Stop a print job on Windows or Mac before it reaches the printer
A print job stuck in your queue will keep trying to print until you remove it. On Windows, open Settings, go to Devices, then Printers & Scanners, find your printer, and click Open Queue. Right-click the job you want to remove and select Cancel. On a Mac, go to System Settings, Printers & Scanners, select your printer, click Open Print Queue, and highlight the job and click the delete button (minus sign).
If the job is already printing and you need it to stop immediately, turn off the printer at the power button. This halts the current job, though some printers may resume printing when you turn them back on. After powering off, wait 30 seconds before turning the printer back on to clear the job from its memory.
Key Takeaways
- Windows users access the print queue through Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners, then right-click the job and select Cancel.
- Mac users find the print queue in System Settings > Printers & Scanners, select the printer, and click the delete button next to the stuck job.
- Turning off the printer at the power button stops a job that is actively printing, though you may need to clear the queue afterward.
- If a job remains stuck after canceling it, restarting your computer often clears the print queue completely.
- Some printers have their own control panel where you can delete jobs directly without using your computer.
Cancel a print job from your computer's print queue
Every print job waits in a queue on your computer before it reaches the printer. Windows stores this queue in Settings. Click the Start button, type "Settings," open it, then go to Devices on the left side. Click Printers & Scanners, find the printer that has the stuck job, and click its name. A button labeled "Open Queue" or "Open Print Queue" will appear — click it to see all jobs waiting to print.
In the queue window, you will see each job listed with its name, status, and owner. Right-click the job you want to stop and select Cancel from the menu. The job should disappear from the list within a few seconds. If multiple jobs are stuck, you can cancel them one at a time or select all of them and cancel together.
On a Mac, the process is similar but the location is different. Open System Settings (not System Preferences), click Printers & Scanners on the left, select your printer from the list, and click the "Open Print Queue" button. Highlight the job you want to remove and click the minus button (delete button) at the bottom of the window. The job will be removed immediately.
Remove a job that is actively printing
If the printer is already printing the page and you need it to stop right now, the fastest way is to turn off the printer using its power button. This interrupts the current job and prevents the next one from starting. Wait about 30 seconds with the printer off, then turn it back on. This gives the printer time to clear its internal memory and forget about the job.
Some printers have a Cancel or Stop button on their control panel itself — usually a red button or a button labeled with an X. Press this button while the printer is actively printing. This works faster than powering off and does not require you to wait before using the printer again.
After you stop a job this way, check your computer's print queue to make sure no other jobs are waiting. Sometimes a canceled job leaves behind a "ghost" entry that will try to print again when you restart the printer. Removing it from the queue prevents this.
Clear a stuck job that will not cancel
Occasionally a job refuses to cancel even after you remove it from the queue. This usually means the print spooler — the Windows service that manages printing — has gotten stuck. The fastest fix is to restart your computer. When your computer starts back up, the print spooler restarts too, and the stuck job is cleared from memory.
If you do not want to restart, you can restart just the print spooler service on Windows. Press the Windows key and R together to open the Run dialog, type "services.msc" and press Enter. Scroll down to find "Print Spooler," right-click it, and select Restart. This clears the queue without restarting your whole computer, though it is less reliable than a full restart.
On a Mac, a stuck job usually clears after you restart the computer. If you want to avoid restarting, you can remove the job file manually by opening Finder, pressing Command+Shift+G, typing "/var/spool/cups" and pressing Enter, then dragging any files related to your printer to the Trash. This is more technical and only necessary if restarting is not an option.
Prevent jobs from getting stuck in the first place
Most stuck jobs happen because the printer loses connection to your computer mid-print. Make sure your printer stays connected to your Wi-Fi network or USB cable throughout the print job. If you are using Wi-Fi, keep the printer within range and do not turn it off while a job is printing.
Before you print, check that you have selected the correct printer in the print dialog. Sending a job to a printer that is off or disconnected will cause it to sit in the queue indefinitely. In the print dialog, look for a dropdown menu that says "Printer" or "Select Printer" and confirm your printer is listed and selected.
If you frequently print large files, update your printer's drivers. Outdated drivers can cause jobs to stall or fail. Visit the printer manufacturer's website, search for your printer model, and download the latest driver for your operating system. Install it and restart your computer.
Cancel a print job from your printer's control panel
Many modern printers have a touchscreen or button panel on the front where you can see and manage print jobs directly. Look for a menu option labeled "Jobs," "Queue," "Pending," or "Active Jobs." Select it to see what is waiting to print. Highlight the job you want to remove and press Delete, Cancel, or a button with an X symbol.
This method works even if your computer is off or disconnected from the printer. It is also faster than going through your computer's settings if you are standing right at the printer. Check your printer's manual or the manufacturer's website if you cannot find the jobs menu — the exact steps vary by brand and model.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will canceling a print job damage my printer?
No. Canceling a job through the queue or the printer's control panel is safe and will not harm the printer. Turning off the printer while it is printing is also safe, though it is better to use the Cancel button if your printer has one.
What if the job is canceled but the printer keeps printing anyway?
The printer may have already received the entire job before you canceled it. Turn off the printer at the power button, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. This clears the printer's memory. Then check your computer's print queue to make sure no other jobs are waiting.
Can I cancel someone else's print job on a shared printer?
On a shared network printer, you can usually only cancel your own jobs. If you need to remove someone else's job, you will need administrator access to the printer or the computer managing the queue. Contact your IT department or the printer's administrator.
Why does my print job keep reappearing after I cancel it?
This usually means the print spooler service is stuck. Restart your computer to clear it completely. If it happens repeatedly, update your printer drivers or check the printer manufacturer's website for known issues with your model.
How long does it take to cancel a print job?
Canceling through the queue is instant — the job disappears from the list right away. However, if the printer is already printing that page, it may finish printing that page before stopping. The next page will not print.