• Windows Protected Print Mode moves away from legacy print drivers.
  • The new print stack is more secure and streamlined.
  • The only caveat is that it only works with Mopria-certified printers.

Microsoft is finally modernizing the print system for Windows 11 and future releases with the new “Windows Protected Print Mode” (WPP) that aims to bring more security and a new implementation that moves away from traditional printer drivers.

The Windows Protected Print Mode is a new code stack that allows printers to connect to Windows 11 and work without installing third-party drivers. It just works. In addition, and perhaps more importantly, it’s a technology that enhances the security of the printing process. It works by isolating the print spooler and settings from the rest of the operating system, which, in turn, makes it more difficult for malicious individuals to exploit vulnerabilities and compromise your computer.

The protected print mode blocks third-party print drivers, which can be a source of vulnerabilities, which means that only drivers that Microsoft has digitally signed can be used in the operating system. As a result, only Mopria-certified printers (which have undergone rigorous security testing) are supported.

The new stack is available as a preview on Windows 11 build 26016 in the Canary Channel, and by default, it’s not enabled, meaning that the operating system doesn’t have any restrictions, and you can install any printer . However, after turning on WPP, you can only set up Mopria-certified printers .

If you have a Mopria printer, you have to enable the printer stack manually on Local Group Policy > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Printers by setting the “Configure Windows protected print” to “Enabled.”

According to Microsoft , there are a few reasons for this new stack implementation. The primary reason is that printers have been through a number of attacks, and better security was needed. Perhaps the most recognized was the so-called “Print Nightmare,” which was a bug that allowed the installation of drivers remotely and permitted the attacker to gain system privileges.

Second, the printing system on Windows has been virtually the same for more than two decades, and modernization of the stack was overdue.

Compatibility is another aspect that Microsoft wanted to tackle, and even though this approach doesn’t support most older printers and has some limitations, it’s setting up a new framework to make future devices more compatible and secure.

It’s important to note that this implementation is in the early stages. In the future, the company plans to build an interface to manage the feature and continue improving the security of the new print stack.

  • To fix the printer spooler on Windows 11, open Services , select and open the “Print Spooler” service properties, and stop the service. Then open the “printers” folder and delete its contents. Finally, start the “Print Spooler” service again.
  • Another way to repair the print spooler is to open Command Prompt (admin) and run the “net stop spooler,” “del /Q /F /S “%systemroot%\System32\Spool\Printers*.*,”” and “net start spooler” commands.

UPDATED 11/24/2025: On Windows 11 , you can fix the printer spooler in at least two ways, and in this guide, I will teach you how to resolve this problem. Dealing with a document that becomes stuck during printing can be frustrating, and attempting to cancel the print job may leave it in the “deleting” state indefinitely, further adding to the inconvenience.

Usually, this problem occurs because of issues with the “print spooler,” a service that handles print jobs queued between the computer and the printer. When a user sends a document to print, the spooler temporarily stores the data until the printer is ready to process it. This functionality allows users to continue working without waiting for the entire printing process to finish. Although rare, the print spooler sometimes can stop working, even after restarting the computer.

If you can’t print due to this issue, on Windows 11, you can reset the print spooler using the Services console or Command Prompt to resolve the problem.

In this guide , I’ll teach you the steps to fix the print spooler on Windows 11.

  • Fix print spooler on Windows 11 from Services
  • Fix print spooler on Windows 11 from Command Prompt
  • FAQs about fixing the printer spooler on Windows 11

Fix print spooler on Windows 11 from Services

To fix the print spooler on Windows 11, follow these steps:

  1. Open Start on Windows 11.
  2. Search for services.msc and click the top result to open the Services console.
  3. Right-click the Print Spooler service and select the Properties option.
  4. Click the General tab.
  5. Click the Stop button.
  6. Use the “Windows key + R” keyboard shortcut to open the Run command.
  7. Type the following path to the “printers” folder and press Enter : C:\Windows\System32\spool\printers
  8. Click the Continue button (if applicable).
  9. Select everything in the “ printers” folder ( Ctrl + A keyboard shortcut) and hit the Delete button to remove the contents.
  10. Click the General tab on the “Printer Spooler Properties” page.
  11. Click the Start button to restart the service.
  12. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the Windows 11 spooler should be able to send the job to the printer for printing.

