How to Restore Print Management if It's Missing in Windows 10

Windows Pro and Enterprise editions have a Print Management utility. However, some users have said on Microsoft’s forum that their Print Management tools are missing.

Those users can’t find Print Management in Administrative Tools and open that utility. One user forum post said this:

I just upgraded from Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro and I can’t find Print Management anywhere. Also, printmanagement.msc is not available. I suspect other Windows 10 Pro administration utilities are also missing.

Print Management is a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) that allows users to view, install, access, and manage the various printers on the network through a single device running Windows Server.

It’s an effective way of modifying the various parameters and streamlines the whole process. Without the console, users would have to install and manage the printers individually through the connected computers, which takes considerable time and effort.

Why is Print Management missing?

There are various reasons why Print Management is not showing in Windows 10. It includes issues with the installed driver, corrupt system files, or problems with the relevant service. These issues can also lead to the Print action missing from context menu.

Also, remember that the Print Management Console is only available on Pro and Enterprise editions of Windows. If you are running the Home edition, upgrade or look for other similar third-party software.

Other issues with the Print Management Console in Windows 10 are as follows:

• Windows cannot find printmanagement.msc
• Print management console install failed
• Print Management missing from administrative tools
• Windows 10 Print Management not showing printers/all printers missing
• Print Management missing Server 2012 r2/2008 r2
• Print Management Snap In missing
• More Windows versions can be impacted (Print Management missing in Windows 11 or 8.1, but also in Windows 10 Home/Pro 20h2/2004)
• Printmanagement.msc missing or not found Windows 10 Home, 2004, Pro 20H2, 21H1, Windows 11
• Print management not opening

How do I restore Print Management in Windows 10?

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. Update the printer driver

Updating the printer driver can help fix a wide range of printer-related issues. You can check if you need to update your printer’s driver with driver updater software.

Driver updater software lists all your PC’s devices with outdated drivers and lets you quickly download and install updated ones.

2. Add the Print Management tool to Windows 10

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

This simple method can help if Print Management is missing in Windows 10 or 11. This solution can also help if you’re getting the print program error in Photoshop, so be sure to try it out.

3. Clean the Print Spooler

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run command, enter services.msc in the text field, and click OK.
2. Double-click Print Spooler to open the properties window for that service. 
3. Click the Stop button under Service status.
4. Next, click OK at the bottom to save the changes and close the window.
5. Again, press Windows + R to open Run, paste the following path, and click OK: %WINDIR%\system32\spool\printers
6. Next, press Ctrl + A to select all the files, and hit the Del key.
7. Now, head back to the Print Spooler Properties window, and click on the Start button to run the service.
8. Select the Automatic setting on the Startup type dropdown menu.
9. Don’t forget to click on Apply and OK to save the settings.

This quick fix can fix all problems with printmanagement.msc in Windows 11. If Print Management is still missing in Windows, head to the following method.

Read more about this topic

• Best printer management software for Windows
• Full Fix: Printer needs user intervention
• Can’t remove the printer in Windows 10/11
• How to fix Print Spooler Service high CPU usage in Windows 10/11

4. Run a system file scan

1. Press Windows + S to open the Search menu, enter Terminal, right-click on the relevant search result, and select Run as administrator.
2. Click Yes in the UAC prompt that appears.
3. Press Ctrl + Shift + 2 to open Command Prompt in a new tab.
4. First, paste the following command and hit Enter to run the DISM tool:DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
5. Once done, execute the following command to run the SFC scan: sfc/scannow
6. Wait for the scan to reach 100% verification.
7. Then, restart your PC if the scan says Windows Resource Protection repaired corrupt files.

Corruption of system files can cause Print Management to go missing on Windows 10, but you should be able to fix it with the DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) and SFC (System File Checker) scans.

5. Reset or reinstall Windows

If none of the methods listed here have worked, you have no option but to reset Windows to the factory settings. In this case, you will lose all data and installed applications, but it’s one of the most effective troubleshooting methods.

Also, many reported that reinstalling Windows from a USB drive fixed issues with Print Management and made it reappear. In case you run the previous iteration, the Windows 10 reinstall process is very similar.

What can I do if Print Management is missing on Windows 11?

In addition to the methods listed earlier, you can try performing a System Restore if Print Management is missing in Windows 11.

Besides, the problem may arise due to complex or conflicting applications. So look for similar programs or ones known to create conflicts, and uninstall these apps from the device.

Suppose none of the methods listed earlier or the ones here work, and you cannot find the Print Management Console in Optional features. In that case, you are most certainly running the Home edition of Windows 11, in which case upgrading to the Pro or Enterprise edition is the only solution.

Where is Print Manager 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.

These fixes will likely restore most users’ missing Print Management tools in Windows 10 and 11.

There might be more ways to fix the same issue, and users who have restored a missing Print Management tool with other resolutions are welcome to share their methods in the comment section.