How to View and Delete Print Queue in Windows 11

Printing remains an essential aspect of many workplaces and households, serving as a crucial method to produce hard copies of documents, reports, photographs, and more. Despite its importance, sometimes the printing process encounters issues—print jobs can get stuck, the printer can become unresponsive, or print queues may become clogged with failed or incomplete print jobs. In such situations, knowing how to view and delete print queue items becomes an invaluable troubleshooting skill.

Windows 11, the latest operating system from Microsoft, offers robust tools for managing printers and print queues. This detailed guide aims to walk you through the process of viewing and deleting items in your Print Queue on Windows 11, ensuring your printing experience remains smooth and efficient.

A print queue is a list of jobs scheduled to be printed by a printer. When you send a document to print, it gets added to the queue. The printer then processes each job sequentially unless instructed otherwise. Sometimes, print jobs may become stuck due to errors such as driver issues, communication problems, or corrupt documents. These stuck jobs can prevent further printing, necessitating intervention to clear the queue.

Troubleshooting Printer Issues: If your printer isn’t printing, checking the queue helps identify stuck jobs.

Cancel Unwanted Print Jobs: Sometimes, you accidentally send a wrong document or want to free up the queue.

Resolve Printer Errors: Clearing the queue can resolve errors like paper jams or driver issues.

Manage Multiple Print Jobs: Prioritize or manage print jobs efficiently by viewing the queue.

Open Windows Settings

Click on the Start menu (Windows icon) or press the Windows key.

Tap Settings or press Windows + I to open the Settings app.

Navigate to Devices

In Settings, select Bluetooth & devices from the sidebar.

Select Printers & scanners

Scroll down and click on Printers & scanners.

Choose Your Printer

Find your printer in the list of available devices.

Click on your printer’s name to expand options.

Access Print Queue

Click on Open print queue.

This action opens the Print Queue window, showing all pending print jobs for the selected printer.

Open Control Panel

Press Windows + R, type control, and press Enter.

Navigate to Devices and Printers

In Control Panel, select Hardware and Sound, then click Devices and Printers.

Select Your Printer

Find your printer, then right-click it.

View Print Queue

Select See what’s printing.

This opens the printer’s print queue window where you can view all pending jobs.

Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.

Enter the Print Queue command

Type: control printers and press Enter.

Manage the Printer

Find your printer in the list, right-click it, and select See what’s printing.

Once you open the Print Queue window, you’ll see a list of print jobs with details such as:

Document Name: Name of the file to print.

Owner: The user who sent the print job.

Status: Current status like "Printing," "Paused," or "Error."

Size: The size of the print job.

Pending jobs may include multiple entries, especially if you print documents frequently.

Deleting problematic or unwanted print jobs can clear up the queue, restoring smooth printer operation.

Open the Print Queue Window

Use any of the methods described above.

Select the Print Jobs

Click on the job(s) you want to delete.

To select multiple jobs, hold Ctrl and click each item, or press Ctrl + A to select all.

Cancel the Selected Jobs

Click Cancel on the toolbar, or right-click and select Cancel.

Confirm Cancellation

If prompted, confirm to delete the jobs.

The jobs should disappear from the queue promptly. If some jobs remain or the queue does not clear, proceed to restart the print spooler service.

The print spooler is a Windows service that manages print jobs. Sometimes, it becomes unresponsive; restarting it can resolve stuck jobs.

Steps to restart the Print Spooler service:

Open Services

Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.

Locate Print Spooler

Scroll down to find Print Spooler.

Stop the Service

Right-click Print Spooler and select Stop.

Clear the Print Queue Manually

Open File Explorer (Windows + E) and navigate to:

You may need administrator privileges.

Delete all files inside the PRINTERS folder. These are temporary print jobs.

Restart the Service

Return to Services, right-click Print Spooler, and select Start.

Attempt Printing Again

Your print queue should now be clear, and printing should resume normally.

Update Printer Drivers: Outdated or corrupt drivers can cause print queue issues. Visit the printer manufacturer’s website to download and install the latest drivers.

Check Printer Connection: Ensure the printer is properly connected via USB or network, and that it is powered on.

Set Printer as Default: Sometimes, selecting your desired printer as default can resolve queuing issues. This can be done in Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Printers & Scanners.

Use Windows Troubleshooter:

Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.

Find Printer, click Run, and follow the on-screen instructions.

Clear Print Queue During Errors:

In situations where print jobs are stuck due to errors, always restart the spooler service after deleting the queue files.

Regularly Check Print Queue: Periodically verify that your print queue is clear, especially after large print jobs or network disruptions.

Maintain Printer Drivers: Keep drivers up-to-date to avoid compatibility issues.

Avoid Sending Excessive Print Jobs: Sending many jobs at once can delay processing or cause queue jams.

Secure Printer Access: Restrict access to unauthorized users to prevent accidental or malicious printing.

Mastering how to view and delete print queue items in Windows 11 is crucial for maintaining efficient printing operations and troubleshooting common printer issues. Whether you are a home user or managing an office setup, these skills help you quickly identify stuck jobs, remove problematic print requests, and restore normal printer function.

By following the detailed steps outlined in this guide, you can confidently manage your print jobs, troubleshoot errors, and ensure seamless print workflows in Windows 11. Remember, maintaining updated drivers, checking connections, and using Windows’ built-in tools like the print spooler can prevent many common issues related to print queues.

With this knowledge, you ensure your printing experience remains hassle-free, saving time and reducing frustration when problems arise.