How to Fix Splwow64.exe System Error When Printing in Windows 11/10

The splwow64.exe system error can prevent you from printing documents on Windows 11 or 10. This guide will walk you through several methods to resolve this frustrating issue and get your printer working again.

What is the splwow64.exe System Error?

When trying to print, you may encounter an error message stating:

splwow64.exe – System Error

The program can’t start because dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem.

This error occurs when there’s an issue with the splwow64.exe process, which helps 32-bit applications print on 64-bit Windows systems.

Methods to Fix the Splwow64.exe System Error

1. Disable Client-Side Rendering

Step 1: Open Settings and go to Devices > Printers & scanners

Step 2: Select the problematic printer and click “Manage”

Step 3: Click “Printer properties”

Step 4: Go to the Sharing tab and click “Change Sharing Options”

Step 5: Check “Share this printer” but uncheck “Render print jobs on client computers”

Step 6: Click Apply and OK

2. Adjust Splwow64.exe Timeout in Registry

Step 1: Open Registry Editor by pressing Win+R, typing regedit, and hitting Enter

Step 2: Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print

Step 3: Right-click in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value

Step 4: Name it SplWOW64TimeOutSeconds

Step 5: Double-click the new value and set it to 60 (decimal)

Step 6: Click OK and restart your computer

3. Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers

Step 1: Open Device Manager

Step 2: Expand the “Print queues” section

Step 3: Right-click your printer and select “Update driver”

Step 4: Choose to search automatically for updated driver software

If updating doesn’t work, try uninstalling and reinstalling the printer driver from the manufacturer’s website.

4. Restart the Print Spooler Service

Step 1: Press Win+R, type services.msc, and hit Enter

Step 2: Find the “Print Spooler” service

Step 3: Right-click it and select “Stop”

Step 4: Wait a few seconds, then right-click again and select “Start”

5. Run the Printer Troubleshooter

Step 1: Open Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot

Step 2: Select “Additional troubleshooters”

Step 3: Find and run the “Printer” troubleshooter

6. Update Windows

Ensure your Windows 11/10 system is up to date by checking for and installing any available updates.


By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the splwow64.exe system error and resume printing. If the issue persists, consider contacting your printer manufacturer’s support team or a professional IT service for further assistance.