Printers · Repair guide

How to clear a stuck print queue

8 fixes, easiest first3 min readUpdated November 2026

Quick fix

Cancel all jobs in the print queue and restart the printer and PC. If the job still won't delete, stop the Print Spooler in Services, delete the files in C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS, then start the Print Spooler again.

What it means

A stuck print queue means a print job has jammed in Windows' list of waiting documents, so nothing behind it can print. Sometimes you can't even delete it, and it sits on "Deleting" forever. The fix is usually to restart the Print Spooler, the Windows service that manages the queue, and clear its files.

Common causes

  • A print job that failed or was sent while the printer was off or offline
  • A very large or damaged document
  • The Print Spooler service has stalled
  • A paper jam or other printer error interrupted the job
  • A damaged or outdated printer driver

How to fix it

Work down the list. Each fix is safe to try before moving on to the next.

01Cancel all jobs in the print queueEasy

  1. Open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
  2. Select your printer and choose Open print queue.
  3. Open the ... menu and choose Cancel all, or right-click each job and choose Cancel.
  4. Wait a minute to see if the jobs disappear.

Why it helps: Cancelling from the queue is the normal way to remove jobs and often works on its own.

02Restart the printer and the PCEasy

  1. Turn the printer off and wait at least 60 seconds.
  2. Turn the printer back on.
  3. Select Start > Power > Restart on your PC.
  4. Open the print queue again and check whether it is empty.

Why it helps: A restart resets the connection between the PC and printer and can release a job stuck on "Deleting".

03Run the Windows printer troubleshooterEasy

  1. Select Start, type Get Help and open the Get Help app.
  2. Type printer troubleshooter in the search box and start it.
  3. Choose your printer and follow the steps on screen.

Why it helps: The troubleshooter checks the spooler and queue and can fix common problems automatically.

04If you use a Mac, delete the job from the queueEasy

  1. Click the Print Center icon in the Dock (older macOS shows your printer's icon) to open the queue.
  2. Select the stuck job and click Delete Job.
  3. If the printer shows as paused, click Resume.
  4. If the queue still won't clear, open Apple menu > System Settings > Printers & Scanners, Control-click the printer, choose Remove Printer and confirm, then add it again with Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax.

Why it helps: Removing and re-adding the printer creates a fresh, empty queue on the Mac.

05Restart the Print Spooler serviceMedium

  1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc and press Enter.
  2. Scroll down to Print Spooler.
  3. Right-click Print Spooler and choose Restart.
  4. Open the print queue again and cancel any jobs that are left.

Why it helps: The Print Spooler manages the queue; restarting it often frees jobs that won't delete.

06Clear the spool folder by handMedium

  1. You need to be signed in with an administrator account for these steps.
  2. Press Windows + R, type services.msc and press Enter.
  3. Right-click Print Spooler and choose Stop. Leave the Services window open.
  4. Open File Explorer and go to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS. If Windows asks for permission to open the folder, select Continue.
  5. Delete all the files inside the PRINTERS folder. Do not delete the folder itself or anything in other folders.
  6. Go back to Services, right-click Print Spooler and choose Start.
  7. Double-click Print Spooler and check that Startup type is set to Automatic, then select OK.
  8. Send your document to the printer again.

Why it helps: These files are the stuck jobs themselves; deleting them while the spooler is stopped empties the queue completely.

07If jobs keep getting stuck, reinstall the printerMedium

  1. Download the latest driver or software for your exact model from the printer maker's support website.
  2. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer, choose Remove, then Yes.
  3. Install the downloaded software, or select Add device next to Add a printer or scanner to add the printer again.
  4. Print a test page.

Why it helps: A damaged driver can cause jobs to fail and pile up in the queue again and again.

08If you use a Mac and nothing else works, reset the printing systemAdvancedResets settings

  1. Warning: this removes every printer from your Mac, deletes the record of past print jobs and erases printer presets.
  2. Open Apple menu > System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
  3. Control-click a printer in the Printers list (or the empty list) and choose Reset Printing System.
  4. Confirm, then click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax and add your printer again.

Why it helps: It wipes the Mac's printing setup, including any damaged queue, so you can start fresh.

Check it's fixed

  • The print queue shows no jobs.
  • A new test page prints straight away and leaves the queue.
  • The Print Spooler service shows as running in Services.

When to get help

If the Print Spooler keeps stopping by itself or jobs get stuck every time, contact the printer maker's support or a local IT technician. On a work PC, ask your IT team before stopping services.

Questions

Why is my print job stuck on deleting?

Windows is waiting for the Print Spooler to finish removing the job, and the spooler has stalled. Restart the spooler, or stop it, clear the spool folder and start it again.

Is it safe to delete files in the spool PRINTERS folder?

Yes, as long as the Print Spooler is stopped first and you only delete files inside the PRINTERS folder. They are waiting print jobs, so you will need to print those documents again.

Will clearing the print queue delete my documents?

No. It only removes the copies waiting to print. Your original files stay where you saved them.

Related fixes

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