How to Clear a Stuck Printer Queue: A Step-by-Step Guide

A print queue manages all your current and pending print jobs, allowing you to control each one from your computer. Suppose you’re printing an important document and suddenly, the printing process stops due to power outages. Or maybe you find “Error Printing in Queue.” Does that Sound familiar?

A stuck printer queue can be a frustrating situation for anyone who relies on a printer for work, school, or personal tasks. If you are using a Windows PC, a Mac, or even trying to manage the print queue through your mobile device, this printer queue issue can strike at any time. But don’t worry, there are few fixable steps to resolve your printer queue error in a  few steps.

What is a Printer Queue and Why Does it Get Stuck?

If you are looking for solutions to printer queue error then first you must understand what a printer queue actually is. Suppose when given a command to print a file, it doesn’t go directly to the printer right away. First computer or any electronic device sends the document in a queue, it’s a kind of waiting list where it’s held until the printer is ready. This system helps manage multiple print jobs in the right order.

But sometimes your printer queue get jammed and there is a reasons are following below:

• A communication error between the printer and the computer
• A corrupted print job file
• A paused printer or offline status
• Printer drivers not functioning correctly
• An outdated operating system or incompatible software

Whenever you face these kinds of issues you will see messages on screen like Error Printing in Queue  then none of your documents will print, even if they are in a queue. 

How to Clear Printer Queues on Windows?

If you are not able to clear a printer queue in a windows electronic device (system and mobile phone), you can cancel individual print jobs or you can restart the Print Spooler service, which effectively clears the queue. Go through with this few step-by-step process are following below:

Use the Printer Settings

• Open the Control Panel
• Go to Start > Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
• Locate Your Printer
• Right-click on your active printer and select “See what’s printing.”
• Cancel Print Jobs
• You’ll see a list of all pending documents. Right-click on each one and click the cancel option.

Manually Stop and Restart the Print Spooler Service

If the first method doesn’t work and you are still facing an error in a  printing queue, then go with the next method. 

• Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
• Scroll down and find Print Spooler.
• Right-click on it and select Stop.
• Go to the folder:
• C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
• Delete all files inside the folder.
• Go back to Services, right-click Print Spooler, and click Start.

This process clears out all stuck print jobs and resets the system. You should now be able to print without issues.

How to Clear Printer Queue on Mac

If you are using a Mac operating system and encounter the print queue on iPhone or MacBook, then follow these steps to fix it.

• Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners
• Click on your active printer, then click Open Print Queue.
• Right-click or click the X next to any stuck jobs and choose Cancel.
• If that doesn’t work, restart your Mac and try again.

How to Clear Print Queue on iPhone

Yes, you read it right. Even users can face print queue problems with iPhone devices. These days, users use the AirPrint method with wireless printers; it’s obvious you can face the error of the print queue on iPhone. If you’ve ever wondered why your iPhone won’t stop showing a pending print job, here’s how to clear it.

• Open the App Switcher
• Swipe up from the bottom (or double-click Home) and find the Print Center.
• Cancel the Job
• Tap on the print job and then tap Cancel Printing.
• Restart Your iPhone
• Sometimes, the job will reappear. Restarting your phone clears the temporary cache and helps refresh the connection.
• Check Printer Wi-Fi Connection
• Ensure the printer is on the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone. If not, reconnect and try again.

Follow these steps if you don’t know how to clear the print queue on an iPhone, just like you would on a computer.

What are Tips to Prevent Printer Queue Issues? 

After reading the methods about clearing printer queue, the Tech Dogs team assures you that you won’t face these problems again. If you want to avoid this in the future, here our printer experts recommend a few things you can do to keep your printer queue healthy:

Keep Printer Drivers Updated: If your drivers are not incompatible with your printer or it’s outdated can cause printer queue issues. Contact your printer manufacturer’s website and download the latest drivers.

Avoid Cancelling Print Jobs Midway: Unless it’s absolutely necessary, don’t cancel print jobs while they’re processing. Cancelling the queues multiple times can cause print queue errors. 

Use Official Apps: If you’re printing from your phone or tablet, use the official app from your printer brand.

Restart Devices Weekly: Just like your phone and PC, printers benefit from the occasional reboot. It refreshes the connection and clears hidden bugs.

Use a Wired Connection When Possible: Wi-Fi is convenient, but sometimes less reliable than USB. If you print frequently, consider a direct cable connection for stability.

Final Thoughts

A stuck printer queue can disturb your entire workflow, but with the right steps, you can ask printer experts like Tech Dogs wizard team to fix it quickly. If you see the “Error Printing in Queue” message on your screen or are trying to clear a printer queue on your iPhone, Mac, or Windows computer, follow the steps mentioned above, which are easy to use. If you are still unable to fix it by yourself, make a free consultation meeting with Tech Dogs and experience free onsite printer maintenance. So the next time your document seems frozen in the queue, don’t panic, follow these steps and enjoy flawless printing without any disruption.