My Print Queue is Stuck, How Do I Print Anything?

⚛️ Every so often, the Windows Print Queue gets "stuck". Everything looks like it should print, but it won't. We'll fix it.

⚛️ Document stuck in the print queue
The easiest way to clear the print queue is, in an administrative Command Prompt:
net stop spooler
del /Q %systemroot%\system32\spool\printers\*.*
net start spooler

Chapters
0:00 Print Queue Stuck
0:50 Windows 10 demonstration
1:00 Use the Command Prompt
2:25 In Print Queue
3:00 Computer Management, Services
4:15 Why queue?
5:00 Spoolers and queues
When Print doesn’t print and Cancel doesn’t cancel

More Ask Leo!

#askleo #print #queue

[graytonw]

I used to run into this problem all the time where I worked (the computers were running NT at the time). In that case, the print spooler was taking up virtually all the resources on the machine, and I would have to log in as admin, stop the spooler, navigate to the spool folder, delete the jobs, restart the spooler service, then log out as admin. I eventually figured out that it was due to just as you said, multiple users logging in and jamming up the spooler with multiple jobs. That was 12 or 15 years ago and here we are, still dealing with the same problem. Good ol' Windows.

[michelepedersen]

I've tried various tutorials to fix my printer queue is stuck issue, and got no where. Yours was the trick to fixing my issue! Thank you!

[leannday]

YEA!!! Thank you much! #2 worked perfectly.

[lptqlqc]

Thank you very much sir you really made my day l have learn alot today

[NoEggu]

Leo, did you run the delete command with admin rights, in case more than one user had jobs in the print queue?

I am asking, because I would imagine that if it is your own print job that is stuck, then you should be able to delete your own file?

Or do all of the file in take on the ownership of a system service name?

Yes, the admin login does work, regardless of ownership of the files in the queue, and so it might seem like the least complicated remedy.
But I frown upon using an admin shell, unless there is no other alternative.

When using an admin shell, if a mistake is made, you could wind up in a world of trouble. Under your own login, you at least will not accidentally be able to cripple your computer.

So who owns the files that populate the directory?

[DaleDix]

We should ask Dave from Dave's garage channel, he wrote most of windows

[IdrissIsTaken]

hey leo i know you made a video about this but again someone has my ip and i need a software that could help me to not get hacked

[starn]

Hi leo! I just tried this and unfortunately my printer still wont prin! :-( when i try to print something, im always stuck on the epson communication error and connection checker queue phase 😢 is my printer done for?

[Devilplayer]

Hey Leo
I have a question: I heard that the company Xiaomi send informations from there users directly to China, do you know If that is true?

[kkoz]

Can you post the 3 line batch file you mentioned at the 14:14 timestamp? Thanks :)

[starn]

Hi leo! I just tried this and unfortunately my printer still wont prin! :-( when i try to print something, im always stuck on the epson communication error and connection checker queue phase 😢 is my printer done for?