Fix print spooler on Windows 11 from Command Prompt

To fix print spooler problems from the Command Prompt on Windows 11, follow these steps:

  1. Open Start .
  2. Search for Command Prompt , right-click the top result, and select the Run as Administrator option.
  3. Type the following commands (one line at a time) to stop the print spooler, delete the “printers” folder content, restart the printer spooler, and press Enter : net stop spooler del /Q /F /S “%systemroot%\System32\Spool\Printers*.*” net start spooler

After you complete the steps, sending a print job from Windows 11 to the printer should work.

Why does the print spooler stop working on Windows 11?

The print spooler can fail because of a corrupted print job, driver conflicts, leftover temporary files in the spooler folder, or issues created by printer software.

What happens if I delete the files inside the “printers” folder?

These files are only temporary print-job cache files. Deleting them clears stuck or corrupted jobs and does not affect your printer drivers or settings.

Do I need to restart my computer after fixing the print spooler?

A restart is optional. Restarting the “Print Spooler” service is usually enough to restore printing functionality.

Will resetting the print spooler remove my installed printers?

No. Resetting the spooler only clears the queue of print jobs. Your installed printers, drivers, and settings remain untouched.

Why do print jobs get stuck in the “Deleting” state?

This occurs when the spooler cannot release or process a job, typically due to corruption in the queue file or a communication issue between the operating system and the printer.

Is it safe to run the spooler reset commands in Command Prompt?

Yes. These commands only stop the service, remove temporary files, and restart the service. They do not modify system files or printer drivers.

What should I do if the spooler keeps crashing repeatedly?

Check for updated printer drivers, remove and reinstall the printer, or run the printer Troubleshooter. In some cases, removing old third-party print management software is necessary.

Does this fix work for both USB and network printers?

Yes. The spooler manages all print jobs regardless of whether the printer is connected through USB, Wi-Fi, or Ethernet.

What if the “printers” folder is empty, but the spooler still isn’t working?

In this case, the problem may be related to drivers or system components. Try reinstalling your printer, running the printer Troubleshooter, or checking for Windows updates.

Do I need administrator permissions to fix the print spooler?

Yes. Stopping the print spooler service and deleting spooler files both require administrative privileges.

Why can’t I delete the files in the “printers” folder?

This usually means the spooler service is still running. Confirm the “Print Spooler” service is fully stopped before attempting to delete the files.

Update November 24, 2025: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and add more information.

  • To install a Wi-Fi printer on Windows 11, open Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Printers & scanners , click “Add device,” and click “Add device” again for the printer you want to install.
  • If the system can’t find the printer, you can still add it manually using the IP address of the device.

On Windows 11 , you can connect a wireless printer to your computer in at least two ways, including automatically using the “Devices” wizard or manually installing a printer using an IP address.

However, before you can connect to the printer, you have to connect it to the wireless network. The steps will differ depending on the printer, but typically, you must perform this configuration from the printer’s screen. Also, many printers allow you to set up a printer through an Android or iPhone app.

For example, you can connect a wireless HP printer to the network from Setup > Network Setup > Wireless Settings , turn on the “Wireless settings” option, and continue with the on-screen directions. On an Epson printer, you can install the “Epson Smart Panel” app on your phone and use the guided wizard to set up a new product.

If you have a printer connected using a wired (Ethernet) connection, you don’t even need to go through the setup. You only need to know the printer’s IP address, which you can get by going to Setup > Network Setup > Ethernet Settings and using the “ View Ethernet Details” option.

You can always check with your printer manufacturer’s support website to get more specific instructions for your printer.

