When a print job gets stuck in the queue, it can prevent other documents from printing, remain in a Deleting state for a long time, or reappear even after you try to cancel it.
Start by checking the current print jobs and canceling anything you no longer need. If a job refuses to disappear, you can clear the print queue by restarting the Print Spooler service or manually deleting the files Windows uses to store pending jobs.
Restarting the printer or your PC can also fix temporary problems. If the queue remains stuck, the methods below show you how to clear it step by step in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Method 1: View and Cancel Jobs in the Print Queue
Before clearing the entire queue, check which print jobs are currently pending. If only one document is causing the problem, canceling that job may be enough.
Windows 11
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Go to Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
- Select the printer you are using.
- Click Open print queue.
- Locate the document you want to remove.
- Right-click the job and select Cancel.
If several jobs are stuck, you can cancel them individually. Depending on your version of Windows 11, the print queue may also include an option to cancel all pending jobs.
Windows 10
Go to: Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners
Select the printer, open its print queue, then right-click the pending document and select Cancel.
If the job disappears, you do not need to do anything else. Keep in mind that the print queue mainly shows current or pending jobs. If you want to check jobs that were already completed, see how to view print history in Windows.
If a document remains stuck with a status such as Deleting, Error, or Paused, continue with the next method.
Method 2: Restart the Print Spooler Service
Windows uses the Print Spooler service to manage documents sent to printers.
Restarting it can release stuck jobs without requiring you to manually delete the pending print files.
- Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
- Find Print Spooler in the list of services.
- Right-click it and select Restart.
If Restart is unavailable, select Stop, wait a few seconds, and then click Start.
Wait a few seconds and reopen the print queue to check whether the stuck jobs have disappeared. If they are still there, continue with the next method to manually remove the pending files.
Method 3: Manually Clear the Print Queue
If Windows cannot cancel the jobs normally, you can manually remove the files stored by the Print Spooler.
Important: clearing this folder can remove pending jobs for all printers managed by the Print Spooler, not just one specific printer.
1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Find Print Spooler, right-click it, and select Stop.
3. Press Windows + R again, enter the following path, and press Enter:
C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
4. If Windows asks for administrator permission, allow access to the folder.
5. Select all files inside the PRINTERS folder and delete them.
Do not delete the PRINTERS folder itself. Delete only its contents. Clearing these files does not remove the original documents saved on your computer.
6. Return to Services, right-click Print Spooler, and select Start.
7. Open the print queue again and confirm that the stuck jobs are gone.
This method effectively clears the print queue when jobs cannot be removed through the normal Windows interface. Microsoft also provides additional guidance in its printer troubleshooting documentation.
Method 4: Clear the Print Queue from Command Prompt
You can perform the same procedure more quickly from Command Prompt. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run these commands one at a time:
net stop spooler
del /Q /F "%systemroot%\System32\spool\PRINTERS\*.*"
net start spoolerThe first command stops the Print Spooler service. The second deletes the files for pending print jobs stored in the PRINTERS folder, and the third starts the service again.
When the commands finish, reopen the print queue and verify that the stuck jobs have disappeared.
Important: just like the manual method, this procedure can remove pending jobs for all printers managed by the Print Spooler.
What to Do If Print Jobs Keep Getting Stuck
Clearing the queue fixes the immediate problem, but if it keeps happening, there is usually another issue that needs attention. Try the following:
- Restart the printer and computer. A temporary communication problem can leave jobs stuck in the queue.
- Check the connection. For USB printers, try another port or cable. For Wi-Fi printers, make sure the printer and PC are properly connected to the network.
- Check the printer itself. Paper jams, empty trays, open covers, or ink and toner errors can prevent jobs from completing.
- Update or reinstall the printer driver. A damaged or incompatible driver can cause jobs to get stuck repeatedly.
- Check the Print Spooler service. Open services.msc, open Print Spooler Properties, and verify that Startup type is set to Automatic.
- Run the Windows printer troubleshooter. It can detect common problems with the printer, configuration, or drivers.
If the queue gets stuck every time you print one particular document, reopen the file, save a new copy, or try printing it from another application. In that case, the issue may be with the document rather than the printer.
Conclusion
The easiest way to clear the print queue is to open it from Settings and cancel pending jobs. If a document refuses to disappear, restarting the Print Spooler can release stuck jobs.
If that does not solve the problem, stop the service and empty C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS, either manually or from Command Prompt. When the issue keeps returning, check the printer connection, driver, and hardware status so you can fix the underlying cause instead of repeatedly clearing the queue.
