When you try to print a document in Word, the program freezes and then closes without printing. This problem often occurs because the Windows Print Spooler service has stopped or become corrupted. The spooler manages print jobs sent from Word to your printer, and when it fails, Word cannot complete the print command and crashes. This article explains why the spooler fails and provides step-by-step fixes to restart it and prevent the crash.
Key Takeaways: Print Spooler Fix for Word Crashes
- Run services.msc and restart the Print Spooler service: Clears stuck print jobs that cause Word to freeze.
- Delete files in C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS: Removes corrupted spooler data that prevents printing.
- Set Print Spooler to Automatic startup type: Ensures the service starts with Windows so Word can print without crashing.
Why the Print Spooler Causes Word to Crash
The Print Spooler is a Windows service that accepts print jobs from applications like Word and sends them to the printer. When the spooler stops, gets stuck on a corrupted job, or runs out of memory, Word cannot hand off the print task. Word waits for the spooler to respond, but the timeout eventually forces the program to stop responding and crash.
Common triggers include a printer driver that fails mid-job, a user account without permission to write to the spool folder, or a third-party printer management tool that interferes with the spooler. In some cases, a single corrupted print job blocks all subsequent jobs, causing Word to hang every time you try to print.
Steps to Restart the Print Spooler and Fix Word Crashes
Follow these steps in order. You need administrator access on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer.
Method 1: Restart the Print Spooler Service
- Open the Services console
Press Windows key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter. The Services window opens. - Locate the Print Spooler service
Scroll down the list and double-click Print Spooler to open its properties. - Stop the service
In the properties window, click Stop. Wait for the service status to change to Stopped. - Start the service again
Click Start to restart the spooler. The status should change to Running. - Set startup type to Automatic
In the Startup type dropdown, select Automatic if it is not already selected. Click Apply and then OK. - Test printing in Word
Open Word, create a simple document, and press Ctrl + P. If the print dialog opens and the document prints, the fix worked. If Word still crashes, proceed to Method 2.
Method 2: Clear Corrupted Spooler Files
- Stop the Print Spooler service
Follow steps 1–3 from Method 1 to stop the Print Spooler. Do not close Services yet. - Open the spool folder
Press Windows key + R, type C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS, and press Enter. A folder opens containing .shd and .spl files. - Delete all files in the folder
Press Ctrl + A to select all files, then press the Delete key. If a file is in use, skip it and restart Windows, then try again. - Start the Print Spooler service
Return to the Services window, right-click Print Spooler, and select Start. - Test printing again
Open Word and print a document. If it prints without crashing, the corrupted files were the cause.
Method 3: Run the Print Troubleshooter
- Open Windows Settings
Press Windows key + I to open Settings. - Go to Troubleshoot
Click System, then Troubleshoot, and then Other troubleshooters. - Run the Printer troubleshooter
Find Printer in the list and click Run. Follow the on-screen instructions. The troubleshooter restarts the spooler and resets printer settings automatically. - Test printing in Word
Open Word and try to print again.
If Word Still Has Issues After the Main Fix
If Word continues to crash when printing, one of the following scenarios may apply.
Word Crashes When Printing a Specific Document Only
The document itself may contain corrupted content such as a broken image or a damaged table. Open the document in Word, press Ctrl + A to select all content, copy it, and paste it into a new blank document. Save the new document with a different name and try printing it.
Word Crashes When Printing to a Network Printer
Network printers introduce additional latency and driver dependencies. Open the printer properties in Windows, click the Ports tab, and ensure the correct port is selected. If the port shows WSD (Web Services for Devices), change it to a standard TCP/IP port instead. WSD ports are more prone to timeout issues that crash Word.
Word Crashes Immediately After Clicking Print
This can happen if a third-party printer driver is incompatible with Word. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select your printer, and click Remove device. Then add the printer again using the manufacturer’s latest driver from their website. Avoid using Windows Update to install printer drivers because they are often outdated.
Print Spooler vs Direct Printing: Behavior Differences
| Item | Print Spooler (Default) | Direct Printing (No Spooler) |
|---|---|---|
| Job management | Queues multiple jobs for sequential printing | Sends one job directly to the printer |
| Word crash risk | Higher if spooler is corrupted or stuck | Lower because Word hands off immediately |
| User control | Can pause, resume, or cancel jobs | No queue management available |
| Setup location | Printer Properties > Advanced tab > Spooling options | Same location, select Print directly to the printer |
| Best for | Shared printers or high-volume printing | Troubleshooting crash issues |
To switch to direct printing as a temporary workaround, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, click your printer, select Printer properties, go to the Advanced tab, and choose Print directly to the printer. Click OK and test Word printing again. If it works, the spooler is the root cause.
You can now restart the Print Spooler service and clear corrupted spooler files to stop Word from crashing when you print. After applying the fixes, test printing with a short document first. If you use a network printer, switch its port from WSD to TCP/IP to prevent future timeouts. For persistent crashes, set the spooler to direct printing temporarily while you update the printer driver to the latest version from the manufacturer.