{"id":5884,"date":"2017-11-04T18:14:03","date_gmt":"2017-11-04T12:44:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/198.58.113.91\/blog\/?p=5884"},"modified":"2023-07-31T18:48:07","modified_gmt":"2023-07-31T13:18:07","slug":"cancel-stuck-print-job-queue-clearing-spool-folder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/cancel-stuck-print-job-queue-clearing-spool-folder\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Cancel or Delete a Stuck Print Job and Clear Paper Jam"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Everyone would have experienced this. When printing documents, the printer may get stuck in the middle for some reason or the other. This also causes the print job to get stuck in the queue, and canceling the jobs via Printer properties doesn&#8217;t help.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Even if you switch off your printer and switch it on, the stuck job isn&#8217;t cleared. When you turn on the printer even after several days, it attempts to print the job which was issued last time.\u00a0Print jobs get stuck when the device stops printing in the middle, perhaps due to a sudden power outage, low ink, no paper, paper jam or interference by third-party firewall software etc. No matter how many times you cancel the print jobs, the print queue is still not cleared.<\/p>\n<h2>How to Cancel or Delete a Stuck Print Job<\/h2>\n<p>Stuck print jobs problem is seen regardless of which Windows Operating System you use, and the fix is simple. Information in the article applies to Windows Vista through Windows 10.<\/p>\n<h3>Step 1: Cancel the print queue<\/h3>\n<p>If you haven&#8217;t already tried to cancel the print jobs, do it using these steps:<\/p>\n<p>Double-click the Printer icon in the notification area. This opens the &#8220;what&#8217;s printing&#8221; window with the list of documents waiting to be printed.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5885\" src=\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/spooler-print-jobs-queue-cancel.png\" alt=\"cancel all print job documents\" width=\"700\" height=\"227\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Select all the documents, and click Cancel.<\/p>\n<p>That should delete all the print jobs in most cases. In some situations, the currently processed print job may not get cleared automatically and would still appear on the print queue. Your printer might attempt to print it even after if you switch it on after several days.<\/p>\n<p>In many cases, your printer does not successfully print the stuck print job, and the stuck print job doesn&#8217;t get removed from the queue no matter what you try. This happens even after you click on the &#8220;Cancel all documents&#8221; option from the Printer menu.<\/p>\n<p>If that happens, you&#8217;ll need to stop the Print Spooler service and clear the spool folder manually. Read on.<\/p>\n<h3>Step 2: Clear the Spooler folder<\/h3>\n<p>If clearing the print queue as in <strong>Step 1<\/strong> doesn&#8217;t help, you&#8217;ll need to clear the Spool folder manually. Before that, stop the Print Spooler service via Services MMC.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Turn off the printer and unplug it from the mains.<\/li>\n<li>Right-click Start, and click Run. Type <strong>Services.msc<\/strong> and click OK.<\/li>\n<li>Right-click on the <strong>Print Spooler<\/strong> service and select Stop.<\/li>\n<li>Open File Explorer and browse the following folder:\n<pre>C:\\Windows\\system32\\spool\\PRINTERS<\/pre>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5886\" src=\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/spooler-print-jobs-queue-clear-1.png\" alt=\"print spooler - print jobs folder\" width=\"699\" height=\"388\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Select all files in that folder, right-click and choose Delete.<\/li>\n<li>Go back to the Services console and start the Print Spooler service.<\/li>\n<li>This clears your print queue. Connect the printer to the mains after a couple of minutes, turn it on and print a test page.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"qt\">\n<h4>Clear the Spooler folder using command-line<\/h4>\n<p>Alternately, you can use the Command Prompt to clear the spooler data folder. Open <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/open-elevated-command-prompt-windows\/\">admin Command Prompt<\/a>, type the following commands one by one, and press <kbd>ENTER<\/kbd> after each command. To avoid typing mistakes, copy each command and paste it in the Command Prompt window.<\/p>\n<pre>net stop spooler\r\ndel \/Q \/F \/S \"%systemroot%\\System32\\Spool\\Printers\\*.*\"\r\nnet start spooler<\/pre>\n<p>You can even copy those lines to Notepad, and save it with .BAT extension, say <code>clear_print_queue.bat<\/code>. If the problem happens the next time, all you need to do is run the batch file from an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/open-elevated-command-prompt-windows\/\">admin Command Prompt<\/a>, or by right-clicking on the file and selecting <strong>Run as Administrator<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/clear-print-queue-batch-file.png\" alt=\"clear print queue batch file\" width=\"700\" height=\"127\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5888\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Prevent Print Queue from Getting Stuck<\/h3>\n<p>Paper jam is one of the main causes for the print queue getting stuck. To prevent paper jams, make sure the papers are not damp and sticky. This causes the feed mechanism to take more than one paper at a time, and the job gets stuck while printing.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, printer manufacturers like HP and <a href=\"https:\/\/support.usa.canon.com\/kb\/index?page=content&amp;id=ART153953\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Canon<\/a> recommends that you <strong>temporarily disable your firewall<\/strong> software on your computer to see if it is interfering with the print job. If you&#8217;re using Windows Firewall, then it shouldn&#8217;t cause a problem in most cases, unless you explicitly blocked Spooler Subsystem by creating a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/reset-firewall-defaults-restore-rules-advanced-security\/\">custom outbound rule<\/a>.\u00a0For third-party firewall programs, you should be able to disable them temporarily by right-clicking on its notification area icon.\u00a0<strong>Re-enable<\/strong> the firewall after you have finished.<\/p>\n<p>If the printer prints fine when the firewall is disabled, then you&#8217;ll need to <a href=\"https:\/\/support.avast.com\/en-us\/article\/25\/\" rel=\"noopener nofollow noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">configure a rule<\/a> so that the <strong>Print Spooler<\/strong> service (<code>Spooler SubSystem App<\/code> or\u00a0 <code>spoolsv.exe<\/code>) isn&#8217;t blocked from having access to the system.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5887\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5887\" style=\"width: 1000px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/avast-firewal-application-settings.png\" alt=\"avast firewall application settings\" width=\"1010\" height=\"674\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5887\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5887\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Avast Firewall: Application Settings<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Likewise, there may be additional processes (like proprietary printer software) you need to unblock, depending upon the make and model of your printer. For accurate information, check with the printer manufacturer for support.