Understanding the Print Spooler use by Navigator

When you print from Navigator, the system does not send the print job directly to your printer. Instead, it sends the job to the Windows Print Spooler.

The print spooler is a background service in Windows that manages all print requests. Its job is to:

• Queue multiple print jobs from different applications.

• Send them to the printer in order.

• Manage communication between Windows and the printer driver.

Navigator’s role ends once it sends the request to the print spooler. From that point on, Windows defines the print job, converts it into a printer-readable format, and controls when it is printed.

Why This Matters

Understanding this process helps you know where to look if printing slows down or fails. Since Navigator only passes the request to Windows, any issues beyond that point are handled by Windows or your printer setup.

Common Causes of Printing Delays

Printing delays are rarely caused by Navigator. They often happen because of conditions within Windows, your network, or the printer. Common causes include:

• Busy print queues during peak times.

• Large or complex print jobs, especially those with high-resolution images or many pages.

• Connection issues between your computer and the printer.

• Printer driver problems or outdated drivers.

• Networked printer congestion, where several users are sending jobs to the same device.

• Spooler errors within Windows, which can be cleared by restarting the Print Spooler service.

What You Can Do

1. Check the printer queue to see if multiple jobs are waiting.

2. Restart the Print Spooler service from Windows Services.

3. Try printing a simple text document from another program to compare performance.

4. Confirm you’re using the correct printer driver.

5. Restart your computer and printer to clear any stalled communication.