Word 365 terminates print spooler service in Windows 11

Perform a full Microsoft 365 uninstall and reinstall—not another printer reinstall—because this resolved the same Windows 11 symptom where opening Word stopped the Print Spooler while Excel remained unaffected.^1^

Reinstall Microsoft 365

1. Close every Office application.
2. Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps.
3. Find Microsoft 365, select the … menu, and choose Uninstall.
4. Restart Windows.
5. Reinstall Microsoft 365 using the Microsoft account associated with the subscription.
6. Before restoring any Word add-ins or custom templates:
   • Start the Print Spooler.
   • Open Word and create a blank document.
   • Confirm in services.msc that Print Spooler remains Running.

Uninstalling removes the Office applications, not ordinary documents, but back up customized templates, macros, and add-in settings first.

Less disruptive option: Online Repair

If a full reinstall is not practical, run Online Repair first:

1. Right-click Start → Installed apps.
2. Locate Microsoft 365.
3. Select … → Modify.
4. Choose Online Repair → Repair.

Online Repair repairs the entire Office suite and is more comprehensive than Quick Repair.^2^

If the spooler still stops

Test whether a Word-only extension or startup customization is triggering it:

1. Restart the Print Spooler.
2. Press Windows+R.
3. Run:

winword /safe

4. Type in a blank document and monitor the spooler.

Office Safe Mode suppresses automatically loaded extensions and customizations, making it suitable for identifying startup add-in problems.^3^

• If the spooler remains running in Safe Mode: open Word normally and go to File → Options → Add-ins. Under Manage, test COM Add-ins and Word Add-ins, disabling them and restoring them individually until the failing component is identified.
• If it also fails in Safe Mode: collect the Windows crash details rather than repeating printer or queue cleanup. In Event Viewer, inspect events at the exact failure time under the Application and PrintService logs. Record:
  • Faulting application/service
  • Faulting module or DLL
  • Exception code
  • Printer make/model and driver version

The spooler can load optional vendor components; Microsoft’s troubleshooting guidance calls for checking event logs, drivers, system instability, policy, and antivirus conflicts when the service terminates.^4^

There is no spooler-related issue listed for Version 2610 Build 20527.20088; its release notes only state “Various fixes to functionality and performance.”^5^ Therefore, report the faulting DLL and logs to Microsoft Support or the printer/software vendor if reinstalling Office and Safe Mode isolation do not resolve it.

References

1. On 1 pc Word shuts down the print spooler every time its opened - Microsoft Q&A
2. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/office/lifecycle/repair-an-office-application)
3. Open Office apps in safe mode on a Windows PC | Microsoft Support
4. Printing issues caused by Print Spooler service not running - Windows ...
5. Release Notes for Office Current Channel (Preview)