How to Fix Print Job Stuck in Queue?

Nothing is more frustrating than sending a document to print only to find it stuck in the print queue. In this blog, we will explore how to fix print job stuck in queue and provide various solutions to fix print jobs stuck in queue.

What is a Print Queue?

It’s helpful to understand how the print queue works and why jobs sometimes get stuck.

A print queue is essentially an area where print jobs sit waiting to be processed by the printer. Every print command sent from your computer goes into this queue and is put in order.

It can help you manage multiple print jobs or prioritize specific documents.

Why Do Print Jobs Get Stuck?

Print jobs can get stuck for a variety of reasons, such as a temporary printer jam, a connection failure, and more:

• Outdated or Corrupted Drivers: The driver acts as a translator between the computer and the printer. If the driver is outdated or corrupted, it can cause jobs to get stuck.
• Connection Issues: Sometimes, the connection between the computer and the printer can get lost, especially with wireless connections.
• Software Glitches: Software bugs, operating system errors, and even malware can sometimes interfere with the print queue and disrupt normal printing.

Quick Fix First

When dealing with a print jam, it’s best to start with the simple solutions first. Now, let’s look at quick fixes that may help resolve the issue.

Cancel the Print Job

The easiest way to clear a stuck print job is to cancel it directly from the print queue.

On Windows: Go to “Control Panel,” then choose “Devices and Printers,” right-click your printer, and select “See what’s printing.” Right-click the stuck job and click “Cancel.”

On macOS: Open “System Preferences,”  then “Printers & Scanners,” select your printer. Click “Open Print Queue,” select the job and click the “X” button to cancel it.

This quick fix works if the job is only slightly delayed or the print queue is unresponsive due to a minor glitch. If canceling doesn’t work, try restarting the printer.

Restart Your Printer

Sometimes simply restarting the printer can fix any minor hardware issues that may be affecting the queue.

Turn off your printer, unplug it, wait about 30 seconds, then plug it back in to turn it on.

Once back online, check to see if the print job is still stuck. If the problem persists, continue with the solution below.

Check Your Printer and Computer Connection

If the problem persists after the restart, the problem may be with the connection between your computer and the printer. Let’s check if there are some basic connection issues.

Ensure Proper Cable Connections

For a printer connected by a USB cable, check that the cable is securely plugged into the printer and the computer.

If you’re using a wireless printer, check that it’s connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer.

Reconnect to Network (for Wireless Printers)

If your printer is connected to a network, you might need to reestablish your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection. Check your printer’s network settings to make sure it’s connected to the correct network. Sometimes simply disconnecting and reconnecting can resolve any network issues that may be preventing your print job.

Clear Print Queue Manually

1. For Windows

For Windows users, manually clearing the print queue can often resolve persistent issues. You will need to stop and restart the Print Spooler service.

Stop and Delete Print Spooler Service

The Print Spooler is a system service responsible for managing all print jobs. To clear the queue, you’ll first need to stop this service.

• Open “Run” by pressing “Win + R” and type “services.msc,” then press “Enter.”
• Scroll down to find “Print Spooler,” right-click it, and select “Stop.”
• After stopping the Print Spooler, navigate to the folder where the print queue files are stored: C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS.
• Delete all files within the folder. These files represent the stuck print jobs.

Restart the Print Spooler

After clearing the file, return to the “Services” window, right-click “Print Spooler” again, and select “Start.”

This will reset the print queue. Check your printer to see if the job has cleared and if you are able to print again.

By the way, our blog How to Cancel a Print Job on a HP Printer provides more methods for canceling a print job.

2. For macOS

Mac users can also clear the print queue manually using a similar process.

Open System Preferences

Open “System Preferences,” go to “Printers & Scanners,” then select your printer and click “Open Print Queue.”

Here you will see all active print jobs. Click the “X” button next to them to cancel any jobs that may be stuck.

Reset Printing System (If Necessary)

If jobs continue to get stuck or the queue won’t clear, you may need to reset the print system:

In “Printers & Scanners,” right-click (or Control-click) the printer listing.

Then select “Reset printing System” and confirm the action.

Note: This will delete all printers and settings, so only use if necessary.

Re-add Your Printer

After resetting, click the + button, select your printer, and follow the prompts to re-add the printer. This will usually clear any persistent errors and restore functionality to the print queue.

Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers

Drivers facilitate communication between the computer and the printer. If the driver is outdated or incompatible with the operating system, it may cause print jobs to get stuck. Updating the driver can effectively resolve print job stuck issues.

Update Your Printer Driver

Windows: Go to “Device Manager,” find “Printers,” right-click your printer, and select “Update driver.” Then, chosoe “Search automatically for drivers” to find and install updates.

macOS: Open “System Preferences” and choose “Software Update.” If an update is available, install it because macOS includes printer driver updates in system updates.

Reinstall the Printer Driver

If the update does not work, reinstalling the driver may solve the problem.

First, uninstall your printer from “Devices and Printers” (Windows) or “Printers & Scanners” (macOS).

Then, reinstall it using the original installation disc or download the driver from the manufacturer’s website such as HP Support, Canon Support.

Other Troubleshooting

If your print job is still stuck after following all the above steps, you may want to try some other troubleshooting options.

Use Windows Printer Troubleshooter

Windows has a built-in troubleshooter designed to detect and fix common printing problems. We can use it to help us see the cause of the print queue stuck problem.

First, go to “Settings,” select “Update & Security,” click “Troubleshoot,” and then “Additional troubleshooters.”

Then, select “Printers” and click “Run the troubleshooter.”

The software will start running the test, and when it stops, you can follow the on-screen instructions to fix it.

Check for System Updates

Keeping your operating system up to date can prevent compatibility issues.

On Windows, go to “Settings,” click “Update & Security,” then “Windows Update,” then “Check for Updates.”

On macOS, select “System Preferences,” and click “Software Update.”

Try Printing from Another Device

If the problem persists, it may be related to your computer. Try printing from another device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or another computer.

If successful, the problem may be with your original device, and you may need to further troubleshoot the software or consult a technical expert.

Conclusion

When a print job gets stuck in the queue, it can be a frustrating experience. This blog provides a variety of ways to get your printer back up and running. But for persistent stuck issues, it may be necessary to consult a technical expert as this may indicate a hardware failure.