Here is a step by step guide showing how to manually clear print jobs that sometimes get stuck in the print queue or spooler.
The screenshots were taken in Windows 7 but this guide may also be applied to other Windows versions.
Open Control Panel (All Items View)
Run services.msc in one of two ways:
- Click on Administrative tools and then double-click Services
- Open Start Menu. Type services.msc and press Enter
The Windows Services console will open. Scroll down at locate Print Spooler.
Right-click on Print Spooler. Press stop.
Using Windows explorer delete all files currently in the printer queue. You will find the files in C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS. Where C is the drive letter of your operating system.
The last step is to go back and start the Print Spooler service.
Done. You have now cleared all stubborn print jobs from the queue!
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Poks says
January 9, 2014 at 9:07 pmTried this tip and it worked for me. Thanks for this lovely computer tips.
Alan Bombria says
July 8, 2014 at 10:53 amMy batch file:
net stop spooler
del /F /Q %systemroot%System32spoolPRINTERS*
net start spooler
Ehi Kioya says
July 8, 2014 at 10:59 amThanks for the batch file. I’ll try that sometime.
Cynthia says
September 17, 2016 at 3:04 pmEXCELLENT explanation and clear steps! THANK YOU!!!
Ehi Kioya says
September 19, 2016 at 9:26 amThank you, Cynthia.