What clearing your print queue means and why you need to do it
Your printer's print queue is a holding area where print jobs wait their turn. When you send something to print, it sits in the queue until the printer processes it. Sometimes jobs get stuck there — the printer crashes, loses connection, or a file is too large to handle — and the stuck job blocks everything behind it. Clearing the queue means removing those stuck jobs so new ones can print.
A stuck print queue is one of the most common printer problems, and it's also one of the easiest to fix yourself. You don't need to call anyone or restart your whole computer. On Windows, you clear it through the Settings app. On Mac, you use System Settings. On a Chromebook, you clear it through your Google Account. The steps take about five minutes.
Key Takeaways
- A stuck print job blocks all jobs behind it in the queue, so clearing it is usually the first troubleshooting step when nothing will print.
- On Windows, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners, find your printer, and click "Open queue" to see and delete stuck jobs.
- On Mac, go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners, select your printer, and click "Open Print Queue" to remove jobs.
- On a Chromebook, go to Settings > Advanced > Printing > Google Cloud Print and delete jobs from there, or clear them through your Google Account.
- If the queue still won't clear after you delete the jobs, restart the print spooler service on Windows or restart your computer on Mac.
How to clear the print queue on Windows
Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings", then click the Settings icon. Go to Devices in the left sidebar, then click Printers & Scanners. Find your printer in the list and click on it once to select it.
Click the button that says Open queue. A window will open showing all the jobs waiting to print. Right-click on any job that's stuck (usually the one at the top) and select Cancel. If multiple jobs are stuck, cancel all of them. Close the queue window when you're done.
If the jobs don't disappear after you cancel them, the print spooler service may be frozen. Press the Windows key and type "services", then click the Services app. Find Print Spooler in the list, right-click it, and select Restart. Wait a few seconds, then try printing again.
How to clear the print queue on Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings. Click Printers & Scanners in the sidebar. Find your printer in the list on the left and click it once to select it.
Click the button labeled Open Print Queue. A window will show all waiting jobs. Click on any stuck job to select it, then click the X button or the delete button to remove it. If you see a job that's been there for hours or days, that's usually the stuck one.
If the queue window won't open or the jobs won't delete, restart your Mac. Hold down the power button until the shutdown screen appears, click Restart, and wait for your computer to come back on. This resets the print system completely.
How to clear the print queue on a Chromebook
Chromebooks handle printing differently because they use Google Cloud Print. Click the time in the bottom-right corner, then click the Settings gear icon. Go to Advanced in the left sidebar, then click Printing. Click Google Cloud Print.
You'll see a list of printers and any jobs waiting to print. Find the stuck job and click the three dots next to it, then select Cancel. If you don't see the job listed here, go to myaccount.google.com, click Security in the left sidebar, scroll down to Your devices, and look for any print jobs there.
What to do if the queue still won't clear
If you've deleted the jobs but they're still showing up, or if the printer still won't print, the problem may be deeper than a stuck queue. First, unplug the printer from power for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. This resets the printer's memory and often clears jobs that the computer thinks are still there.
Next, disconnect the printer from your computer and reconnect it. On Windows, go back to Printers & Scanners, right-click your printer, and select Remove device. Then click Add a printer or scanner and let Windows find it again. On Mac, go to Printers & Scanners, click the minus button below the printer list, then add it again.
If the printer is connected over a network (Wi-Fi), restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds. Network printers sometimes hold onto stuck jobs in their own memory, and a router restart clears that connection.
Why print jobs get stuck in the first place
Print jobs usually get stuck because of a mismatch between what your computer is trying to send and what the printer can handle. A very large file, a file in an unusual format, or a document with fonts the printer doesn't recognize can all cause a job to stall. The printer starts processing it, realizes it can't finish, and freezes.
Network interruptions also cause stuck jobs. If your printer loses connection to Wi-Fi in the middle of a print job, the job stays in the queue but the printer can't complete it. The computer doesn't know the job failed, so it just waits.
Sometimes a printer driver — the software that tells your computer how to talk to the printer — gets out of sync with the actual printer. This is rare, but if clearing the queue and restarting don't work, updating or reinstalling the driver may help. Check your printer manufacturer's website for the latest driver for your model.
How to avoid stuck print jobs going forward
Print smaller files when possible. If you're printing a very large document, try splitting it into two or three smaller files and printing them separately. This reduces the chance that one job will overwhelm the printer.
Keep your printer close to your router if it's wireless, or use a wired connection if your printer has an Ethernet port. A weak Wi-Fi signal is one of the most common causes of stuck jobs on network printers.
Update your printer driver every few months. Manufacturers release updates that fix bugs and improve compatibility. Check your printer's support page or use the manufacturer's driver update tool.
If you regularly print from a specific process — like Adobe Reader or Microsoft Word — make sure that process is up to date too. Outdated software sometimes sends print jobs in a format the printer can't read.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing the print queue delete files from my computer?
No. Clearing the queue only removes the job from the printer's waiting list. Your original file stays on your computer untouched. You can print it again whenever you want.
What if I can't find the Open Queue button on Windows?
Make sure you've clicked on the printer name itself to select it, not just the category. The Open Queue button only appears after you select a specific printer. If you still don't see it, your printer may not support queue management through Settings — try restarting the Print Spooler service instead.
Can I clear the print queue from my phone or tablet?
It depends on your printer. Some network printers have their own app or web interface where you can see and cancel jobs. Check your printer's manual or manufacturer website. Otherwise, you'll need to clear it from a computer.
Why does my printer still show a stuck job even after I restarted it?
The printer's memory and your computer's memory are separate. Restart both: unplug the printer for 30 seconds, then restart your computer. This clears the job from both places.
Is it safe to force-restart my printer?
Yes. Unplugging a printer for 30 seconds is safe and won't damage it. Printers are designed to handle power interruptions. Just don't unplug it while it's actively printing — wait until the lights stop blinking.