How to Clear a Stuck Print Queue on Windows and Mac

01Quick answer

When the print queue is stuck, one document at the top of the list is blocking everything behind it. Cancel all jobs from the queue first. On Windows, if a job won’t disappear, restarting the Print Spooler service (the part of Windows that manages print jobs) almost always clears it. On a Mac, deleting the jobs and resuming the printer usually works. This guide is for anyone with documents that sit in the queue and never print.

Diagram

The path a print job takes

1. Your appYou choose Print in a document, browser or photo app.
2. Print queueThe computer holds the job in a waiting list.
3. DriverSoftware that translates the job for your printer model.
4. ConnectionUSB cable, Wi-Fi or Ethernet carries the job.
5. PrinterThe printer receives the job and prints it.

02Before you start

• Check the printer first. A paper jam, empty tray, open cover or an offline printer will make jobs wait in the queue. Clear those before working on the computer. Our paper jam guide helps if needed.
• Save your work. The documents themselves are safe, but you will need to print them again after clearing the queue.
• Use an administrator account on Windows for the spooler steps. If you use a work or school computer, your IT team may manage printing for you.

03Why this happens

The print queue (sometimes called the spooler queue) is a waiting list on your computer. If the first job can’t be sent, the rest wait behind it.

Usually simple to fix:

• The printer was offline, jammed or out of paper when the job was sent.
• A very large or unusual file confused the driver.
• The computer went to sleep or lost Wi-Fi in the middle of sending a job.
• The Print Spooler service on Windows stopped responding.

Needs the manufacturer or a repair service:

• Jobs reach the printer but it never prints and shows a hardware fault.
• The spooler keeps stopping on Windows even after the printer driver has been reinstalled cleanly, which can point to a wider system problem worth taking to a qualified technician.

04Clear the queue on Windows

1. Open the queue. Go to Settings, then the Printers & scanners page (under Bluetooth & devices on Windows 11, or Devices on Windows 10), select your printer and choose Open print queue (Windows 11) or Open queue (Windows 10).
2. Cancel everything. In the queue window, open the Printer menu and choose Cancel All Documents, then confirm.

   Did the list empty? If yes, try printing again. If a job stays with a status like “Deleting”, continue.

3. Restart the Print Spooler service. Press the Windows key, type Services and open the Services app. Find Print Spooler in the list, right-click it and choose Restart.

   What you should see: the service stops briefly and starts again. Re-open the print queue: the stuck job is usually gone.

4. Clear leftover spool files (only if the job still won’t go). In Services, right-click Print Spooler and choose Stop. Open File Explorer and go to the folder C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS. Windows may ask for administrator permission. Delete the files inside that folder, but not the folder itself. Then go back to Services, right-click Print Spooler and choose Start.
5. Restart the printer and the computer, then print a test page.

   Did the test page print? If yes, send your documents again one at a time rather than all at once, so you can see straight away if a particular file causes the problem again.

If one specific file always gets stuck, try printing it from a different app (for example, open a PDF in another PDF reader or a web browser) or save it as a new PDF first. Very large image files and documents with unusual fonts can sometimes confuse an older driver.

05Clear the queue on a Mac

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences), choose Printers & Scanners, select the printer and open its print queue. You can also click the printer icon that appears in the Dock while printing.
2. Select each job and delete it using the delete or cancel button next to it.
3. If the printer is paused, choose Resume.
4. Restart the Mac and the printer, then print a short document.

   Still stuck? Remove the printer from the Printers & Scanners list, restart the Mac, then add the printer again.

06Common mistakes to avoid

• Clicking Print again and again while the queue is stuck. Each click adds another job that you will need to clear.
• Deleting the PRINTERS folder itself, or other folders in the spool directory. Only delete the files inside PRINTERS.
• Leaving the Print Spooler service stopped. Always start it again, or nothing will print.
• Using third-party “printer fix” tools. Windows and macOS already include what you need.

07If it still doesn’t work

If the queue clears but new jobs get stuck again straight away, the printer driver may be damaged. Follow our guide to removing and reinstalling a printer driver. If the queue is empty but the printer shows as unavailable, see our printer offline guide.

If the printer receives jobs but never prints and shows an error on its own screen, contact the manufacturer through its official support website with the model name, serial number and the message shown.

08The short version

Fix any printer error first, then cancel all jobs. On Windows, restart the Print Spooler service and, if needed, clear the spool files. On a Mac, delete the jobs, resume the printer and re-add it if necessary.

09FAQ

Is it safe to restart the Print Spooler service?

Yes. Restarting it only affects printing; it doesn’t remove your documents or printers. Any jobs waiting in the queue may be cancelled, so print them again afterwards.

Why won’t a print job delete from the queue?

The spooler may still be holding the file, especially if the job was half-sent when the printer went offline. Restarting the Print Spooler service releases it in most cases.

Do I lose my document if I cancel a print job?

No. Cancelling only removes the copy waiting to print. The original file stays where you saved it, and you can print it again.

Why does my print queue get stuck on a work laptop?

Laptops used at home and at work may have several printers set up, and jobs can be sent to a printer that isn’t reachable from where you are. Check which printer is selected in the Print dialog. On a managed work computer, your IT team may control printers and spooler settings, so ask them before changing anything.

Can a stuck print queue slow down my computer?

Usually not noticeably, but a spooler that keeps retrying a damaged job can use some resources. Clearing the queue and restarting is the simplest fix.