Document Won’t Delete From Print Queue Windows 10

Having a document stuck in the print queue on Windows 10 can be a frustrating experience. It's like having a virtual roadblock preventing you from further printing tasks. But fear not, there are solutions to this common problem that can alleviate your printing woes.

One possible reason for a document not deleting from the print queue in Windows 10 could be an issue with the print spooler service. The print spooler manages the print jobs on your computer, and if it encounters an error or becomes unresponsive, it can cause documents to get stuck. Understanding how to troubleshoot and resolve these issues can save you time and headaches in the future.

Common Reasons for Documents Not Deleting from Print Queue in Windows 10

If you are using Windows 10 and facing issues with documents not deleting from the print queue, you are not alone. This can be frustrating, especially when you have urgent print jobs to complete. However, there can be several reasons why documents get stuck in the print queue, preventing them from being deleted. In this article, we will explore some common causes and provide solutions to help you resolve this issue.

1. Print Spooler Service Troubles

The Print Spooler service is responsible for managing print jobs in the Windows operating system. If there are issues with the Print Spooler service, it can cause documents to get stuck in the print queue. One possible reason is that the service may have stopped running or encountered an error.

To check if the Print Spooler service is running, you can follow these steps:

• Open the Run dialog by pressing the Windows key + R
• Type "services.msc" and press Enter
• Scroll down to locate the "Print Spooler" service
• Check the status of the service. If it's not running, right-click on it and select "Start"

If the Print Spooler service fails to start or encounters errors, you may need to troubleshoot the service further. This can involve restarting the service, clearing the print queue, or even reinstalling the printer drivers. Consult the printer manufacturer's website or seek professional assistance to resolve any Print Spooler service issues.

Note that you may require administrative privileges to perform certain actions related to the Print Spooler service.

2. Pending Print Jobs

Another common reason why documents won't delete from the print queue is that there are pending print jobs that need to be completed or canceled before the queue can be cleared. When you send a document to the printer, it enters the print queue and waits for its turn to be printed. If there are other documents ahead in the queue, your document will remain stuck until those print jobs are completed or canceled.

To check for pending print jobs and cancel them, you can follow these steps:

• Open the Control Panel and navigate to "Devices and Printers"
• Locate your printer, right-click on it, and select "See what's printing"
• In the print queue window, select all the print jobs and click on "Cancel"

This will cancel all pending print jobs and clear the queue. Once the queue is empty, you should be able to delete any documents that were previously stuck.

3. Print Spooler Folder Permissions

In some cases, the permissions on the Print Spooler folder can cause issues with deleting documents from the print queue. If the current user does not have the necessary permissions to access or modify the files in the Print Spooler folder, it can prevent the deletion of documents.

To check and modify the permissions for the Print Spooler folder, you can follow these steps:

• Open File Explorer and navigate to the following path: C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
• Right-click on the "PRINTERS" folder and select "Properties"
• In the "Properties" window, go to the "Security" tab
• Click on "Edit" and then "Add"
• Type "Everyone" in the text field and click "Check Names"
• Click "OK" to add the "Everyone" group
• Make sure the "Everyone" group has "Full control" permissions
• Click "Apply" and then "OK" to save the changes

By granting the "Everyone" group full control permissions, you ensure that all users have the necessary access to manage files in the Print Spooler folder. After modifying the permissions, try deleting the documents from the print queue again.

4. Rebooting the Computer and Printer

In some cases, a simple restart of both the computer and the printer can resolve issues with documents not deleting from the print queue. Restarting clears temporary files, refreshes system processes, and can reset any temporary glitches that may have occurred.

To reboot your computer, click on the Start menu, select the Power icon, and choose "Restart". Once the computer restarts, wait for it to fully boot up.

Next, you can restart the printer by turning it off, waiting for a few seconds, and then turning it back on. Allow the printer to start up completely before attempting to delete documents from the print queue. Once both the computer and printer have restarted, try deleting the stuck documents again.

Additional Steps to Remove Stuck Documents from Print Queue in Windows 10

If the previous solutions did not resolve the issue of documents not deleting from the print queue in Windows 10, there are a few additional steps you can try:

1. Use Command Prompt to Clear the Print Queue

You can use the Command Prompt to manually clear the print queue. Here's how:

• Open the Command Prompt as an administrator by pressing the Windows key, typing "Command Prompt" (or "cmd"), right-clicking on it, and selecting "Run as administrator"
• Type the following command and press Enter: net stop spooler
• Type the following command and press Enter: del %systemroot%\System32\spool\printers\* /Q
• Type the following command and press Enter: net start spooler

This will stop the Print Spooler service, delete all files in the printers folder (the print queue), and then restart the Print Spooler service. After running these commands, check if the stuck documents have been successfully deleted from the print queue.

2. Use Print Management to Clear the Print Queue

Windows 10 has a built-in tool called Print Management that allows you to manage printers and print queues. You can use this tool to clear the print queue and remove stuck documents. Here's how:

• Open the Run dialog by pressing the Windows key + R
• Type "printmanagement.msc" and press Enter
• In the Print Management window, expand "Print Servers" and select your computer
• Expand "Printers" and select your printer
• Right-click on the stuck document and select "Cancel"

You can repeat the last step to cancel additional stuck documents in the print queue. Once canceled, the documents should be removed from the queue.

