Quick answer
When the print queue gets stuck, it is usually enough to open the job list, cancel all documents, and restart the Print Spooler service (Windows) or delete stuck jobs in the print queue (macOS). If that does not help, delete the temporary spooler files and restart the printer.
How to recognize the problem
- Documents sit in the print queue and do not print
- The printer shows an error or "Stuck" status
- New jobs are added but not processed
- Printing is delayed or the same document repeats
- The print queue shows "Paused" or "Offline"
Most common causes
Stuck document
One document in the queue remained in a processing state and is blocking all other jobs.
Spooler problem
The Print Spooler service (Windows) or the cupsd process (macOS) has stopped working or is stuck.
Corrupted temporary file
A faulty file in the spooler folder prevents new jobs from being processed.
Wrong printer status
The printer is marked as "Paused" or "Offline", so jobs wait in the queue.
Not enough disk space
If there is not enough space on the system disk, the spooler cannot write temporary files.
Step-by-step fix
- 1
Open the print queue
On Windows 11, go to
Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer, and clickOpen print queue. On Windows 10, go toSettings > Devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer, clickManage, thenOpen print queue. On macOS, openSystem Settings > Printers & Scanners, select the printer, and clickPrint Queue. - 2
Cancel all jobs
In the print queue window, click
Printer > Cancel All Documents(Windows) or select the jobs and click the delete button (X) (macOS). If the jobs do not clear, proceed to the next step. - 3
Restart the Print Spooler service (Windows)
Press
Win + R, typeservices.msc, and find thePrint Spoolerservice. Right-click it and selectRestart. If the service is not running, selectStart. On macOS, you can restart the computer or typesudo launchctl kickstart -k system/org.cups.cupsdin Terminal (requires an administrator password). - 4
Delete temporary spooler files (Windows)
This will lose all jobs in the queue. Open
C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERSand delete all files in the folder, but not the folder itself. If you cannot delete them, first stop thePrint Spoolerservice viaservices.msc(administrator privileges required), delete the files, then start it again. On macOS, the spooler folder is/var/spool/cups, but deleting files there requires administrator privileges and is not recommended without guidance. - 5
Check the printer status
In
Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners(Windows 11) orSystem Settings > Printers & Scanners(macOS), make sure the printer is not paused and is marked as "Ready" or "Online". If needed, clickResume. - 6
Resume printing
Open the document you wanted to print and send it to the printer again. If it still does not print, try another document or another application to rule out a problem with the specific file.
- 7
Restart the printer and computer
Turn off the printer, wait 30 seconds, then turn it on. Then restart the computer. This often resolves temporary communication problems between the computer and the printer.
If nothing helps
If the print queue still gets stuck, check that there is enough free space on the system disk (at least a few hundred MB). Then remove the printer from the system and add it again: on Windows 11, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer, and click Remove, then Add device. On macOS, in Printers & Scanners, click - to remove the printer, then + to add it again. If the printer is a network printer, check that it is available on the network (ping or print a test page from the device itself). For business printers, contact IT support because firmware or driver updates may be needed.
How to prevent it
- Regularly update the printer driver
- Avoid printing large files all at once
- Check that the printer is connected and turned on before printing
- Keep enough free space on the system disk
When to call a professional
If the problem repeats even after re-adding the printer, or if it is an office network printer, it is better to call IT support. They can check network settings, firmware, and system logs.
IT infrastructure maintenance · Servers, networks, backup, security and helpdeskFAQ
Why does the print queue get stuck?
The most common causes are a stuck document, a problem with the Print Spooler service, a corrupted temporary file, or the wrong printer status (paused/offline). Sometimes the cause is also insufficient disk space.
Can I delete all jobs in the print queue?
Yes, it is safe for the system, but all jobs in the queue will be canceled. Open the print queue and select `Printer > Cancel All Documents` (Windows) or select the jobs and click the delete button (`X`) (macOS). If the jobs do not clear, restart the Print Spooler service.
How do I restart the Print Spooler?
Press `Win + R`, type `services.msc`, find `Print Spooler`, right-click it, and select `Restart`. On macOS, you can restart the computer or run `sudo launchctl kickstart -k system/org.cups.cupsd` in Terminal (requires an administrator password).