In this guide , I will teach you the steps to add a printer to Windows 11 wirelessly.

Connect wireless printer on Windows 11

On Windows 11, you can use the “Printers & scanners” settings to add a printer automatically or manually with its IP address. You would typically use the automatic method and the IP address steps if the system isn’t finding the device in the network. You can also fix the most common printer issues with these instructions.

Method 1: Install a Wi-Fi printer automatically

To add a network printer wirelessly on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings .
  2. Click on Bluetooth & Devices .
  3. Click the Printers & scanners page.
  4. Click the “Add device” button in the “Add a printer or scanner” setting.
  5. Click Add device to install the wireless printer to Windows 11.

Once you complete the steps, Windows 11 will automatically set up the wireless printer.

Method 2: Install Wi-Fi printer from IP address

If Windows 11 can’t find the wireless printer, you can add the device using an IP address using these steps:

  1. Open Settings .
  2. Click on Bluetooth & Devices .
  3. Click the Printers & scanners page.
  4. Click the “Add device” button in the “Add a printer or scanner” setting.
  5. Click the “Add a new device manually” option for the “The printer that I want isn’t listed” option.
  6. Select the “Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname” option.
  7. Click the Next button.
  8. Select the Autodetect option in the “Device type” setting.
  9. Check the “Query the printer and automatically select the driver to use” option.
  10. Confirm the IP address of the printer. Quick tip: This information can be found in the printer’s settings.
  11. Click the Next button to install the wireless printer on Windows 11. Quick note: If the setup doesn’t recognize the printer, you may have to select the brand and model from the wizard to install the correct drivers. If you can’t find the printer, click the “Windows Update” button to download the driver library. (This action can take a long time.)
  12. Confirm the printer’s name.
  13. Click the Next button.
  14. Select the “Do not share this printer” option.
  15. Click the Next button.
  16. (Optional) Click the “Print a test page” button to test the printer connection.
  17. Click the Finish button.

After you complete the steps, you can start printing from your laptop or desktop computer.

If you no longer need the device, you can remove the wireless printer from Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners by selecting the printer and clicking the “Remove” option.

Installing a printer using the Settings app will only install the basic driver for printing. You must install the manufacturer’s software if you want to use the additional printing functionalities.

Update August 19, 2024: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.

Outside of the regular schedule, Microsoft is now rolling out the update KB5004945 to fix the “PrintNightmare” vulnerability on Windows 10 21H1 , 20H2, and 2004.

Recently, the software giant acknowledged a critical vulnerability described as CVE-2021-34527 that affects the Windows Print Spooler service, and it allows attackers to execute malicious code to create new administrator accounts, install programs, and access data without the user’s consent.

Immediately after confirming the vulnerability, Microsoft provided two workarounds to mitigate the issue, including the steps to disable the service temporarily and another set of instructions to set a Group Policy Object to block incoming connections to a print server.

The company has now released the update KB5004945 to permanently fix the PrintNightmare vulnerability on Windows 10 21H1, 20H2, 2004, and older versions that bumps the version number to 19041.1083, 19042.1083, and 19043.1083, respectively.

According to the documentation , after installing the update, “users who are not administrators can only install signed print drivers to a print server” to patch the vulnerability. “By default, administrators can install signed and unsigned printer drivers to a print server. The installed root certificates in the system’s Trusted Root Certification Authorities trusts signed drivers.”

Microsoft categorizes this problem as severe, and it’s recommending installing the update on all affected systems (clients and servers), starting with devices acting as print servers.

The same update is also available as KB5004946 for windows 10 version 1909. For version 1809, the update is KB5004947, and for the initial release of the operating system, the update is described as KB5004950.

You can install this out-of-band patch from Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update , and clicking the Check for updates button.

You can also get the standalone version of the update from the Microsoft Update Catalog website .

Did your printer stop working? Follow these troubleshooting steps to fix the problem on Windows 11.