Print job stuck in the queue?
One failed job can block everything behind it. Clearing the queue and restarting the printer fixes most cases.
What does the queue show?
1 of 2Likely cause
Likely cause: the job stalled partway and is blocking the queue.
- 1Open the printer’s queue from your system’s printer settings.
- 2Cancel every job in the list, not just the first.
- 3Turn the printer off, wait a few seconds, then turn it on.
- 4Send one small document to test.
Likely cause
Likely cause: the printer reported a problem, or the queue was paused.
- 1Check the printer for paper, jams, open covers and any message on its screen or lights.
- 2In the queue, resume the paused job, or cancel it and print again.
- 3Make sure the printer is not set to use offline mode.
- 4Restart the printer and print again.
Likely cause
Likely cause: the system is waiting for a reply from the printer that never comes.
- 1Turn the printer off, then cancel the jobs again.
- 2Restart the computer, then check the queue.
- 3If jobs are still there, restart the computer one more time and try again before anything else.
- 4Re-add the printer in your system’s printer settings if the queue stays frozen.
Most likely causes
A single failed job
A job that errored halfway can sit at the front of the line while every later job waits behind it.
The printer is offline or in error
If the printer cannot accept data because of a jam, an open cover or a lost connection, jobs pile up in the queue.
A problem with the file being printed
A damaged file or one with a heavy graphic can stall during processing and never finish.
A driver or connection fault
A faulty driver or an unreliable cable or Wi-Fi link can break the hand-off between the computer and the printer.
What to try, in order
- 1Cancel all jobsOpen the printer’s queue from your system’s printer settings and cancel every job, including ones that seem to be finished.
- 2Restart the printer, then the computerTurn the printer fully off for a few seconds. Restart the computer after it. Wait for both to finish starting.
- 3Check the printer itselfLook for a paper jam, an open cover, a missing tray or any message on the printer. Fix it, then try again.
- 4Print one small testSend a single short document, or a <a href="/print-test-page-pdf/">test page PDF</a>. If it prints, the queue is healthy again.
Do not send the same job again and again while the queue is stuck. Each copy joins the line and makes it harder to clear.
When to stop and replace
If jobs return to the queue after you cancel them and restart everything, or the printer shows an error you cannot clear, stop retrying. Reinstall the driver from the manufacturer’s website, or contact support if the printer will not respond at all.
How the queue works
When you press print, your computer does not send the page straight to the printer. It places a job in a queue, and the jobs are sent one at a time. If the first job fails to finish, the rest wait behind it. That is why one bad job can make it look as if the whole printer has stopped.
Open and clear the queue
Open the printer’s queue from your system’s printer settings. Cancel every job in the list, then turn the printer off for a few seconds and back on. Restart the computer too if jobs refuse to disappear. If you need help finding printers, see our Windows guide or Mac guide.
Check the printer for a physical cause
A job often stalls because the printer is waiting on you. Look for paper in the tray, an open cover, a jam or a message on its screen or lights. If you find a jam, follow our paper jam steps before printing again.
Check the connection
A printer that loses its Wi-Fi link or has a loose cable cannot take jobs, so they pile up. Read printer is offline if the status says offline or paused.
Test with one small page
After clearing everything, print one short document or a test page PDF. If it prints, the queue is healthy. If it stalls again, the driver may be at fault, so read driver or connection issue.
More help
The index of printer problems covers other symptoms, including blank pages and print quality issues.
Good questions
Why will my print job not delete?
Is it safe to cancel all jobs?
Why does the job come back after I cancel it?
How do I open the queue?
Related problems
- Printer is offlineYour computer says the printer is offline.
- Test page prints, documents don’tThe printer works but your files will not print.
- Paper jamPaper is stuck or keeps jamming.
