Troubleshooting Printmanagement.msc Not Found in Windows 10 – Expert Solutions and Substitutes

Mastering Print Management on Windows 10

As Windows power users, we occasionally encounter frustrating errors like "Printmanagement.msc not found" that prevent us from effectively managing print jobs. While missing system files can be annoying, this issue presents an opportunity to master print management on Windows 10 using both conventional and unconventional techniques.

In this hands-on tutorial, we’ll walk through expert-recommended solutions to restore the Print Management Console so you can get back to printing projects and documents. We’ll also highlight alternative methods to control printers without this specific console, empowering you to take charge of your print queue despite the errors Windows throws your way.

Equipped with these troubleshooting tips, you’ll gain the flexibility to manage print jobs from multiple avenues when needed. Let’s dive in and seize control of the printer!

How to view printer properties Windows 10?

To open printer properties in Windows 10, go to “ Start > Settings > Devices > Printers and Scanners .” Now, select your printer from the list on the right side and click on the Manage button. After that, click on the Printer properties link to view the properties of your printer.

How to install print management console in Windows 10?

2. Add the Print Management tool to Windows 10 Add an optional feature in the Search bar at the bottom, and click on the relevant result. Click on the Add a feature option at the top. Now, search for Print Management Console, tick the entry when it appears, and then click on Install at the bottom.

Running the Print Spooler Service

Our first line of attack is restarting the Print Spooler service, which often resolves "Printmanagement.msc not found" errors. Here are the steps:

1. Open the Start Menu and search for "Services."

2. Select Services from the search results.

3. In the Services window, scroll down and locate the "Print Spooler" service.

4. Right-click Print Spooler and choose Properties.

5. In Properties, set the Startup Type to "Automatic." Click Apply, then OK.

6. Reboot your PC and see if Printmanagement.msc is back!

This quick fix reinitializes the Print Spooler service, restoring missing files necessary for the Print Management Console to work properly.

Leveraging SFC and DISM Scans

If restarting the Print Spooler doesn’t resolve the issue, our next troubleshooting tool is the System File Checker (SFC). SFC scans Windows system files, replaces corrupted or missing ones, and repairs access issues.

Follow these steps to run an SFC scan:

1. Press Windows key + X to open the Power User menu.

2. Select Command Prompt (Admin).

   How do I fix a print management error in Windows 10?

   1. Press the Windows key+r or select Start and type run and select it. 2. Type printmanagement.msc and press enter or select the OK button. 3. If Print Management opens, continue to step 4. If you receive the error, Windows can not find ‘printmanagement.msc’. then select Start and type manage optional features and select it.

   Where is Print Management Console in Windows 10?

   The Print Management Console can be found at the following address in Windows 10: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools However, you don’t necessarily need to navigate the path to launch it each time. Instead, simply press Windows + R to open the Run command, paste printmanagement.msc, and hit Enter.

   How do I fix a printer not working in Windows 10?

   To fix this issue, set the printer settings manually on the client following these steps: Right-click the Start button, and then select Settings. Select Devices. In the center of the Devices window, select Devices and printers. In the Devices and Printers window, right-click the icon of a printer that you installed from the server computer.

3. In the Command Prompt, typesfc /scannowand hit Enter.

4. Allow the scan to finish. SFC will automatically repair any issues it detects.

5. Once complete, restart your computer and check for Printmanagement.msc again!

For an even more rigorous scan, combine SFC with the Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool (DISM). DISM checks the health of the Windows image and fixes errors.

To run a DISM scan, enter these commands in the Admin Command Prompt:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

This intensive scan rectifies corrupt files that prevent Printmanagement.msc from loading.

Reinstalling Print Management

If your Windows installation is still stubbornly missing Printmanagement.msc after SFC and DISM scans, the nuclear option is reinstalling the Print Management feature:

1. Open the Run command (Windows + R) and enterappwiz.cpl. Click OK.

2. In Programs and Features, select "Turn Windows Features On or Off" on the left pane.

3. Locate "Print and Document Services" and expand the section.

   How do I enable print management?

   Print Management is considered an optional feature and you may need to enable it. Go to Start > Settings > Apps > Optional features > Add a feature > select Print Management Console. Was this reply helpful? Optional Features are blank when I load up that portion. Also, I can’t upgrade to 20H2 because my laptop hardware is unsupported (nvme ssd)

   Why is print management not working?

   In case restarting doesn’t work, open the Start menu and search for “Printmanagement.msc”. If it doesn’t show up in the search results, it seems that the Print Management feature isn’t installed on your computer. In that case, you will have to manually add it. To do that, follow these steps:

   What if printmanagement MSC is not found in Windows?

   If printmanagement.msc is not found in Windows when you try accessing it through the Run command, the console has not yet been added. Print Management Console is an optional feature in Windows that has to be manually downloaded and installed and does not come built in with it. So, installing Printer Management will restore it on your computer. 1.

4. Check the box for Print Management and click OK.

5. Allow the installation process to complete, then reboot.

This will forcibly reinstall print management tools, bringing back the console. Try opening Printmanagement.msc again after the process finishes!

Alternative Printer Management Tools

If Printmanagement.msc remains elusive even after reinstallation, don’t panic. You can manage printers and servers without that specific console using the following methods:

Control Panel– Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers. Right click any printer and choose "Manage Printers" to access printer management.

Services– Open the Services console and find Print Spooler. Stop, start, and restart this service to control your print queue.

PowerShell– Use commands likeGet-PrinterorRemove-Printerto handle printers from the command line.

Print Servers– Connect to print servers directly to monitor printers and jobs.

Third Party Tools– Check out open source tools like Pharos Print Manager for expanded printer controls.

Why can’t I set windows to manage printers (last used)?

I understand that you are unable to set Windows to manage printers (last used = default) in Printer Settings. This would appear to be a system failure rather than printer related, but just to be sure I would make sure you have the latest full printer software and firmware installed from manufacturer.

How do I start print management in Windows 10?

You should be able to start Print Management by pressing Winkey+r and typing “printmanagement.msc” (without the quotes) in the text field then pressing Enter. This is the same in both Windows 10 and 11. Was this reply helpful? Thank you for your help. I did try that before but got an error message: “Windows cannot find ‘printmanagement.msc’.

How do I enable print management in Windows 10?

Right-click on Start and select Settings from the Power User menu. Select Apps from the left side of the Settings window. In the right pane, click on Optional features. Next to “Add an optional feature”, click View features. Search for “Print Management” in the next dialog box. Once you find it, click on the Print Management checkbox.

While less centralized than Printmanagement.msc, these tools get the job done. Combined with our troubleshooting tips, you have all the resources needed to seize control of printing on Windows.

Become the Print Master

Missing system files like Printmanagement.msc can certainly be frustrating. However, armed with the right troubleshooting techniques, you can restore full print functionality to your Windows machine.

Next time you encounter the dreaded "Printmanagement.msc not found," don’t despair. Use our guide to restart print services, run scans, or reinstall features. And if the console continues to be elusive, fall back on the array of alternative print management tools Windows provides.

Adopt these best practices, and you’ll obtain print zen-master status in no time. So don’t settle for cryptic Windows errors – take control of your print destiny!

We hope this guide serves you well on your journey to print mastery. What topics would you like us to cover in future Windows tutorials? Let us know in the comments!

References

1. https://www.makeuseof.com/windows-printmanagementmsc-not-found/
2. https://www.minitool.com/news/print-management-missing.html