<\/p>\n<p>Hope the above procedure helped you successfully cancel or delete a stuck print job from the queue on your Windows computer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Everyone would have experienced this. When printing documents, the printer may get stuck in the middle for some reason or the other. This also causes the print job to get stuck in the queue, and canceling the jobs via Printer properties doesn&#8217;t help.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5884","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-windows"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":10268,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/error-0x8007007e-printing-store-apps\/","url_meta":{"origin":5884,"position":0},"title":"Error 0x8007007e when Printing from Store Apps","author":"Ramesh","date":"July 10, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"When you try to print a mail from the built-in Mail app or use the print function in any Store app, error 0x8007007e may occur. However, the classic desktop programs print correctly. The problem is restricted to modern or Universal Web Apps (UWP) like Mail, OneNote, etc. Here is the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Windows 10&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Windows 10","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/windows-10\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"printconfig.dll download from winbindex","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/printconfig-dll-download.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/printconfig-dll-download.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/printconfig-dll-download.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/printconfig-dll-download.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/printconfig-dll-download.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1564,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/reinstall-microsoft-print-to-pdf-delete-accidentally\/","url_meta":{"origin":5884,"position":1},"title":"How to Reinstall Microsoft Print to PDF After Deleting it Accidentally","author":"Ramesh","date":"February 3, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Windows 10 and 11, as you know, includes the Microsoft Print to PDF virtual printer built-in that can print (convert) documents to PDF format from any application. Microsoft Print to PDF is a handy tool in Windows 10\/11. In the previous Windows Operating Systems, users needed to use a third-party\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Windows 10&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Windows 10","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/windows-10\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"microsoft print to pdf printer missing add printer list","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/ms-print-pdf-driver-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":23714,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/printer-prints-documents-in-inverted-color-black-background\/","url_meta":{"origin":5884,"position":2},"title":"[Fix] Printer Prints Documents in Inverted Colors","author":"Ramesh","date":"April 20, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"When you try to print a document or image using your printer, it may print the contents in an inverted color scheme (black background with white text). The result is the same when you print a test page via the printer properties, or print from Word, Open Office, Libre Office,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Windows 10&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Windows 10","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/windows-10\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"printer inverted colors printing - laser type 1 class driver","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/brother-firmware-inverted-printing.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/brother-firmware-inverted-printing.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/brother-firmware-inverted-printing.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/brother-firmware-inverted-printing.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1639,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/remove-old-printers-add-printer-list-windows-10\/","url_meta":{"origin":5884,"position":3},"title":"How to Completely Remove Old Printers in Windows 10 or 11","author":"Ramesh","date":"February 15, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"When you try to add a new printer by clicking the Add a printer or scanner in the Printer & Scanners page, old printers you added earlier but no longer use may be listed. This post tells you how to completely remove old, uninstalled, or obsolete printers from the Add\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Utilities&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Utilities","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/utilities\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"FileRepository driver store","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/driver-store-filerepository.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/driver-store-filerepository.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/driver-store-filerepository.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28858,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/restore-legacy-print-dialog-windows-11\/","url_meta":{"origin":5884,"position":4},"title":"Restore the Legacy Print Dialog in Windows 11 22H2","author":"Ramesh","date":"September 30, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"In Windows 11 22H2, Microsoft has replaced the legacy Print Dialog for all classic (win32) apps, e.g., Notepad, WordPad, Notepad++, etc., with a new dialog. Earlier, this dialog was available only for UWP apps (aka Store apps). Also, there is a new Print Queue dialog introduced in this version. However,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Windows 11&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Windows 11","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/windows-11\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"get back legacy print dialog in windows 11 22h2","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/legacy-print-dialog.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":23700,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/restore-missing-print-management-console-windows-10\/","url_meta":{"origin":5884,"position":5},"title":"How to Restore Missing &#8220;Print Management&#8221; Console","author":"Ramesh","date":"April 19, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"After installing a Windows 10 Feature update (v2004 or higher) or Windows 11, you may observe that the Print Management MMC console is missing from the system. Print Management is a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in that lets you install, view, and manage all printers on your local computer or\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Windows 10&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Windows 10","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/windows-10\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"print management console missing","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/printmgmt-console-3.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/printmgmt-console-3.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/printmgmt-console-3.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5884","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5884"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5884\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5884"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5884"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5884"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}