print.exe

Windows Printing Subsystem

System ProcessActivePrinting

CPU Usage

1-15%

Memory

40-120 MB

Location

C:\Windows\System32

Publisher

Microsoft Corporation

Quick Answer

print.exe is a legitimate Windows printing process. It coordinates print jobs between applications and the Windows spooler to send documents to printers.

Is it a Virus?

✔ NO - Safe

Must be in C:\Windows\System32\print.exe

Warning

Many processes normal

Print jobs may spawn threads; spooler coordinates multiple data streams for a single job

Can I Disable?

✔ YES

Disabling print tasks will stop printing; use Settings > Printers & scanners or the Print Spooler service if needed

What is print.exe?

print.exe is the Windows executable that coordinates printer tasks on your PC. It works with the Windows Print Spooler to queue, render, and deliver documents to local or network printers, often spawning worker threads for parallel jobs and status updates.

This process coordinates with spoolsv.exe to manage print queues, send render data to drivers, and communicate with printers. It runs per print job and helps keep apps responsive while printing.

Quick Fact: Windows uses a spooler-based architecture to decouple applications from printers; print.exe handles job orchestration and hands data to printer drivers.

Types of Print Processes

Print Runner: Coordinates a print job and hands data to the spooler
Render Processor: Converts documents to printer-ready data (rasterization, bitmaps)
Spooler Communicator: Interacts with spoolsv.exe to queue and monitor jobs
Printer Driver Shim: Calls into printer driver components to translate data
Background Monitor: Watches for printer status changes and job completion

Is print.exe Safe?

Yes, print.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from Microsoft downloaded from official sources (microsoft.com) or pre-installed by the system.

Is print.exe a Virus or Malware?

The real print.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware sometimes disguises itself using similar names to trick users.

How to Tell if print.exe is Legitimate or Malware

File Location: Must be in C:\Windows\System32\print.exe or a legitimate system path.
Digital Signature: Right-click print.exe in Windows Explorer -> Properties -> Digital Signatures. Should show "Microsoft Windows" as signer.
Resource Usage: Normal usage is 1-15% CPU per spooler activity; high usage during large print jobs is expected.
Behavior: Print-related activity should occur only when printing or preparing a job; idle execution or unknown behavior is suspicious.

Red Flags: If print.exe is located in unusual folders (like Temp, AppData\\Roaming, or user profile folders), runs when no printing is happening, has no digital signature, or uses excessive resources constantly, scan with antivirus software. Be wary of similarly named files like "printer.exe".

Why Is print.exe Running on My PC?

print.exe runs to fulfill print jobs from applications and to manage printer state in the background, ensuring printing tasks complete smoothly.

Reasons it's running:

Active Print Job: A document is being sent to a printer; print.exe coordinates data, rendering, and queuing.
Background Printing: Printers may print updates or background tasks while you work, keeping status and jobs in sync.
Printer Driver Changes: New printers or updated drivers trigger print subsystem activity to initialize devices.
Spooler Coordination: print.exe communicates with spoolsv.exe to place jobs into the queue and monitor progress.
Startup and Initialization: When Windows starts or when a printer is connected, the print system initializes printers and services.

Can I Disable or Remove print.exe?

Yes, you can disable print.exe by stopping printing tasks and system spooler work, or by turning off relevant Windows features. Note that disabling printing will affect all printers on the system.

How to Stop print.exe

End Print Jobs: Open Print Queue (Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners) and cancel all documents, then close apps.
Stop Spooler Service: Win+R -> services.msc -> Locate 'Print Spooler' -> Stop.
Disable Spooler Startup: In services.msc, set Startup type to Disabled.
Remove Printers: Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners -> Remove the printers you don't need.
Stop Background Printing: Settings > Privacy/Performance -> Turn off 'Continue running background apps when printing' if available.

How to Disable Printing Features (Non-Uninstall)

✔ Open Windows Features: OptionalFeatures.exe and uncheck 'Print and Document Services' to disable printing support.
✔ Stop the Print Spooler service: services.msc -> Stop.
✔ Remove printers from Settings -> Devices.
✔ Remove printer drivers from Print Management (printmanagement.msc) or Device Manager.
✔ Restart the computer to apply changes.

Common Problems: Printing Delays or Failures

If print.exe is consuming unusual resources or prints fail, follow these checks to restore normal printing behavior.

Common Causes & Solutions

Backlog of Print Jobs: Cancel or pause pending documents in the Print Queue and retry printing.
Missing or Outdated Printer Drivers: Install the correct driver from the printer vendor or update via Windows Update.
Stuck Spooler Service: Restart the Print Spooler service via services.msc.
Corrupted Spooler Cache: Clear C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and restart spoolsv.exe.
Network Printer Not Found: Check printer connectivity, firewall, and network sharing settings.
Hardware Acceleration or Rendering Issues: Update video drivers or disable hardware acceleration in printer rendering settings.

Quick Fixes:
1. Open Print Queue and cancel documents causing issues
2. Restart the Print Spooler service (services.msc) and reboot if needed
3. Check printer status and connectivity (Printers & Scanners settings)
4. Update printer drivers from the vendor's site
5. Clear spooler cache: delete files in C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and restart spoolsv.exe

Frequently Asked Questions

Is print.exe a virus?

No, the legitimate print.exe from Microsoft is not a virus. It’s part of the Windows printing subsystem and should reside in C:\Windows\System32\print.exe with a valid digital signature.

Why is print.exe using so much CPU?

High CPU can occur during large print jobs or drivers rendering complex graphics. Check the Print Queue, disable unnecessary printers, or restart the Print Spooler to reset activity.

Can I delete print.exe?

No, print.exe is a core Windows component for printing. You should not delete it; you can disable printing features or remove printers instead.

Can I disable print.exe?

You can disable printing by stopping the Print Spooler service and removing printers, but this will disable printing across the system. Re-enable as needed.

Why is printing slow on my PC?

Slow printing is usually caused by large or graphics-heavy documents, outdated drivers, or a cluttered spooler. Update drivers, clear the queue, and consider restarting the spooler.

How do I restart the Print Spooler service?

Open Services (services.msc), locate 'Print Spooler', click Stop, then Start again. You can also reboot the computer if necessary.

Related Processes

spoolsv.exe

Windows Print Spooler service that manages the print queue and communication with printers.

printui.exe

Printer UI management tool used to configure printers and drivers.