How to Fix Brother Print Spooler Error?

Brother printers are widely used in homes and offices for their reliability and high-quality printing. But like any technology, they are not immune to issues. One common problem that frustrates users is the print spooler error.

What is the Print Spooler?

Before diving into fixes, it’s important to understand what the print spooler is.

The print spooler is a Windows service that manages all print jobs. When you send a document to the printer, it doesn’t print immediately. Instead, the spooler queues the job, stores it temporarily on your computer, and then sends it to the printer in order.

If the spooler malfunctions, printing halts. You may see errors such as:

“Print Spooler Service Not Running”
“Print Spooler Error 0x800706b9”
“Print Spooler Keeps Stopping”

Common Causes of Brother Print Spooler Error

Corrupted Print Spooler Files – Damaged system files may prevent the spooler from functioning.
Too Many Pending Print Jobs – A long queue can overload the spooler.
Driver Issues – Outdated or incompatible Brother printer drivers cause spooler crashes.
Conflicts with Third-Party Software – Antivirus or firewall settings can interfere.
Windows Updates – Some updates reset or disable the spooler service.
Malware Infection – Viruses may corrupt essential spooler files.

Signs You Have a Print Spooler Problem

Print jobs stuck in the queue.
Printer displays “Offline” even when it’s connected.
Repeated spooler error pop-ups.
Brother printer not responding at all.
Frequent crashes when trying to print.

Step-by-Step Solutions to Fix Brother Print Spooler Error

Solution 1: Restart the Print Spooler Service

The simplest fix is to restart the spooler.

Steps:

Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
Scroll down and find Print Spooler.
Right-click and choose Restart.
If it’s stopped, click Start.
Try printing again.

Solution 2: Clear the Print Queue

Sometimes, pending jobs cause errors.

Steps:

Open Control Panel → Devices and Printers.
Right-click your Brother printer and select See what’s printing.
Click Cancel All Documents.
Restart your printer and computer.

Solution 3: Delete Spooler Files Manually

Corrupted spool files often trigger errors.

Steps:

Press Windows + R, type services.msc.
Stop the Print Spooler service.
Navigate to:
```
C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
```
Delete all files inside this folder.
Restart the Print Spooler service.

Solution 4: Update Brother Printer Drivers

Driver issues are one of the top causes of spooler errors.

On Windows:

Press Windows + X → Device Manager.
Expand Printers.
Right-click your Brother printer → Update driver.
Choose Search automatically for drivers.

Alternative:

Download the latest driver from the official Brother Support Website.
Install manually.

Solution 5: Run the Printer Troubleshooter

Windows has a built-in tool to fix printing problems.

Steps:

Go to Settings → Update & Security → Troubleshoot.
Select Printer.
Run the troubleshooter and apply fixes.

Solution 6: Check for Windows Updates

Spooler errors can sometimes be fixed with updates.

Steps:

Go to Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update.
Click Check for updates.
Install all pending updates.

Solution 7: Disable Third-Party Software Temporarily

Antivirus or firewall software may block the spooler.

Temporarily disable your antivirus.
Try printing again.
If it works, add your Brother printer as an exception.

Solution 8: Use Command Prompt to Reset Spooler

For deeper issues, use commands.

Steps:

Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

Type the following commands one by one:

net stop spooler
del %systemroot%\System32\spool\PRINTERS\* /Q
net start spooler

Press Enter after each command.
Restart your computer.

Solution 9: Check Dependencies

The spooler relies on other services.

Steps:

Open Services.msc.
Right-click Print Spooler → Properties.
Go to Dependencies tab.
Ensure all dependent services are running (like RPC).

Solution 10: Perform a System File Check

Corrupted system files may break spooler services.

Steps:

Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
Type:
```
sfc /scannow
```
Wait for the scan to complete.
Restart your PC.

Solution 11: Reinstall the Brother Printer

Go to Devices and Printers.
Right-click your printer → Remove device.
Restart the computer.
Reinstall using the latest driver from Brother’s website.

Solution 12: Perform a Clean Boot

Software conflicts may cause spooler crashes.

Steps:

Press Windows + R, type msconfig.
Go to Services tab.
Check Hide all Microsoft services.
Disable all other services.
Restart and test printing.

Preventive Tips to Avoid Print Spooler Errors

Clear Print Queue Regularly – Avoid overloading with large jobs.
Update Drivers Frequently – Stay current with Brother’s latest software.
Run Windows Updates – Keeps services stable.
Use Genuine Brother Drivers – Prevent compatibility issues.
Protect Against Malware – Keep antivirus updated to safeguard spooler files.

When to Contact Brother Support

If none of the above methods solve the problem, it may be time to contact Brother Technical Support. Professional help is needed if:

The spooler keeps crashing despite resets.
Firmware or driver corruption is severe.
Error persists after reinstalling the printer.

Conclusion

The Brother print spooler error can be disruptive, but it’s usually fixable with the right approach. Restarting the spooler, clearing the queue, updating drivers, or running troubleshooting tools often resolves the issue. For persistent errors, advanced fixes such as system scans or clean boots may be required.

By following this guide and maintaining regular updates, you can prevent future spooler problems and keep your Brother printer running smoothly.