What is spoolsv.exe?

Spoolsv.exe file information

The process known as Spooler SubSystem App or Print Spooler or Microsoft® Windows® Operating System or vixDiskMountServer or xx belongs to software Microsoft Windows Operating System or xx by Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) or xx or Microsoft Windows Operating System (windows.microsoft.com).

Description: The original spoolsv.exe from Microsoft is an important part of Windows, but often causes problems. Spoolsv.exe is located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder. Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 58,880 bytes (48% of all occurrences), 57,856 bytes and 25 more variants.  
It is the Spooler service.
The program has no visible window. The spoolsv.exe file is a Microsoft signed file. Therefore the technical security rating is 13% dangerous, but you should also take into account the user reviews.

Recommended: Identify spoolsv.exe related errors

Viruses with the same file name

Is spoolsv.exe a virus? No, it is not. The true spoolsv.exe file is a safe Microsoft Windows system process, called "Spooler SubSystem App". However, writers of malware programs, such as viruses, worms, and Trojans deliberately give their processes the same file name to escape detection. Viruses with the same file name are such as Trojan.Generic.8524276 or Gen:Variant.Graftor.Elzob.7491 (detected by F-Secure), and Trojan.Win32.Agent.vduq or Trojan.Win32.Jorik.Agent.fqs (detected by Kaspersky).
To ensure that no rogue spoolsv.exe is running on your PC, click here to run a Free Virus Scan.

How to recognize suspicious variants?

• If spoolsv.exe is located in a subfolder of the user's profile folder, the security rating is 79% dangerous. The file size is 3,301,910 bytes (46% of all occurrences), 3,299,862 bytes and 9 more variants. The program has no file description. It is not a Windows core file. The program has no visible window. Spoolsv.exe is able to monitor applications and record keyboard and mouse inputs.
• If spoolsv.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows, the security rating is 57% dangerous. The file size is 138,354 bytes (25% of all occurrences), 1,256,448 bytes, 505,856 bytes or 1,790,464 bytes. The application has no file description. Spoolsv.exe is not a Windows system file. It is located in the Windows folder, but it is not a Windows core file. The program has no visible window. Spoolsv.exe is able to record keyboard and mouse inputs, monitor applications, hide itself and manipulate other programs.
• If spoolsv.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows\System32, the security rating is 69% dangerous. The file size is 540,672 bytes (66% of all occurrences) or 372,736 bytes.
• If spoolsv.exe is located in the C:\Windows folder, the security rating is 100% dangerous. The file size is 292,352 bytes.
• If spoolsv.exe is located in the C:\Windows\System32\drivers folder, the security rating is 80% dangerous. The file size is 145,920 bytes.
• If spoolsv.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\, the security rating is 84% dangerous. The file size is 88,064 bytes.
• If spoolsv.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files", the security rating is 56% dangerous. The file size is 7,617,536 bytes.

External information from Paul Collins:
There are different files with the same name:

• "Print Spooler" definitely not required. Added by the CIADOOR.B TROJAN! Note - "Spoolsv.exe" is located in the Windows or Winnt directory, and not in System32, like the legitimate Spoolsv.exe system file
• "Spoolsv" definitely not required. Added by the CIADOOR.121 VIRUS! Note - "Spoolsv.exe" is located in the Windows or Winnt directory, and not in System32, like the legitimate Spoolsv.exe system file

Important: Some malware disguises itself as spoolsv.exe, particularly when not located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder. Therefore, you should check the spoolsv.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.