3. Reset the Printing System

If all else fails, you can try resetting the printing system. This will remove all printers and their settings from your computer, allowing you to set them up again from scratch. However, note that resetting the printing system will also delete all print queues and documents waiting to be printed.

To reset the printing system, you can follow these steps:

• Open the Control Panel and navigate to "Devices and Printers"
• Right-click on an empty space in the window and select "Run as administrator"
• In the Printers window, click on any printer to select it
• In the top menu, click on "Print Server Properties"
• In the Print Server Properties window, go to the "Advanced" tab
• Click on "Reset..." and confirm the action when prompted
• Restart your computer

After the computer restarts, you can set up your printers again and try printing documents without any issues.

In Conclusion

Dealing with documents that won't delete from the print queue in Windows 10 can be frustrating, but with the right troubleshooting steps, you can resolve the issue and get back to your printing tasks. Start by checking the status of the Print Spooler service and ensuring that it is running properly. Clear any pending print jobs and verify the permissions on the Print Spooler folder. If necessary, reboot your computer and printer to refresh the system. If the issue persists, try advanced steps such as using the Command Prompt, Print Management, or resetting the printing system. By following these steps, you should be able to successfully delete documents from the print queue in Windows 10 and resume your printing tasks.

Troubleshooting Document Won't Delete from Print Queue in Windows 10

If you are facing an issue where a document won't delete from the print queue in Windows 10, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try:

• Cancel the print job: Open the Print Queue window, right-click on the document causing the issue, and select "Cancel" or "Delete" to remove it from the queue.
• Restart the Print Spooler service: Open the Services window by pressing the Windows key + R, type "services.msc", and hit Enter. Locate the "Print Spooler" service, right-click on it, and select "Restart".
• Clear the print spooler folder: Open File Explorer, navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS, delete all files in the folder (ensure the Print Spooler service is stopped), and then restart the service.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you can try reinstalling the printer driver, updating Windows to the latest version, or reaching out to your printer manufacturer or IT support for further assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

In this section, we have compiled a list of common questions related to the issue of documents not deleting from the print queue in Windows 10. Read on to find answers to your queries.

1. Why won't my document delete from the print queue in Windows 10?

There can be several reasons why a document won't delete from the print queue in Windows 10. One common reason is that there may be a print job that is stuck or unable to complete. Another reason could be a problem with the print spooler, which is responsible for managing print jobs. Additionally, if there are any issues with the printer driver or the printer itself, it may prevent documents from deleting from the print queue.

To resolve this issue, you can try canceling the print job, restarting the print spooler service, updating or reinstalling the printer driver, or troubleshooting the printer.

2. How can I cancel a document that won't delete from the print queue?

If a document is stuck in the print queue and won't delete, you can try the following steps to cancel it:

1. Open the Control Panel on your Windows 10 computer.

2. Go to the "Hardware and Sound" section and click on "Devices and Printers."

3. Right-click on the printer that is associated with the stuck document and select "See what's printing."

4. In the print queue window, click on the document that you want to cancel, and then click on the "Document" tab in the menu bar.

5. Select "Cancel" to remove the document from the print queue.

3. How do I restart the print spooler service in Windows 10?

If you're experiencing issues with documents not deleting from the print queue, restarting the print spooler service can help resolve the problem. Here's how you can do it:

1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.

2. Type "services.msc" into the Run box and press Enter to open the Services window.

3. Scroll down and locate the "Print Spooler" service.

4. Right-click on the "Print Spooler" service and select "Restart" from the context menu.

5. Wait for the service to restart, and then try deleting the document from the print queue again.

4. How can I update or reinstall the printer driver in Windows 10?

If the issue persists, updating or reinstalling the printer driver may help. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Open the Control Panel on your Windows 10 computer.

2. Go to the "Hardware and Sound" section and click on "Devices and Printers."

3. Right-click on the printer that is causing the issue and select "Properties."

4. In the Properties window, go to the "Hardware" tab and click on "Properties" again.

5. In the Driver tab, you can choose to update the driver or uninstall it and reinstall the latest driver from the manufacturer's website.

5. What should I do if troubleshooting the printer doesn't resolve the issue?

If troubleshooting the printer doesn't resolve the issue, you can try the following additional steps:

1. Disconnect the printer from your computer and power source.

2. Wait for a few minutes, and then reconnect the printer and turn it on.

3. Restart your computer and try deleting the document from the print queue again.

If the problem persists, you may need to contact the printer manufacturer's support for further assistance or consider seeking help from a professional technician.

In summary, if you are facing the issue of a document not deleting from the print queue in Windows 10, there are several steps you can take to resolve the problem. First, you can try restarting your computer and the printer, as this often helps to clear any temporary glitches. Additionally, you can manually cancel the print job by accessing the print queue through the Control Panel or the Settings app. If these steps do not work, you can also try clearing the print spooler files or reinstalling the printer driver.

Remember, it is essential to have administrative privileges to perform some of these actions. It is also a good idea to regularly update your Windows operating system and printer drivers to ensure compatibility and prevent any known issues. By following these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to successfully delete documents from the print queue and resume printing without any further problems.