Thankfully, this issue is quickly resolved mainly through performing a software update or a quick clearing of the printer queue. The only way to tell if the spooler subsystem app is malfunctioning is when you open the task manager and notice that it’s taking too much of your CPU resources.
Is the Spooler Subsystem App a Virus?
The spooler subsystem app comes by default with any Windows operating system and is completely safe and made to serve a specific purpose. However, malware is out there that masks ordinary processes to circumvent your antivirus systems.
What Causes High CPU Usage for the Spooler Subsystem?
How to Fix Spooler Subsystem App With a High CPU Usage?
As a non-essential Windows process, seeing that this application takes up more than 1% of your CPU is abnormal and is, in essence, wasted performance. This article will show you how to fix high spooler subsystem CPU usage as well as how to prevent this bug in the future. Here are the different ways to fix it:
Your Printing queue is full: This is perhaps the most common reason why you get high CPU usage for the Spooler subsystem app. Queuing of files set for printing enters a loop: Any loop would cause very high CPU usage, as it goes on indefinitely until stopped. Your printer has encountered an error: If the printer encounters an error, it might constantly try to resolve it with the operating system – causing abnormally high CPU usage Outdated drivers: In rarer cases, the problem is caused due to an improperly configured PC or printer driver. Your system has malware masking as a Spooler subsystem app: Some malware are specially designed to mimic windows processes in order to bypass the defenses.
Use the Built-in Troubleshooter
Windows offers some advanced troubleshooters specifically made to resolve printer errors. Running this troubleshooter will let windows go through a checklist of potential fixes and apply them automatically. Here is how to do so: Let the process finish, restart your PC and check if the spooler subsystem’s high CPU issue persists.
Clear the Printer Queue
Here are the steps to clear the printer queue:
Disable the Process
A quick solution to temporarily resolve this issue is by forcing windows to stop running the process manually. Here are the exact steps to do so: You will notice that it is completely gone if you check your task manager. While this fix works wonders, the con is that you might have to perform it every time you encounter a high CPU usage problem.
Update Your Drivers
Having the latest drivers for both your Printer and PC can prevent a spooler subsystem from malfunctioning. In general, there are two ways to update a printer’s drivers. The first is by using the built-in Windows driver update function, and the second is by using the printer manufacturer’s driver assistant application. Since every printer manufacturer has a slightly different proprietary app that can install drivers, we will show you the universal way to do so via the Windows Driver Update function: After the procedure is finished, restart your computer and check if the high CPU usage issue persists.
Reset Your Printer
This last resort measure involves performing a factory reset on your printer. When a printer’s internal memory and settings are reset, this might clear up an error in the printing queue system that causes abnormally high CPU usage. Every printer has a different way to perform a factory reset; some require you to go to the printer’s settings via its built-in interface, while others require a simple prolonged holding of the power button. In any case, check your printer’s instruction manual online to find the specific steps to perform a factory reset. After the reset is done, restart your devices, then open up your Windows task manager and check if the issue persists.
