How to Fix ‘Print Job Stuck in Queue’ Error in Windows

Getting a printout from your PC is the easiest job. However, it can become tedious if you encounter the “Print job is stuck in a queue” error. When you give the print command, the task is scheduled in a series, forming a queue. When it gets stuck, or the printing is unsuccessful, the upcoming prints are put on hold as there is a Print Job Stuck in the Queue. 

You cannot print anything from your PC unless the queue is cleared. So, if you are giving the print command but it is not responding or not working, chances are that there are pending print jobs that must be cleared first. Otherwise, you cannot use the printer at any cost. 

However, the issue does not end there. Several users shared that they tried clearing the print job queue manually, but even that did not work either, and the error prompt just won’t go away. 

The users shared the error on various community forums. Some of them are mentioned below-
Canon Community
Microsoft Support
HP Support Community
Super User
Ask Leo!
Spiceworks Community
Reddit

So, how can you get rid of the error and Print Anything? Well, that is what we are going to discuss in this post. Keep reading if you have faced this error and want to eliminate it. 

Ways to Fix the Print Job Stuck in Queue For Once & For All

The ideal way to tackle this is by ensuring that – 

1. The printer is working properly, and there are no connectivity or device issues.
2. The print queue is cleared timely, and no pending prints are queued.
3. The printer drivers are up to date.

After successfully maintaining the above three things for your printer, the issue can be easily eradicated, and there are possibly no reasons why it will persist. Check out the following methods that will help you resolve the issue instantly. 

Fix 1 – Check for Printer-PC Connectivity Errors

First, you must clear any issues that may be bothering the PC’s connection with the printer. Check for connection errors. If it is a cable connection issue, try changing the port for the connection. If it is a wireless connection, try disconnecting the printer completely and then reconnecting it again to check if the Print Job Stuck in a Queue prompt appears again. 

You can also – 

• Check for issues in the ports you use to connect the printer.
• Always use the original cables for connection
• Ensure the printer’s power source is appropriate to support its consumption and requirements.
• Look for a support application available for your printer to interact with it better.

Other than these, you can also pay attention to keeping the stack of sheets completely leveled with the capacity of the tray to ensure no print is pending due to lack of paper. 

Fix 2 – Get Rid of Pending Prints from the Queue

If you find that your PC cannot clear the print queue automatically as it should, you should take the charge and try doing it manually. Sometimes, the prompt can also be true, so you need to check and clear the print queue to move forward. Usually, there is a service called print spooler that is responsible for finishing the print jobs that are in a queue. Restarting the same can help you eliminate the issues you may be facing. 

The best part is that there are multiple ways you can get this done – 

#1. Use CMD to Clear the Print Queue

Step 1 – Go to the Start Menu and search for Command Prompt.

Step 2 – Use the Run as Administrator option to launch the same.

Step 3 – After launching, use the following commands one after the other (press enter after each line)

net stop spooler

del %systemroot%\System32\spool\printers\* /Q /F /S

net start spooler

After running the commands, we recommend you restart your computer to finish the process. 

#2. Create a Permanent BAT File

In case you feel using the command prompt, again and again is a hassle, you can create a BAT file that you can simply run whenever you want and get rid of the print queue errors. Here’s how you create the file – 

Step 1 – Go to the Start Menu and open Notepad.

Step 2 – Enter the following lines in the file – 

net stop spooler

del %systemroot%\System32\spool\printers* /Q /F /S

net start spooler

Step 3 – Press Ctrl+S to save the file, and while saving it, choose the following – 

Select All files as File Type

Add a .bat suffix to the file name.

Choose ANSI as Encoding type

Save.

Step 4 – Remember where you have saved the file. Whenever you face the Print Job Stuck in Queue error, simply navigate to the file and run this file instantly. 

#3 – Manually Restart the Print Spooler Service Via Services

Step 1 – Press win+r to open the run search.
Step 2 – Use the command services.msc to open all the services.

Step 3 – Scroll down and spot the print spooler service.
Step 4 – Select and right-click on it to find the Stop option.

Step 5 – Navigate to the following address in the Explorer to find the files in the queue – 

C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS

Step 6 – After spotting the files, select them all and delete them. Make sure you do not delete the folder itself.
Step 7 – Return to your Services Window and right-click on the service to Start it again.  

Using these 3 methods, you can get rid of pending print jobs easily via the print spooler service. If they do not get the job done, do not worry; we have one more trick up our sleeves!

Fix 3 – Update the Drivers

If you are still facing the Print job stuck in queue error on your PC, chances are that the drivers that interact with your PC have a glitch. Updating these drivers may get the job done for you. When it comes to device-specific driver updates, it can take a lot of work to find manually. Windows driver update utility is also not as effective as it is with original Windows drivers. 

Hence, we recommend using the Advanced Driver Updater to complete the job. With the help of the same, you can get rid of the issue and update other outdated drivers instantly in just a few clicks. Here’s how you do it – 

Step 1 – Download, install, and run the application on your PC.

Step 2 – Use the Start Scan Now button to initialize the process.

Step 3 – After scanning, use the Update All button to begin the update process.

You get to resolve the print job stuck in queue error and fix issues related to other outdated drivers on your PC. Needless to say, the overall method is helpful and gets the job done smoothly. 

Besides these 3 fixes, you should also try to connect the printer to another device to check if the print queue issue is related to the PC you are using or if the printer is causing the issue. If the printer is found to be the culprit, you might need to reset it or send it to the service center.

Try these methods, and the print job stuck in queue error will be a thing of history for you. That will be all for this post. Thanks for reading. Good luck!

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