Why is my Brother HL-L2370DW spooler not running?

Common causes include driver issues, connectivity problems, outdated firmware, and hardware malfunctions. Follow our step-by-step guide to diagnose and fix your Brother HL-L2370DW.

How do I fix Brother HL-L2370DW spooler not running?

Start by checking your printer connections, updating drivers, and running the built-in troubleshooting utility. Our guide below provides detailed steps for resolving Brother HL-L2370DW spooler not running.

When should I call a technician for my Brother HL-L2370DW?

If basic troubleshooting doesn't resolve the spooler not running issue, or if you hear unusual noises, smell burning, or see error codes, it's time to contact a certified Brother printer technician.

Brother HL-L2370DW spooler not running

When your Brother HL-L2370DW spooler is not running, print jobs get stuck in the queue and nothing reaches the printer—even though the device itself powers on and appears ready. This Windows-centric problem typically stems from a stopped Print Spooler service, corrupted spool files, or driver conflicts. This guide walks you through proven printer repair steps to restore normal printing on your HL-L2370DW monochrome laser printer.

Restarting the Print Spooler Service

The Print Spooler is a Windows service that manages all print jobs. When it crashes or stops, your Brother HL-L2370DW spooler not running error appears. Start here before attempting deeper troubleshooting.

Open Services Manager: Press Windows key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter. Scroll down to locate "Print Spooler" in the list of local services.

Restart the Service: Right-click "Print Spooler" and select "Restart." If the option is grayed out, click "Start" instead. Set the "Startup type" to "Automatic" by double-clicking the service and changing the dropdown—this prevents future failures.

Verify Spooler Status: After restart, confirm the "Status" column shows "Running" and "Startup Type" reads "Automatic." Attempt a test print from Notepad to your HL-L2370DW using the Brother BR-Script3 or PCL driver.

Clearing Corrupted Spool Files

Corrupted jobs in the spool folder often cause repeated Print Spooler crashes. Clearing this folder manually resolves persistent Brother HL-L2370DW spooler not running issues when simple restarts fail.

Stop Spooler and Access Spool Folder: First, stop the Print Spooler service via Services Manager. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS in File Explorer. Delete all files with .SHD and .SPL extensions—these are queued job files, not system files.

Restart and Test: Return to Services Manager and start the Print Spooler. Send a test page to your HL-L2370DW. If printing resumes but issues return, outdated or corrupted Brother drivers may be the root cause requiring reinstallation.

⚠️ Important: Never delete the PRINTERS folder itself—only remove the .SHD and .SPL files inside it. Deleting the folder can break Windows printing entirely and require system repair.

Update or Reinstall Brother Drivers: Download the latest "Full Driver & Software Package" from Brother's support site for the HL-L2370DW. Uninstall existing drivers via Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, then run the fresh installer. Choose "Wireless Network Connection" or "USB" based on your setup during installation.

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Advanced Troubleshooting for Recurring Spooler Failures

If you fix printer spooler problems only to have them return, deeper system issues may exist. Check Windows Event Viewer (eventvwr.msc) under Windows Logs > System for Print Spooler errors—note any specific DLL failures or dependency errors. Run sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth to repair corrupted system files. For HL-L2370DW units on wireless networks, ensure the printer's IP address hasn't changed; assign a static IP through your router to prevent communication breaks that can trigger spooler timeouts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Brother HL-L2370DW spooler keep stopping?

Recurring spooler stops usually indicate corrupted print jobs, outdated drivers, or conflicts with third-party software. After clearing spool files, ensure you're running the latest Brother driver version 1.7 or newer. Some antivirus programs also interfere with the spooler—temporarily disable real-time scanning to test.

Can I fix printer spooler issues without admin rights?

No—managing the Print Spooler service and accessing system spool folders requires administrator privileges. On work computers, contact your IT department. For home users, right-click Services Manager or Command Prompt and select "Run as administrator."

Does the HL-L2370DW have a hardware spooler, or is this purely Windows?

The "spooler" in this context is entirely the Windows Print Spooler service. The HL-L2370DW itself has a 250-sheet input tray and 32MB memory for job buffering, but this hardware buffering is separate from Windows spooler troubleshooting. Printer support for this model focuses on driver and connectivity rather than internal memory upgrades.