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How to Clear a Stuck Print Queue on Windows
Applies to: Windows 11, Windows 10
Article Type: Troubleshooting
Last Updated: 2026-07-10
Summary
This guide shows you how to clear print jobs that are stuck in the queue — the ones that won't print and won't cancel. You'll learn the quick method first, then a deeper fix if the quick method doesn't work.
Symptoms
- Print jobs appear in the queue but never actually print
- Clicking Cancel on a print job has no effect — it stays in the queue
- The printer queue shows "Deleting" but the job never disappears
- New documents you send to the printer get stuck behind an old queued job
- The printer queue shows "Error" or "Offline" even though the printer is on
Prerequisites
- A Windows 11 or Windows 10 computer
- The printer must be powered on and connected
Instructions
1. Try Canceling the Job Normally
- Click the Start button and type
printers. - Click Printers & scanners in the search results.
- Click the printer that has the stuck job.
- Click Open print queue.
- Right-click the stuck print job and select Cancel.
- If prompted, click Yes to confirm.
- Wait 10–15 seconds for the job to disappear.
If the job disappears, you're done. If it stays stuck, move to the next step.
2. Cancel All Print Jobs
If one stuck job is blocking everything:
- In the print queue window, click Printer in the menu bar at the top.
- Click Cancel All Documents.
- Click Yes to confirm.
- Wait 15–30 seconds for the queue to clear.
TIP
If the Printer menu isn't visible, press the Alt key to show the menu bar.
3. Restart the Print Spooler (No Admin Needed on Most PCs)
If canceling doesn't work, restarting the Print Spooler service often clears the jam.
- Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type
services.mscand press Enter. - In the Services window, scroll down and find Print Spooler.
- Right-click Print Spooler and select Restart.
- Wait for the service to stop and start again (5–10 seconds).
- Close the Services window and check the print queue — it will be empty.
WARNING
On some company-managed computers, restarting services requires admin rights. If you see an "Access denied" message, use the alternative method in Step 4 instead. If that fails too, ask your IT team to restart the Print Spooler service on your computer — quote the Access denied error and name the printer that is stuck.
4. Alternative: Clear the Queue by Restarting the Printer and Your Computer
If the Services method is blocked:
- Turn off the printer using its power button.
- Wait 30 seconds.
- Restart your computer — click Start > Power > Restart.
- After your computer restarts, turn the printer back on.
- Open the print queue to confirm it's empty, then try printing again.
5. Verify the Fix
- Open any document (a Word file, PDF, or webpage).
- Press Ctrl + P to print.
- Select your printer and click Print.
- Confirm the document prints successfully and the print queue clears after printing.
Troubleshooting
WARNING
If the print queue gets stuck repeatedly (more than once a week), the printer driver may be corrupted or outdated. Ask your IT team to reinstall or update the printer driver on your computer.
| Symptom / Error | Potential Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| "Access denied" when restarting Print Spooler | Company policy blocks service changes | Use the restart method in Step 4; if the queue jams again, ask IT for permission to restart the Print Spooler yourself |
| Queue clears but jobs still won't print | Printer is offline or disconnected | Check the printer's network/USB connection and power |
| Jobs reappear after clearing | Application keeps resending the job | Close the application that sent the print job, then clear the queue |
| "Printer offline" in the queue | Printer set to offline mode | Right-click the printer in the queue, uncheck Use Printer Offline |
| Queue clears but prints gibberish | Wrong or corrupted printer driver | Contact IT to reinstall the printer driver |