How to Manually Delete Print Jobs in the Spool Folder

Manually Delete Jobs Stuck in the Print Queue

Sometimes a print job cannot be deleted from the print queue available in Devices and Printers. These stuck jobs prevent sending additional jobs to the printer, and may even remain after a system reboot. 




Summary
 

1. Stop the Print Spool service.

2. Navigate to C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\PRINTERS and delete jobs.

3. Start the Print Spool service.

Detailed Steps
 

1. From the start menu, type “services.msc” and run as administrator.

 

2. Find the Print Spooler service, right click and choose “Stop”

Note: The services are sorted alphabetically by default. The print spool can also be stopped from the command line using the "Net stop spooler" command.

 

3. Navigate to C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\PRINTERS and delete the job.

 

4. Resume the Print Spool service.

 

If there is a long list of corrupt or hung up print jobs in Microsoft Windows, follow these instructions to clear the print queue:
 

1. Select Start.

 

2. Type Command.

3. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

4. Type net stop spooler and press Enter.

 

5. Type del %systemroot%\System32\spool\printers\* /Q then press Enter.

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6. Type net start spooler. Press Enter.

 

7. The print queue on your Windows should be clear. Type exit and then press Enter to exit the command window.

Related information

• ​​​​​​​Windows Gives Error Message "Could Not Print Job"
• How to Clear the Print Job History in Data Automation
• Brady Workstation Cannot Send Jobs to Driver Print Queue in Windows 10