Print Processor Registry Location in Windows

In the Windows operating system, the Windows Registry stores the configuration and list of all installed print processor components under the central print spooler subsystem key. This guide outlines the exact registry paths used across different system architectures, the internal structure of print processor subkeys, and how to locate them using the Registry Editor (regedit).

Registry Path for Print Processors

The Windows Registry stores installed print processors under the following root key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments

Because print processors are compiled for specific CPU architectures, the exact path depends on the target environment:

• For 64-bit Windows (x64): HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows x64\Print Processors
• For 32-bit Windows (x86): HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows NT x86\Print Processors
• For ARM64 Windows: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows ARM64\Print Processors

Structure of the Print Processors Key

Under the Print Processors key, each installed print processor has its own individual subkey:

• Subkey Name: The name of the subkey represents the display name of the print processor (for example, the default Windows print processor is named winprint).
• Driver Value: Inside each subkey, there is a string value (REG_SZ) named Driver. The data field of this value points to the corresponding dynamic-link library file (such as winprint.dll), which is stored in the system’s driver spool folder (C:\Windows\System32\spool\prtprocs\[architecture]\).

How to Navigate to the Key in Regedit

1. Press Windows Key + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Copy and paste the full architecture path into the address bar at the top of the Registry Editor window.
3. Expand the Print Processors key to view every custom and default print processor currently registered on the machine.