Epson is a well-respected brand in the printing industry, offering reliable printers that are suitable for both home and office use. However, like any technology, Epson printers may sometimes encounter issues that prevent them from working as expected. One common issue that many users face is the spooler error related to the Epson printer driver. This error typically arises when there are problems with the print spooler, which is responsible for managing print jobs in the system.

If you're experiencing the Epson printer driver spooler error, it can prevent your printer from receiving or completing print jobs. In this guide, we will explain what the spooler error is, why it occurs, and provide step-by-step instructions on how to fix it so you can get back to printing without interruptions.

What is a Printer Spooler Error?

Before diving into the solution, let’s first understand what a spooler error is and how it affects your Epson printer:

1. The Spooler Service: The print spooler is a system service that manages all print jobs sent to the printer. It temporarily stores the print jobs in a queue and sends them to the printer one by one. When the spooler encounters issues, it can cause print jobs to get stuck in the queue, resulting in errors.

2. Common Symptoms of a Spooler Error:

   • The printer is unresponsive or not printing.

   • Print jobs are stuck in the print queue.

   • The printer shows an error message stating that there is a problem with the spooler.

3. Why Spooler Errors Happen:

   • Corrupted print spooler files.

   • Outdated or corrupted Epson printer driver.

   • Multiple print jobs in the queue that are not processed properly.

   • Conflicts with other printer drivers or software.

   • Issues with the operating system or Windows services.

Now that we know what a spooler error is, let’s move on to how you can fix it.

How to Fix Epson Printer Driver Spooler Error?

Step 1: Restart the Print Spooler Service

The first step in fixing the Epson printer driver spooler error is to restart the Print Spooler service on your computer. This is a simple fix that can often resolve many spooler issues.

For Windows:

1. Open the Run Dialog:

   • Press Windows + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.

2. Type "services.msc":

   • In the Run dialog, type services.msc and press Enter. This will open the Services window.

3. Locate Print Spooler:

   • In the Services window, scroll down and find the Print Spooler service.

4. Restart the Service:

   • Right-click on Print Spooler and select Restart from the context menu. If Restart is not available, choose Stop, wait a few seconds, and then select Start.

5. Check Printer:

   • After restarting the spooler service, check if your Epson printer is working properly. Try printing a test page to verify if the issue has been resolved.

For macOS:

1. Open System Preferences:

   • Click on the Apple menu and select System Preferences.

2. Go to Printers & Scanners:

   • In System Preferences, click on Printers & Scanners.

3. Select the Printer:

   • Select your Epson printer from the list on the left.

4. Reset the Print System:

   • Click the minus (-) button to remove the printer, and then click Reset the printing system at the bottom of the window. This will restart the printing system and reset any issues with the printer spooler.

5. Re-add Printer:

   • After resetting the print system, click the plus (+) button to add your printer back to the list and check if the issue is resolved.

Step 2: Clear the Print Queue

Sometimes, a stuck print job in the queue can cause the spooler error. Clearing the print queue can help fix the problem.

For Windows:

1. Open the Print Queue:

   • Click on the Start menu and go to Devices and Printers.

   • Right-click on your Epson printer and select See what's printing to open the print queue.

2. Cancel All Print Jobs:

   • In the print queue, right-click on any active print jobs and select Cancel. To cancel all jobs at once, click on Printer in the menu bar and select Cancel All Documents.

3. Restart the Printer:

   • After clearing the print queue, restart your printer and check if it resolves the spooler error.

For macOS:

1. Open the Print Queue:

   • Go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners and select your Epson printer.

2. Cancel Print Jobs:

   • Click Open Print Queue and select any print jobs in the queue. Click the X button to cancel them.

3. Re-add the Printer:

   • If clearing the queue doesn’t resolve the error, try removing and re-adding the printer in the Printers & Scanners section.

Step 3: Update the Epson Printer Driver

An outdated or corrupted Epson printer driver can cause spooler errors. Updating the printer driver to the latest version can help fix this problem.

1. Visit the Epson Support Website:

   • Open your web browser and go to the official Epson support website.

2. Download the Latest Driver:

   • Search for your printer model and navigate to the Driver & Downloads section.

   • Select your operating system and download the latest driver for your printer.

3. Install the Driver:

   • Run the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the latest driver. Restart your computer after the installation is complete.

4. Check Printer:

   • After updating the driver, test the printer to see if the spooler error is fixed.

Step 4: Delete Printer Spooler Files

If the print spooler files are corrupted, they can cause the error. Deleting and recreating these files can help resolve the issue.

For Windows:

1. Stop the Print Spooler Service:

   • Open Services by typing services.msc in the Run dialog.

   • Right-click on Print Spooler and select Stop.

2. Delete Spooler Files:

   • Navigate to the following folder:
     C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS.

   • Delete all the files in the PRINTERS folder.

3. Restart the Service:

   • After deleting the spooler files, go back to Services, right-click on Print Spooler, and select Start.

4. Test the Printer:

   • Try printing again to check if the issue is resolved.

Step 5: Reinstall the Printer Driver

If the above steps don’t work, you may need to completely reinstall the Epson printer driver to fix any persistent spooler errors.

1. Uninstall the Printer Driver:

   • Open Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.

   • Find the Epson printer driver, right-click on it, and select Uninstall.

2. Delete Leftover Files:

   • After uninstalling the driver, go to C:\Windows\System32\spool and delete any remaining Epson files in the drivers folder.

3. Reinstall the Driver:

   • Go to the Epson support website and download the latest version of the printer driver for your system.

   • Install the new driver and restart your computer.

4. Check Printer:

   • After reinstalling the driver, test the printer to see if the spooler error is resolved.

Step 6: Check for Windows Updates

Sometimes, spooler errors can be caused by issues with the operating system itself. Ensuring that your system is fully updated can help fix such issues.

1. Check for Updates:

   • Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click on Check for Updates.

2. Install Updates:

   • Install any available updates and restart your computer to complete the process.

Step 7: Run the Printer Troubleshooter (Windows)

If the error persists, you can use Windows' built-in printer troubleshooter to automatically detect and resolve issues with the printer and spooler service.

1. Open Troubleshooter:

   • Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional Troubleshooters.

2. Run the Printer Troubleshooter:

   • Select Printer and click Run the Troubleshooter. Follow the on-screen instructions to fix any detected issues.

Conclusion

The Epson printer driver spooler error can be frustrating, but it’s usually fixable with a few simple steps. By restarting the print spooler service, clearing the print queue, updating the printer driver, and deleting corrupted spooler files, you can often resolve the issue and get your printer working again. If the problem persists, reinstalling the printer driver or running the Windows troubleshooter can help to fix more persistent errors.