Track print jobs and log print events in Windows

Track print jobs and log print events

  1. Open Windows Event Viewer.
    This can be done by pressing the WINDOWS + R keys to open the Run dialog. Type in eventvwr.msc and press the OK-button.
  2. In the Event Viewer navigate to Event Viewer > Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > PrintService.
  3. Expand the PrintService node and right-click on Operational and select Properties.
  4. In the Log Properties - Operational (Type: Operational) dialog, you can Enable the option Enable logging.

Depending on the amount of prints you make on a daily base you might want to increase the Maximum log size.

Debug and Trace Logs

Besides the Operational log, some sections also have Debug and Trace log files.

To view Debug and/or Trace logs:

  1. In Windows Event Viewer go to Event Viewer > View > Show Analytic and Debug Logs
  2. PrintService (Event Viewer > Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > PrintService) should now show an additional Debug log.

The Debug and/or Trace logs can be enabled/disabled individually, similar on how you enable/disable the Operational log.

Debug and Trace log files can grow very fast. Enable them for a short period of time and don't forget to disable them again.

Track print jobs and log print events from a shared printer

When you want to track print jobs being printed to a shared printed, you have to enable this print job logging on the Windows or Windows Server operating system where the printer is shared.

Exporting logs

The logs from PrintService > Operational can be exported in order to be shared with somebody else to investigate the logs:

  1. In the navigation tree, right-click on Operational and select Save All Events As....
  2. Give the file a name and save it on a location (e.g. Desktop).

You can also export specific events from the log:

  1. Select one event.
    Select multiple by holding the CTRL-key while selecting items.
    Select a range by holding SHIFT-key and click on the first and last of the range that you want.
  2. Right-click on a select event and choose Save Selected Events.., or in the Actions-pane you can also click on Save Selected Events....
  3. Give the file a name and save it on a location (e.g. Desktop).