How to clear a stuck print queue on Windows and Mac
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Overview
A "stuck" queue is a document that will not print and will not cancel, often blocking everything queued behind it. In most cases you can clear it with the built-in cancel option in seconds. If a job refuses to disappear, the next reliable step is to restart the service that manages printing (the Print Spooler on Windows) or, on Mac, reset the printing system.
Everything here uses tools built into Windows and macOS. Nothing on this page requires firmware changes, chip resets, or third-party utilities. Try the simplest step first and only escalate if the job is still stuck.
Before you begin
A little patience prevents most of the "it is still there" frustration.
Cancel jobs on Windows
Start with the built-in queue window. This is the safe, first-line fix.
Restart the Windows Print Spooler
If a job will not cancel, restart the Print Spooler, the Windows service that manages the queue. This is the documented fix for jobs that are truly stuck.
How do I clear the print queue from Command Prompt?
Open Command Prompt as administrator and run three commands: stop the Print Spooler, delete the files in the spool folder and start the spooler again. It is the same fix as the Services steps above, typed as commands.
Cancel jobs on Mac
macOS lets you clear jobs directly from the print queue window (Print Center).
Reset the Mac printing system
This is Apple’s last-resort fix when no other step works. It clears every stuck job, but it also removes all your printers and scanners, so you will need to add them again afterward.
When to get help
If jobs keep getting stuck even after a spooler restart or a printing-system reset, the cause is usually outside the queue: a paused/offline printer, an outdated or corrupt driver, or a failing network connection. Update the driver from the maker’s app, confirm the printer is online, and run a guided diagnosis for a next step tailored to your model.
Frequently asked questions
How do I clear the print queue with CMD in Windows 11?
Open Command Prompt as administrator (type cmd in the search bar, right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator). Run net stop spooler, then del C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS\*.* /Q to delete the files in the spool folder, and finally net start spooler. Microsoft gives the same order (stop, delete, start) for Windows 11 and Windows 10 using the Services window.
How do I force delete a print queue that won’t clear?
Stop the Print Spooler, delete every file in C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and start the service again. Microsoft points to this method when canceling jobs does not clear the queue. If Windows says you do not have access to the folder, click Continue. If the job is still there, Microsoft’s next step is to turn off the printer, wait at least 60 seconds, turn it back on and restart the PC.
Print job stuck on "Deleting": how do I remove it?
If canceling leaves a job on "Deleting", clear the queue at the service level: stop the Print Spooler, delete the files in C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and start it again. On a shared printer, a job stuck on "Deleting" also blocks everyone else’s prints, as a Microsoft Q&A thread describes. If it is still there, restart the PC and the printer, leaving the printer off for at least 60 seconds.
Can I make a batch file to clear the print queue?
Yes. An answer on Microsoft Q&A suggests saving these three lines in a text file renamed ResetSpooler.bat: net stop Spooler, del C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS\*.* /Q and net start Spooler. Run it as administrator, since Microsoft runs these commands from an administrator Command Prompt. The same answer notes that it sometimes has to run two or three times to delete every stuck job.
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Sources & methodology
- Microsoft: Fix print job stuck in queue errors in Windows OS vendor (Windows 11/10): cancel jobs, restart the Print Spooler, manually clear the spool folder, restart PC and printer (printer off at least 60 seconds)
- Microsoft: Fix print spooler service not running errors in Windows OS vendor: restarting the Print Spooler service
- Microsoft Learn: Troubleshoot printing issues caused by Print Spooler service not running OS vendor: net stop spooler and net start spooler from Command Prompt run as administrator
- Microsoft Q&A (community): Print Queue won't clear Windows 10 User reports and answers: job stuck on Deleting on a shared printer, click Continue on the folder access prompt, ResetSpooler.bat with del of the spool folder, sometimes needs two or three runs
- Apple: Manage printers and print jobs with Print Center on Mac OS vendor: cancel jobs from the print queue
- Apple: Reset the printing system on your Mac to solve a problem OS vendor: resetting clears the queue and removes printers
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