Cancel a print job from your computer before it reaches the printer
The fastest way to stop a print job is to cancel it on your computer while it is still in the queue, before the printer even receives it. On Windows, open Settings, go to Devices, then Printers & Scanners, select your printer, and click Open Queue. Find the job you want to cancel and click Cancel. On Mac, go to System Preferences, Printers & Scanners, select your printer, and click Open Print Queue, then delete the job from the list.
If you cannot see the queue on your screen, try the command line instead. On Windows, open Command Prompt and type net stop spooler, wait a few seconds, then type net start spooler — this clears all pending jobs. On Mac, open Terminal and type cancel -a to cancel all jobs, or cancel [job-id] to cancel a specific one.
These methods work best when you catch the job immediately after sending it. If the printer has already started printing, you will need to stop it at the device itself.
Key Takeaways
- Cancel a job through your computer's print queue before the printer receives it — this is the fastest method and works on both Windows and Mac.
- If the queue is not visible, restart the print spooler on Windows with Command Prompt or use the Terminal command cancel -a on Mac.
- Once the printer has started printing, you must stop the job at the printer itself by opening the access panel or pressing the stop button.
- Network printers may have a built-in screen where you can view and cancel jobs directly from the device.
- If a job is stuck and will not cancel, power off the printer for 30 seconds, then power it back on to clear the queue.
Stop a print job at the printer itself
If the job has already reached the printer and started printing, canceling it from your computer may not work. Walk to the printer and look for a Stop or Cancel button on the control panel. Press it to halt the current job. Some printers require you to hold the button for two or three seconds.
On many printers, you can also open the access panel or cover to interrupt the print job. The printer will pause when the cover is open, and you can close it again to resume or turn off the printer entirely to abandon the job. Check your printer's manual if you cannot find the button or panel.
Cancel a job on a network printer
Network printers — those connected to your office or home Wi-Fi rather than directly to one computer — often have their own built-in screen. Look for a Jobs, Queue, or Status menu on the printer's touchscreen. Select the job you want to remove and choose Delete or Cancel. The exact menu names vary by brand and model.
If the printer does not have a screen, you can access the job queue through a web browser. Find your printer's IP address (usually printed on a network settings page from the printer itself), type it into your browser's address bar, and log in if prompted. Look for a Jobs or Queue section and delete the job from there.
Clear a stuck print job
Sometimes a job will not cancel no matter what you try — it stays in the queue or the printer keeps attempting to print it. The most reliable fix is to power off the printer completely, wait 30 seconds, and power it back on. This clears the printer's memory and resets the queue.
If the job is still stuck after a restart, try restarting your computer as well. On Windows, you can also go to Services (search for "services.msc" in the Start menu), find Print Spooler, right-click it, and select Restart. This forces your computer to clear out any corrupted print jobs.
For network printers, you may need to access the printer's settings page through a web browser and look for a Clear Queue or Reset option. Some printers also have a factory reset button on the back or bottom — consult your manual before using it, as this will erase all custom settings.
Prevent print jobs from getting stuck
Most stuck jobs happen because the printer driver on your computer is outdated or corrupted. Check the manufacturer's website for your printer model and download the latest driver. Uninstall the old driver first, restart your computer, then install the new one. This usually solves recurring problems.
If you frequently send jobs to the same printer, make sure your computer and the printer are on the same network and can communicate properly. A weak Wi-Fi signal or a printer that has lost its connection will cause jobs to hang. Restart your router and move the printer closer to it if possible.
What to do if you cannot find the print queue
On Windows, the print queue may not appear in Settings if the Print Spooler service is not running. Search for "Services" in the Start menu, find Print Spooler in the list, and make sure it shows a status of Running. If it does not, right-click it and select Start.
On Mac, the Print Queue window should open automatically when you select your printer in Printers & Scanners. If it does not, try clicking the printer name again or restarting the Printers & Scanners preference pane. If you still cannot see it, use Terminal instead — the command line method works even when the graphical interface does not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel a print job after it has already printed?
No — once the pages have printed, they are physically out of the printer. You can only prevent future pages from printing by canceling the job before it reaches the printer or by stopping it while it is still in progress.
Will canceling a print job damage my printer?
No. Canceling a job through the queue or the control panel is a normal operation and will not harm the printer. Restarting the printer to clear a stuck job is also safe and is often the recommended fix.
What if the printer is shared with other people and I do not know the password?
If the printer requires a password to access the job queue or settings, contact the person who set it up or your IT department. They can cancel the job for you or give you the password. Do not attempt to reset the printer without permission, as this may erase settings others depend on.
How long does it take to cancel a print job?
If you cancel through the computer queue, it should stop within a few seconds. If the printer has already started printing, it may finish the current page before stopping. A full restart of the printer takes about one to two minutes.
Can I cancel a job that was sent from someone else's computer?
Yes, if you have access to the printer's control panel or web interface. You can delete any job in the queue regardless of who sent it. On a shared office printer, anyone with physical access can usually cancel jobs through the printer's screen.