Cancel a stuck print job by clearing your printer's queue

When a print job gets stuck — either because the printer jammed, lost connection, or the file was corrupted — the job stays in your printer's memory and blocks everything else from printing. You can clear it from your computer's print queue without touching the printer itself, or you can restart the printer to wipe its internal queue. Most stuck jobs clear with one of these two methods.

The print queue is a waiting list your computer maintains. When you send something to print, it sits there until the printer is ready. If the printer never receives the job, or receives it but can't complete it, the job stays queued and your next print request gets stuck behind it. Clearing the queue removes these blocked jobs so new ones can go through.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, open Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners, select 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.
  • If the computer queue is empty but the printer still won't print, restart the printer by turning it off for 30 seconds, then back on.
  • Some printers have a menu button on the device itself where you can view and cancel jobs directly from the printer's screen.
  • After clearing the queue, test with a small document like a single-page PDF before printing a large job.

Clear the print queue on Windows

Open Settings and go to Devices, then Printers & Scanners. Find your printer in the list and click on it. You should see an "Open queue" button — click that to see all jobs waiting to print. Any job listed there can be right-clicked and deleted. Once you delete the stuck job, close the queue window and try printing something new.

If you don't see an "Open queue" button, your printer may not support remote queue viewing. In that case, you can clear the queue through Windows Services. Press Windows Key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter. Find "Print Spooler" in the list, right-click it, and select "Restart". This stops and restarts the print service, which clears all queued jobs. Wait 10 seconds after it restarts before trying to print again.

If the Print Spooler method doesn't work, you can manually delete the queue files. Press Windows Key + R, type %systemroot%\System32\spool\PRINTERS, and press Enter. Delete everything in that folder. Restart your computer afterward. This is more aggressive but clears the queue completely.

Clear the print queue on Mac

Go to System Settings and select Printers & Scanners. Click your printer in the list on the left. You should see an "Open Print Queue" button — click it to view waiting jobs. Select any stuck job and click the delete button (usually a minus sign or trash icon) to remove it. Close the window and try printing again.

If there's no queue button or the queue appears empty but your printer still won't print, restart the printer service. Open Terminal (find it in Applications > Utilities) and type cancel -a, then press Enter. This cancels all print jobs system-wide. If that doesn't work, restart your Mac — this clears the queue and resets the print system.

Restart the printer to clear its internal queue

Even after clearing your computer's queue, the printer itself may still have a job in its memory. Turn off the printer completely, wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on. This clears the printer's internal queue and resets its connection to your computer. Many stuck jobs clear with just this step.

If your printer has a touchscreen or menu button, you can also check its queue directly. Look for a menu option called "Jobs", "Queue", "Pending", or "Print Queue". Select it and look for any jobs listed. Most printers let you delete jobs from this menu. Check your printer's manual if you're not sure where the menu is — the location varies by brand and model.

What to do if the queue is clear but nothing prints

If you've cleared both your computer's queue and restarted the printer, but printing still doesn't work, the problem is usually a connection issue rather than a stuck job. Check that your printer is connected to your network (or USB cable if it's wired). On the printer's screen or settings page, look for the network name and make sure it matches your home WiFi. Reconnect if needed.

Also check that your printer is set as the default printer on your computer. On Windows, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners, find your printer, click it, and select "Set as default". On Mac, go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners, select your printer, and make sure it's highlighted. If you have multiple printers installed, Windows and Mac sometimes default to the wrong one.

Prevent jobs from getting stuck in the future

Most stuck jobs happen because the file is too large, the printer lost WiFi connection mid-print, or the printer ran out of paper. To reduce this: keep your printer within 15 feet of your router if it's wireless, check that paper is loaded before printing, and avoid printing files larger than 100 MB without splitting them into smaller documents first.

Also keep your printer's firmware updated. Check your printer manufacturer's website for your model number, read the latest firmware, and follow their instructions to install it. Firmware updates often fix connection and queue issues. If you print frequently, restart your printer once a week — this clears temporary files and keeps it running smoothly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my printer say it's printing but nothing comes out?

The job is likely stuck in the printer's internal queue, not your computer's. Restart the printer by turning it off for 30 seconds, then back on. If that doesn't work, check the printer's menu for a "Cancel All Jobs" or "Clear Queue" option. Some printers also have a physical reset button on the back or bottom.

Can I cancel a print job while it's printing?

Yes. On most printers, press the Cancel or Stop button on the printer's control panel. On your computer, you can also open the print queue and delete the job, though the printer may finish the current page before stopping. The physical button on the printer is usually faster.

What if I clear the queue and the printer still won't connect?

The issue is likely a network or driver problem, not a stuck job. Restart both your printer and your computer. If that doesn't work, remove the printer from your computer's device list and re-add it: on Windows, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners, click your printer, and select "Remove device". Then add it again by clicking "Add a printer".

Does clearing the print queue delete my documents?

No. Clearing the queue only removes the print job from the waiting list. Your original document file stays on your computer. You can print it again anytime. The queue is just a temporary holding area between your computer and printer.

How often should I restart my printer?

If you print several times a week, restart it once a week. If you print daily, restart it every few days. A straightforward restart — turning it off for 30 seconds and back on — clears temporary files and prevents most queue problems from building up.