What Is Spoolsv.exe?

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The genuine spoolsv.exe file is a software component of Microsoft Windows Operating System by Microsoft.Spoolsv.exe is an executable file that runs the Print Spooler Service, a process that caches printing jobs into system memory as images as printers cannot understand fonts or decipher graphics. This process sometimes takes a huge amount of system resources as processing different file formats into an image suitable for printing often takes time and a lot of memory. To clear this memory and stop the process, simply right click on the printer icon in the Taskbar and select, 'Exit'. This is a core Windows process so disabling it from the Task Manager may result in a critical failure causing the system to automatically reboot.Microsoft was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen and quickly rose to prominence following the launch of their popular operating system, MS-DOS, for early personally computers. Microsoft began developing graphical user interface and the distinguishable Start-button on the introduction on Windows 95. Further additions like networking and security soon followed.

SpoolSv stands for Print Spooler Service

The .exe extension on a filename indicates an executable file. Executable files may in some cases harm your computer. Therefore, please read below to decide for yourself whether the spoolsv.exe on your computer is a Trojan that you should remove, or whether it is a file belonging to the Windows operating system or to a trusted application.

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Spoolsv.exe file information

The process known as Spooler SubSystem App or Print Spooler or xx or vixDiskMountServer or Microsoft® Windows® Operating System belongs to software Microsoft Windows Operating System or xx by Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) or xx or Microsoft Windows Operating System (windows.microsoft.com).

Description: The original spoolsv.exe from Microsoft is an important part of Windows, but often causes problems. Spoolsv.exe is located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder. Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 58,880 bytes (48% of all occurrences), 57,856 bytes and 25 more variants. It is the Spooler service. The program has no visible window. The spoolsv.exe file is a Microsoft signed file. Therefore the technical security rating is 13% dangerous, but you should also take into account the user reviews.

Recommended: Identify spoolsv.exe related errors

Viruses with the same file name

Is spoolsv.exe a virus? No, it is not. The true spoolsv.exe file is a safe Microsoft Windows system process, called "Spooler SubSystem App". However, writers of malware programs, such as viruses, worms, and Trojans deliberately give their processes the same file name to escape detection. Viruses with the same file name are such as Trojan.Generic.8524276 or Gen:Variant.Graftor.Elzob.7491 (detected by F-Secure), and Trojan.Win32.Agent.vduq or Trojan.Win32.Jorik.Agent.fqs (detected by Kaspersky). To ensure that no rogue spoolsv.exe is running on your PC, click here to run a Free Virus Scan.

How to recognize suspicious variants?

• If spoolsv.exe is located in a subfolder of the user's profile folder, the security rating is 79% dangerous. The file size is 3,301,910 bytes (46% of all occurrences), 3,299,862 bytes and 9 more variants. The program has no file description. It is not a Windows core file. The program has no visible window. Spoolsv.exe is able to monitor applications and record keyboard and mouse inputs.
• If spoolsv.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows, the security rating is 57% dangerous. The file size is 505,856 bytes (25% of all occurrences), 1,256,448 bytes, 1,790,464 bytes or 138,354 bytes. The application has no file description. Spoolsv.exe is not a Windows system file. It is located in the Windows folder, but it is not a Windows core file. The program has no visible window. Spoolsv.exe is able to record keyboard and mouse inputs, monitor applications, hide itself and manipulate other programs.
• If spoolsv.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows\System32, the security rating is 69% dangerous. The file size is 540,672 bytes (66% of all occurrences) or 372,736 bytes.
• If spoolsv.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\, the security rating is 84% dangerous. The file size is 88,064 bytes.
• If spoolsv.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files", the security rating is 56% dangerous. The file size is 7,617,536 bytes.
• If spoolsv.exe is located in the C:\Windows\System32\drivers folder, the security rating is 80% dangerous. The file size is 145,920 bytes.
• If spoolsv.exe is located in the C:\Windows folder, the security rating is 100% dangerous. The file size is 292,352 bytes.

External information from Paul Collins:There are different files with the same name:

• "Print Spooler" definitely not required. Added by the CIADOOR.B TROJAN! Note - "Spoolsv.exe" is located in the Windows or Winnt directory, and not in System32, like the legitimate Spoolsv.exe system file
• "Spoolsv" definitely not required. Added by the CIADOOR.121 VIRUS! Note - "Spoolsv.exe" is located in the Windows or Winnt directory, and not in System32, like the legitimate Spoolsv.exe system file

Important: Some malware disguises itself as spoolsv.exe, particularly when not located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder. Therefore, you should check the spoolsv.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.

Score

User Comments

I know the correct location of the file. "C:Windows32spoolsv.exe" This file (singly, choice, selectively, individually) cannot be removed via "Control Panel". I recommend creating a rule to block outgoing internet traffic for this application. Jan Nowak_423 I think it is safe, see Virustotal report: (further information) That it uses lots of CPU and memory If you do see this on your task manager, it could be two things: 1. It is the valid window process that I have, 2. It is a renamed virus to help confuse you. To verify if it is valid: right click on it and click file location. If it has windows in it, you are safe. Taylor spoolsv.exe is used for printer spooling M Shahid Ali As of yesterday, this could be the ChewBacca trojan. See the section at the end titled "What to do". Tom (further information) It is a service that loads a printing job into memory as an image if it isn't an image already, instead of text, so the printer doesn't have to understand fonts or decipher graphics, the solution on windows XP is to go to the notifications area, right click on the icon that looks like a printer, and click exit, that will clear the live cache that can be over 200mb for a 3 page document, I had a 200 page document in queue, it kept my windows XP with 3gb RAM at a halt until I exited the print job, however, don't try to end it by closing "spoolsv" from tskmgr, as it will cause a critical system failure, with a one minute warning until the computer reboots. dreamwave development if you have an HP printer, this file is needed so you will be able to print. if you kill or delete, you cant print ss More comments can be found here: (further information)

Summary: Average user rating of spoolsv.exe: based on 696 votes with 9 user comments. 321 users think spoolsv.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 41 users think it's probably harmless. 148 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 64 users suspect danger. 122 users think spoolsv.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it. 72 users don't grade spoolsv.exe ("not sure about it").

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How would you rate it:	< Please select > important for Windows or an installed application (++) seems to be needed (+) neither dangerous nor essential (o) seems to be dangerous (-) is spyware, trojan, adware, virus (- -) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I don't want to rate it, because I'm not sure
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Best practices for resolving spoolsv issues

A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with spoolsv. This means running a scan for malware, cleaning your hard drive using 1cleanmgr and 2sfc /scannow, 3uninstalling programs that you no longer need, checking for Autostart programs (using 4msconfig) and enabling Windows' 5Automatic Update. Always remember to perform periodic backups, or at least to set restore points.

Should you experience an actual problem, try to recall the last thing you did, or the last thing you installed before the problem appeared for the first time. Use the 6resmon command to identify the processes that are causing your problem. Even for serious problems, rather than reinstalling Windows, you are better off repairing of your installation or executing the 7DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth command. This allows you to repair the operating system without losing data.

To get your computer running as fast as it did on day one, you can 8reset your PC. Your personal files will remain intact, but any programs you installed will need to be reinstalled.

To help you analyze the spoolsv.exe process on your computer, the following programs have proven to be helpful: ASecurity Task Manager displays all running Windows tasks, including embedded hidden processes, such as keyboard and browser monitoring or Autostart entries. A unique security risk rating indicates the likelihood of the process being potential spyware, malware or a Trojan. A good Bantivirus software detects and removes sleeping spyware, adware, Trojans, keyloggers, malware and trackers from your hard drive.

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