A stuck print queue usually means Windows has a failed job waiting for the Print Spooler service, but the same symptoms can also come from a disconnected printer or incompatible driver. Start with the least disruptive fix: cancel the queued jobs. If that fails, restart the spooler, clear its files, and then check the printer connection and driver.
The steps below apply to both Windows 11 and Windows 10. Microsoft’s current instructions use the Get Help app for automated printer troubleshooting rather than the older Control Panel troubleshooter.
1. Cancel the jobs in the printer queue
First, try removing the jobs normally. The menu wording differs slightly between Windows versions, and Microsoft uses both Open queue and Open print queue in different support pages.
Windows 11
- Open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
- Select the affected printer.
- Select Open print queue. If your version shows Open queue, select that instead.
- Right-click each job and select Cancel.
Windows 10
- Open Start > Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
- Select the affected printer.
- Select Open queue. Some Windows 10 screens may instead show Open print queue.
- Right-click each job and select Cancel.
Give the queue a few seconds after cancelling. If a job remains, the spooler may be holding the print data open. Continue to the next step rather than repeatedly clicking Cancel.
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2. Restart the Print Spooler service
The Print Spooler manages print jobs and communicates with the printer. Restarting it often releases a job that is stuck at “Deleting,” “Printing,” or “Error.”
- Press Windows key + R.
- Enter services.msc and press Enter.
- In the Services window, find Print Spooler.
- Right-click Print Spooler and select Restart.
Return to the printer’s queue and try cancelling the job again. Microsoft’s current procedure does not require Command Prompt commands such as net stop spooler or del /Q; the documented method uses services.msc and File Explorer.
3. Clear the spool files manually
Use this reset when jobs remain in the queue after restarting the service. Do not delete files from the spool folder while Print Spooler is running.
- Press Windows key + R, enter services.msc, and press Enter.
- Right-click Print Spooler and select Stop.
- Open File Explorer and go to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS.
- Delete all files inside the PRINTERS folder. Do not delete the folder itself.
- Return to the Services window, right-click Print Spooler, and select Start.
You can also reach the same folder by entering %WINDIR%\system32\spool\printers in the taskbar search box and opening the matching PRINTERS folder. If Windows asks for administrator permission, approve it.
If the service does not start, open its properties in Services and check that Startup type is set to Automatic, then select Start.
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4. Power-cycle the printer and restart Windows
For a complete reset, use Microsoft’s dedicated stuck-queue sequence:
- Turn off the printer.
- Wait at least 60 seconds.
- Turn the printer back on.
- Restart the PC using Start > Power > Restart.
After Windows starts, check the queue before sending another document. Microsoft’s broader printer troubleshooting page gives a different power-cycle sequence—unplugging the printer, waiting 30 seconds, reconnecting it, and turning it on. The 60-second sequence above is the one specified for a stuck queue.
5. Run the current Windows printer troubleshooter
Windows 10 and Windows 11 both use the automated Printer troubleshooter in the Get Help app. It checks common configuration and connection problems and attempts fixes automatically.
- Open the Get Help app from Start.
- Search for Printer troubleshooter.
- Start the printer diagnostic and follow its prompts.
The old Control Panel printer troubleshooter is not Microsoft’s current primary recommendation for either Windows 10 or Windows 11.
6. Check whether the problem is really the queue
A printer showing as offline or not found is not necessarily suffering from a stuck queue. Check these causes before repeatedly resetting the spooler:
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| Symptom | What to check |
|---|---|
| USB printer is offline | Reconnect the USB cable firmly and try a different USB port if available. |
| Wi-Fi printer is not found | Confirm the PC and printer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Check that the printer’s wireless connection is active. |
| Bluetooth printer is missing | Make sure Bluetooth is enabled and the printer is within range. |
| The printer appears, but jobs fail after a Windows update | Check the printer driver for compatibility, then update, reinstall, or roll it back. |
7. Update, reinstall, or roll back the printer driver
An outdated or incompatible driver can cause spooler failures and printer-recognition problems, particularly after a Windows upgrade or update.
Update the driver through Settings
On Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer, choose Manage, and select Update driver.
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Use Device Manager
- Open Start, search for Device Manager, and open it.
- Expand Printers.
- Right-click the printer and select Update driver.
- If updating is not available or does not help, select Uninstall device.
- Restart the computer. Windows will attempt to reinstall the driver.
Roll back a recently changed driver
If the queue began failing immediately after a driver update, open Start > Device Manager, expand Printers or Print queues, right-click the printer, and select Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver. The option is available only when Windows has a previous driver to restore. Restart the PC afterward.
8. Remove and add the printer again
Reinstalling the printer can repair a damaged device entry or incorrect driver association. Make sure the printer is powered on and connected before adding it again.
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Windows 11
- Open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
- Select the printer and choose Remove.
- Return to Printers & scanners.
- Select Add device next to Add a printer or scanner.
- Follow the prompts to add the printer.
Windows 10
- Open Start > Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
- Select the printer and choose Remove device.
- Select Add a printer or scanner, then choose Add device.
- Follow the prompts.
On an ARM-based PC, including some Copilot+ PCs, a printer manufacturer’s installer may fail to add the printer. In that situation, use Windows’ built-in Add a printer or scanner procedure instead of the manufacturer’s installer.
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9. Set the correct default printer
If printing works but documents are going to the wrong device, set the intended printer as the default.
- Windows 11: Open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer, and choose Set as default.
- Windows 10: Open Start > Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer, choose Manage, and select Set as default.
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Microsoft support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025. Microsoft no longer provides free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10 after that date. Printer manufacturers may also stop releasing drivers for older Windows versions.
Windows 10 S has an additional limitation: some printers may not work, or may offer only limited functionality, on that edition.
FAQ
Why will a print job not cancel in Windows?
The Print Spooler may still have the job open. Restart Print Spooler through services.msc. If the job remains, stop the service, delete all files inside C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS, and start the service again.
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What is the difference between Open queue and Open print queue?
They open the same printer-queue area. Microsoft’s dedicated instructions currently use Open print queue on Windows 11 and Open queue on Windows 10, while another Microsoft troubleshooting page uses Open print queue for both versions. Use whichever label appears on your PC.
Do I need Command Prompt to clear the Windows print queue?
No. Microsoft’s current documented procedure uses services.msc to stop and start Print Spooler and File Explorer to delete the spool files. Command Prompt commands are not required.
Why does my printer say offline after I clear the queue?
The cause may be outside the queue: a loose USB cable, different Wi-Fi networks, unavailable printer wireless connectivity, disabled or out-of-range Bluetooth, or an incompatible driver. Check the connection and driver before repeating the queue reset.
Will removing and adding the printer delete the documents I want to print?
It removes the Windows printer entry and its configuration, not the original documents. However, any jobs still held in the Windows queue should be cancelled or cleared first.
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For most stuck jobs, cancel the queue first, restart Print Spooler with services.msc, and clear C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS only if necessary. If the queue returns after the reset, investigate the printer connection and driver rather than repeatedly deleting spool files. Updating or rolling back the driver, or removing and adding the printer again, usually addresses the underlying cause.
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