Piezo Heat-Free Technology produces sharp text – plus impressive color photos and graphics – on virtually any paper type
- Zero Cartridge Waste – By using an EcoTank printer, you can help reduce the amount of cartridge waste ending up in landfills
- Built-in Scanner & Copier ― High-resolution flatbed scanner and a color display for easy document copying and navigation
- Open services.msc and stop Print Spooler.
- In File Explorer’s address bar, enter %WINDIR%system32spoolprinters and delete the files in that folder.
- Return to Services, start Print Spooler, and set Startup Type to Automatic, following Microsoft’s reset procedure.
If the Epson printer still will not print
Starting the service does not resolve every printing problem. If its status is Running but nothing prints, check the remaining parts of the print path:
- Confirm the Epson printer is powered on and connected to the computer or network.
- Check that the printer is not marked offline or left with a pending job.
- Review installed printer drivers for unnecessary, outdated, or duplicate entries. If a driver needs replacing, get the one for your exact Epson model from Epson’s official support site rather than using a generic driver-download tool. Microsoft also recommends reviewing drivers in its print spooler troubleshooting guidance.
- For Windows 10 or 11, Epson identifies its Printer Connection Checker as another connection troubleshooting option in the Nothing Prints guide.
Windows 10 support status
Microsoft’s spooler troubleshooting guidance covers Windows 10 and Windows 11. Microsoft states that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025; see Microsoft’s Windows print spooler guidance for its current support information.
Quick Recap
Rank #3
- INNOVATIVE CARTRIDGE-FREE PRINTING — No more dealing with tiny, expensive ink cartridges; With this wireless printer each ink bottle set is equivalent to about 80 individual cartridges²
- LESS FREQUENT INK REPLACEMENT — Replacement ink bottles don't have to be changed nearly as often as ink cartridges¹; Color printer lets you print up to 4,500 black and white pages and 7,200 color³
- PRINT FOR LONGER — Up to 2 years of ink in the box⁴ (and with every replacement ink set) for fewer out-of-ink frustrations; This home printer keeps printing longer
- HIGH CAPACITY INK TANKS – Printer, scanner and copier utilizes Epson’s exclusive EcoFit ink bottles, making the refill process easy and worry-free
- ZERO CARTRIDGE WASTE — By using an Epson EcoTank printer you can help reduce the amount of cartridge waste ending up in landfills; Cartridge-free printer utilizes ink bottles for more convenience and less waste
Rank #2
- INNOVATIVE CARTRIDGE-FREE PRINTING — No more dealing with lots of tiny ink cartridges; With this wireless document and photo printer each ink bottle set is equivalent to about 90 individual cartridges²
- LESS FREQUENT INK REPLACEMENT — Replacement ink bottles don't have to be changed nearly as often as ink cartridges¹; When you choose this combination printer, scanner and copier you can print up to 4,500 pages black/7,500 color³
- COLOR PRINTING — Up to 2 years of ink in the box4 (and with every replacement ink set) for fewer out-of-ink frustrations
- ZERO CARTRIDGE WASTE — By using an Epson EcoTank printer you can help reduce the amount of cartridge waste ending up in landfills
- HOME PRINTER DESIGNED FOR RELIABILITY — The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 All-in-One Supertank Color Printer creates vivid, detailed prints and documents thanks to Micro Piezo Heat-Free Technology; Fire off 10 ISO pages per minute1 to easily finish large jobs
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