- Ensure search indexing is enabled on low battery and try restarting the Windows Search service.
- Run the SFC and DISM scans to fix issues caused by corrupt or missing system files.
- Consider rebuilding the search index or performing a system restore if nothing else works.
Fix 1: Restart Windows Search Service
Windows Search service is an essential program responsible for indexing content and providing search results. If there’s an issue with that service, the indexing process will be interrupted. You can try restarting the Windows Search service to see if that helps.
Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to launch the Run command, type in services.msc , and press Enter .
Step 2: In the Services window, scroll down to locate Windows Search . Right-click on it and select Restart from the menu. If the service is not running, choose Start .
Fix 2: Enable Search Indexing on Low Battery
When your Windows laptop is low on battery , it may suspend some of the background processes like search indexing. And sometimes, these activities may fail to resume even after connecting your laptop to a power source. To avoid this, you can configure the indexing tool to ignore the power settings on Windows. Here’s how.
Step 1: Press the Windows key + I to launch the Settings app and head to Privacy & security > Searching Windows .
Step 2: Toggle off the switch next to Respect power settings when indexing .
Fix 3: Run SFC and DISM Scan
Corrupt or missing system files can also interrupt the indexing process on Windows. If that is the case, running an SFC (or System File Checker) and DISM (or Deployment Image Servicing and Management) scans will help.
Step 1: Press the Windows key + X to access the Quick Link menu and select the Terminal (Admin) option from the list.
Step 2: Paste the command mentioned below and press Enter.
SFC /scannow
Step 3: Run the following commands and press Enter after each:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Fix 4: Rebuild Search Index
If the above solutions don’t work out, the search index library on your PC has likely become corrupted or inaccessible. In that case, your only option is to rebuild the index from scratch.
Note: This process can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on your system and the amount of data.
Step 1: Press the Windows key + I to launch the Settings app. In the Privacy & security tab, select Searching Windows .
Step 2: Scroll down to click on Advanced indexing options .
Step 3: Click on Advanced .
Step 4: Hit the Rebuild button under Troubleshooting.
Fix 5: Run System Restore
A recent change in the system settings or a firmware update may have led to such indexing issues on Windows. If you can’t figure out the exact cause, you can undo those recent changes by performing a system restore.
Step 1: Open the search menu, type in create a restore point and press Enter .
Step 2: Under the System Protection tab, click the System Restore button.
Step 3: Click Next to continue.
Step 4: Select the Recommended restore option and click Next . Then, click Finish .
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- In most cases, running the printer troubleshooter or configuring the “Print Spooler Service” should resolve the error.
- Deleting old printer devices and print spooler files can also help fix the issue.
- If nothing works, you may need to delete corrupted print spooler registry entries.
Fix 1: Run Printer Troubleshooter
Windows comes with a dedicated printer troubleshooter that can automatically diagnose and fix any printing issues on your PC. It checks all of your printer configurations and corrects any inconsistencies. Here’s how to run it.
Step 1: Press the Windows key + I to launch the Settings app and head to System > Troubleshoot .
Step 2: Go to Other troubleshooters .
Step 3: Click the Run button next to Printer to begin troubleshooting.
From there, follow the on-screen prompts to finish the troubleshooting process.
Fix 2: Check Print Spooler Service
If the Windows troubleshooter fails to identify any issues, you can check the Print Spooler service on Windows to see if it is properly configured. Here’s how.
Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Type services.msc in the box next to the Open field and press Enter .
Step 2: In the Services window, scroll down to locate Print Spooler . Right-click on it and select Properties .
Step 3: Set the Startup type to Automatic from the drop-down, if it isn’t set already.
Step 4: On the Recovery tab, use the drop-down menus next to First failure, Second failure, and Subsequent failures to select Restart the Service . Then, click on Apply followed by OK .
Restart your PC and check if the print spooler stops again.
Fix 3: Remove Old Printers
Sometimes, the print spooler service may also stop working if several printers are connected to your PC. You can try deleting some of your old printer devices to see if that helps.
Step 1: Click on the search icon on the taskbar, type in printers & scanners and press Enter .
Step 2: Select the printer you want to remove.
Step 3: Click on the Remove button in the top right corner. Repeat this process to remove unwanted printers and try using the printing services again.
Fix 4: Delete Old Print Spooler Files
Existing print spooler cache data can also interfere with the service and cause it to crash repeatedly when corrupted. In that case, you can delete those old print spooler files to fix the issue.
Step 1: Press the Windows key + S to open Windows Search. Type services in the box and select the first result that appears.
Step 2: Right-click on Print Spooler and select Stop .
Step 3: Press the Windows key + E to launch File Explorer on your PC and navigate to the following folder:
C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
Step 4: Select all folders and click on the trash icon at the top to delete them.
Restart your PC after you delete the files. The print spooler service should start automatically upon reboot.
Fix 5: Update Printer Drivers
Issues with your current printer drivers can also cause the print spooler to stop abruptly. If the printer drivers on your PC are outdated or corrupted, then updating them should help more often than not.
To update printer drivers, download the most recent drivers from the respective manufacturer’s website. Then, open the downloaded file to begin the installation.
Fix 6: Delete Print Spooler Registry Keys
If none of the above solutions work, you can try deleting a few registry keys associated with the print spooler. Here’s how:
Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to launch the Run dialog box. Type regedit in the box and press Enter .
Step 2: Paste the following path in the address bar at the top to navigate to Print Processors:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows x64\Print Processors
If you’re using a 32-bit version of Windows, use the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows NT x86\Print Processors
Step 3: Delete all keys inside Print Processors except winprint . To delete a key, right-click on it and select Delete . Click on Yes on the prompt.
