Before you start
- Administrator access (for the spooler fix)
Method 1 Cancel jobs in the print queue
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Step 1: Open the queue
Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select your printer and click Open print queue. Or double-click the printer icon in the system tray.
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Step 2: Cancel all
Click ⋯ (or Printer menu) and choose Cancel all. Confirm with Yes.
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Step 3: Wait a moment
Jobs should disappear within a few seconds.
Method 2 Restart the Print Spooler and clear stuck files
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Step 1: Open Terminal as administrator
Right-click Start > Terminal (Admin).
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Step 2: Stop the spooler
Run net stop spooler.
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Step 3: Delete the spool files
Run the delete command below (or open C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS in File Explorer and delete everything inside, but not the folder).
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Step 4: Start the spooler
Run net start spooler.
net stop spooler
del /Q /F %systemroot%\System32\spool\PRINTERS\*
net start spoolerTroubleshooting
The del command says “access denied”
Make sure the spooler is stopped and you’re in an administrator Terminal. If you’re in PowerShell, run cmd first, then the commands.
Jobs get stuck every time
Update or reinstall the printer driver from the manufacturer, and remove duplicate copies of the printer in Settings.
Frequently asked questions
Will clearing the queue affect other printers?
Clearing the spool folder removes pending jobs for all printers on the PC. Reprint anything you still need.
What is the Print Spooler?
A Windows service that holds print jobs and sends them to the printer one by one.
Summary
Use Open print queue > Cancel all first. If a job won’t budge, run net stop spooler, delete the files in the spool\PRINTERS folder, run net start spooler, and power-cycle the printer.
