how to cancel a print job

Alan McFall 0 Reputation points
2026-11-04T19:43:44.23+00:00

When I entered print, I thought it would print only one page. Instead it started printing out several dozen pages. I turned off printer, but it started printing the same sequence when I turned the printer back on. So How do I cancel that print job?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Devices and drivers
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  1. Clary-N 18,945 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-11-05T00:38:43.5533333+00:00

    Hi Alan McFall,

    Have you had a chance to try the steps suggested in the AI Answer, including clearing the Windows print queue? If so, please let me know how it went and whether the unwanted job still appears in the queue.

    If the queue is empty but the printer continues printing the same pages, the job may be stored in the printer’s memory. Disconnect the printer from USB or Wi-Fi, press its Cancel, Stop, or X button and leave it turned off for about 60 seconds before reconnecting it.

    Is the printer connected by USB or Wi-Fi and is it shared with another computer, phone or tablet? This will help determine whether the print job is coming from the printer itself or another connected device.

    Please let me know what you find and I’ll be happy to help further.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-11-04T19:44:13.7133333+00:00

    Cancel the job from Windows’ print queue before turning the printer back on; switching off the printer alone does not remove a job still queued on the PC.

    Cancel the queued document

    Keep the printer off temporarily to prevent more pages from printing.

    Windows 11

    1. Open Start → Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
    2. Select your printer.
    3. Select Open print queue.
    4. Right-click the unwanted Word document and select Cancel.

    Windows 10

    1. Open Start → Settings → Devices → Printers & scanners.
    2. Select your printer, then Open queue.
    3. Right-click the unwanted document and select Cancel.

    Wait until the job disappears, then turn the printer back on. These are Microsoft’s documented queue-cancellation steps.^1^

    If the job will not disappear

    Restart the Windows printing service:

    1. Press Windows key + R.
    2. Enter services.msc, then press Enter.
    3. Find Print Spooler.
    4. Right-click it and select Restart.
    5. Reopen the print queue and check that the job is gone.

    If it is still stuck

    This procedure clears all jobs waiting on this PC, not only the unwanted document.

    1. Press Windows key + R, enter services.msc, and press Enter.
    2. Right-click Print Spooler and select Stop.
    3. Open File Explorer and go to: C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
    4. Delete every file inside that folder. Administrator approval may be required.
    5. Return to Services, right-click Print Spooler, and select Start.
    6. Confirm that the print queue is empty, then turn the printer back on.^1^

    References

    1. Windows 10
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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    1 person found this answer helpful.

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