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Windows 11 shows pending documents in a separate Print queue window for each printer. From there, you can cancel one job or clear the queue one item at a time. The current Windows 11 path is Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners—not the older Windows 10 Settings > Devices path.
How to view the print queue in Windows 11
- Open Start and select Settings. You can also press Windows key + I.
- Select Bluetooth & devices in the left pane.
- Select Printers & scanners.
- Select the printer whose jobs you want to check.
- Select Open print queue.
The Print queue window lists documents that Windows is still processing or waiting to send to that printer. If the window is empty, Windows has no pending jobs for that printer.
Make sure you select the correct printer if several are installed. Each printer has its own queue, so a document waiting for one printer will not appear in another printer’s queue.
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How to delete or cancel a print job
Windows 11 calls the action Cancel, not Delete. There is no current Settings button called Delete all for queued print jobs.
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- Open the printer’s queue using Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
- Select the printer, then select Open print queue.
- Right-click the document you want to remove.
- Select Cancel.
- Repeat these steps for every document you want to remove.
After the last job disappears, the queue is empty. A job may already have been sent to the printer by the time you cancel it. If the printer has started producing the pages, Windows may be too late to stop that physical printout; use the printer’s own cancel or stop control if it has one.
What to do when Cancel does nothing
If a job remains in the queue after you select Cancel, the Windows Print Spooler may be stalled or have crashed. The spooler manages Windows print jobs, so restarting it often clears a temporary queue-processing problem.
Restart Print Spooler from Services
- Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
- Enter
services.mscand press Enter. - Find Print Spooler in the list.
- Right-click Print Spooler and select Restart.
- Return to the printer’s Open print queue window and check whether the job has disappeared.
Restarting the service can also resolve cases where new documents do not proceed or the printer appears unresponsive. If the queue still will not clear, use the manual reset below.
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How to force-clear a stuck print queue
Use this method only when canceling the jobs and restarting the spooler have not cleared the queue. It removes all files currently stored in Windows’ print spool folder, so every pending job—not just one selected document—will be cleared.
- Open the Run dialog with Windows key + R, enter
services.msc, and press Enter. - Right-click Print Spooler and select Stop.
- Open File Explorer and go to:
C:WindowsSystem32spoolPRINTERS - Delete all files inside the PRINTERS folder. Do not delete the PRINTERS folder itself.
- Return to Services, right-click Print Spooler, and select Start.
- Open the printer queue again and submit a small test document if necessary.
You can open the same folder by entering this path in the taskbar search box:
%WINDIR%system32spoolprintersStop Print Spooler before deleting anything. Removing spool files while the service is running can leave files locked or allow the stuck job to be recreated.
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Set the spooler to start automatically
If the service does not restart normally, open Services and double-click Print Spooler. Select Stop, then OK. Clear the files in C:WindowsSystem32spoolPRINTERS, reopen the Print Spooler properties, select Start, set Startup type to Automatic, and select OK.
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An empty queue means Windows has no pending documents for that printer. It does not prove that the printer connection, hardware, or driver is working. Check these separate causes:
| Symptom | What to check |
|---|---|
| Printer shows Offline | Check its power, connection, and network status. A wireless printer and the Windows 11 PC should be on the same network. |
| Printer shows an error | Check for paper or ink problems, an open cover, a paper jam, or an error displayed on the printer. |
| Printer is not listed | Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select Add a printer or scanner, and wait for Windows to find it. For a USB printer, connect the cable and turn the printer on. |
| Spooler keeps crashing | Open Device Manager, expand Print queues or Printers, and remove unnecessary or duplicate printer drivers. |
On an ARM-based Windows 11 PC, a printer manufacturer’s installer may fail to add the printer. Use Windows’ Add or install a printer process instead of the manufacturer’s installer.
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Windows 11 print-queue paths and labels
| Task | Current Windows 11 option |
|---|---|
| Open printer settings | Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners |
| View pending jobs | Select the printer, then Open print queue |
| Remove a queued job | Right-click the job and select Cancel |
| Restart printing services | Run services.msc, then restart Print Spooler |
| Force-clear all spool files | Stop Print Spooler, clear C:WindowsSystem32spoolPRINTERS, then start the service |
The older path Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners belongs to Windows 10. Likewise, older instructions may say Open queue; the current Windows 11 label is Open print queue.
Related Microsoft guidance
- View a printer’s print queue in Windows
- Fix print job stuck in queue errors in Windows
- Fix Print Spooler service not running errors
FAQ
Where is the print queue in Windows 11?
Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer, and select Open print queue.
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How do I delete a print job in Windows 11?
Open the printer’s queue, right-click the job, and select Cancel. Repeat for each job you want to remove. Windows 11 does not use a current Settings command labeled Delete for queued jobs.
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Why will a print job not cancel?
The Print Spooler may be stalled. Run services.msc, restart Print Spooler, and try again. If the job remains, stop the service, delete the files inside C:WindowsSystem32spoolPRINTERS, and start the service again.
Can I clear every print job at once?
Yes. Stop Print Spooler in Services, delete all files inside C:WindowsSystem32spoolPRINTERS, and start Print Spooler again. Do not delete the folder itself.
Why is the queue empty when my printer still does not work?
The issue may be unrelated to queued jobs. Check whether the printer is offline, out of paper or ink, jammed, open, disconnected, or showing another hardware error. Driver and network problems can also prevent printing with an empty queue.
The Bottom Line
To view pending documents, use Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer, and choose Open print queue. Cancel jobs by right-clicking them and selecting Cancel. If they remain stuck, restart Print Spooler; as a last resort, stop the service, clear the files inside C:WindowsSystem32spoolPRINTERS, and start it again.
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