Fix Devices and Printers Freezing in Windows 10 Quickly

Are you experiencing issues with the Devices and Printers window freezing in Windows 10? Here are some effective ways to resolve this problem swiftly.

What can I do if Devices and Printers is freezing or crashing in Windows 10?​

1. Run the Printer Troubleshooter​

1. Open the Start Menu by clicking on the Start icon on your taskbar.
2. Type "troubleshooting" in the search bar and press Enter to open the Troubleshooting settings.
3. Click on "Printer" under the "Find and fix other problems" section.
4. Click on "Run the troubleshooter". This will start the Printer troubleshooter.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to detect and fix issues with your printer. The troubleshooter will check for the latest printer drivers, connectivity issues, and the status of the Print Spooler and required services.

Running the Printer troubleshooter can help diagnose and fix various issues automatically, ensuring that your printer is set up correctly and any minor problems are resolved.

2. Perform a Clean Boot​

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type "msconfig" and press Enter to open the System Configuration window.
3. Go to the General tab and select "Selective Startup".
4. Uncheck "Load startup items".
5. Switch to the Services tab and check "Hide all Microsoft services".
6. Click "Disable all" to disable all non-Microsoft services.
7. Click OK and restart your computer.

Performing a clean boot helps in identifying if third-party applications or services are causing the issue. If the problem is resolved in a clean boot state, you can gradually enable services to pinpoint the problematic application.

3. Run SFC (System File Checker) Scan​

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
   • Press Windows + X and select "Command Prompt (Admin)".
   • Alternatively, type "cmd" in the Start menu, right-click "Command Prompt", and select "Run as administrator".
2. Type "sfc /scannow" and press Enter.
   
3. Wait for the scan to complete. This process may take some time.

If SFC finds and repairs corrupted system files, it can resolve issues with system functionalities such as the Devices and Printers window.

4. Check and Start Bluetooth Support and Print Spooler Services​

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type "services.msc" and press Enter to open the Services window.
3. Locate "Bluetooth Support Service" and "Print Spooler" in the list.
4. Right-click each service and select "Properties".
5. Set the Startup type to "Automatic" for both services.
6. Click "Start" if the service is not already running.
7. Click Apply and then OK.

Ensuring that these services are running and set to start automatically can help resolve issues related to the Devices and Printers window not loading.

5. Update Printer Drivers​

1. Press Windows + X to open the Power User menu, and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the Printers entry, right-click on the connected printer, and select Update driver.
   
3. Choose Search automatically for drivers and let Windows find and install the best locally available version.
   
4. Once done, restart the computer to apply the changes fully.

Updating the printer drivers can help if the Devices and Printers window keeps freezing on Windows 10. If Windows can’t find a better driver, you should check the manufacturer’s website, locate the latest version, and manually install the driver.

6. Clear and Reset the Print Spooler​

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type "services.msc" and press Enter to open the Services window.
3. Locate "Print Spooler" in the list, right-click it, and select "Stop".
4. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS.
5. Delete all files in the PRINTERS folder.
6. Go back to the Services window, right-click "Print Spooler", and select "Start".

Clearing the Print Spooler can resolve issues with stuck or corrupted print jobs that might be preventing the Devices and Printers window from opening properly.

7. Modify the Registry (Advanced)​

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type "regedit" and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
3. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Print\Providers.
4. Locate "Client Side Rendering Print Provider" and delete this entry.
5. Restart your computer.

Modifying the registry can directly influence how Windows handles printing services, potentially resolving issues with the Devices and Printers window not loading.

Following these steps, you should be able to troubleshoot and resolve issues with the Devices and Printers window hanging or not opening on Windows 10.