Windows 7/Vista: Clear Print Queue

If you have a long list of hung print jobs in Windows 7 or Vista, you can clear the print queue easily by using these steps.

1. Click Start.

2. Type Command.

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

4. Type net stop spooler then press Enter.

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

6. Type net start spooler then press Enter.

The print queue on your Windows 7/Vista system should now be cleared. Type exit and press Enter to exit the command window.

Last modified March 4, 2012

See other posts tagged: vista • win7

{ 59 comments… read them below or add one }

Jockie April 30, 2013 at 1:08 pm: Thank you so much – printer working perfectly now and after 3 hours of farting about trying to get it working, your simple solution took 3 minutes!!
Brian Mc April 9, 2013 at 3:27 pm: Worked grand and cleared the print queue for me – Thanks
Velositas March 5, 2013 at 10:27 pm: Thank you, thank you so much!
Vasko February 5, 2013 at 4:55 am: Cool, tnx, this should save me :)
Michael January 29, 2013 at 10:31 pm: Worked like a charm! Thanks!!
Paco January 6, 2013 at 6:33 pm: THANK YOU! for those easy and immediately effective instructions!
dhast January 4, 2013 at 8:39 pm: I have the same problem, i just tried some alternative solutions but still have this trouble.
i tried your method, but after type net stop spooler on command prompt, this word appear :
The Printer Spooler service is not started, more help is available by typing NET HELPMSG 3521
after i typed that word,
The *** service is not started

Please give me some alternative solution for this problem.
Thx
Dhast
Robert Belgrad December 26, 2012 at 6:05 pm: Thank you!! This was a big help.
Sofia December 25, 2012 at 8:06 am: Thank you, your advice saved my day !!!