It is easy to hit print by mistake or realise too late that the document you sent to the printer is either the wrong version or no longer needed. Sometimes, pages keep printing even after you have shut the file. If you have ever found yourself in this situation, knowing how to cancel a print job quickly can save paper, ink and frustration.
Whether you are using a Windows PC, Mac or printing from a phone, this guide explains how to stop a print job in progress and how to clear the print queue to prevent unwanted documents from coming through.
Stopping the Print Job from the Printer
The quickest way to stop a print job is directly on the printer itself. Most modern printers have a small screen or a series of buttons that allow you to pause or cancel printing. Look for a button labelled ‘Cancel’, ‘Stop’ or a red ‘X’. Press it once to stop the current job or hold it for a few seconds to clear all pending jobs.
This is effective if you are standing near the printer and see that it has started printing something you no longer need. Some printers may take a few moments to respond depending on their memory or how far into the job they are.
Cancelling a Print Job on Windows
If the printer has already started or you are not near it, you can cancel the job from your computer. On a Windows PC, go to the bottom right of your screen and click on the printer icon in the system tray if it is visible. This opens the print queue window.
Alternatively, you can access it by going to ‘Control Panel’ then ‘Devices and Printers’. Right-click on your active printer and choose ‘See what’s printing’. You will see a list of documents currently in the queue. Right-click on the document you want to cancel and select ‘Cancel’. You may need to confirm the action.
If the document refuses to cancel or remains stuck, you can restart the print spooler service. Open the Start menu, type ‘Services’ and open the Services window. Scroll down to ‘Print Spooler’, right-click and choose ‘Restart’. This clears the stuck queue and resets the printer communication.
Cancelling a Print Job on Mac
On a Mac, click the Apple menu and go to ‘System Settings’ or ‘System Preferences’ then select ‘Printers and Scanners’. Click on your printer from the list then press ‘Open Print Queue’. You will see the documents waiting to print. Select the job you want to cancel and click the small ‘X’ next to it.
You can also stop a job from the dock if you opened the print queue from a popup. If the printer is unresponsive, restarting your Mac and turning the printer off then back on can often reset the connection and remove stuck documents.
Cancelling a Print Job from a Mobile Device
If you are printing from a smartphone or tablet, the method depends on the app you are using. In many cases, you can cancel the print directly within the app by tapping the print notification and pressing ‘Cancel’.
If the print has already started and you cannot stop it via the app, you may need to use the printer’s physical cancel button or clear the queue from another connected device.
What to Do If the Print Job Will Not Cancel
Occasionally, a document may remain stuck in the queue even after you cancel it. This can prevent new print jobs from going through. Restarting your computer and the printer is often enough to solve the issue. On Windows, clearing the spooler manually can help if restarting does not work.
If the problem persists, uninstalling and reinstalling the printer driver is a reliable way to reset everything and fix deeper communication issues.
Preventing Future Printing Errors
To avoid needing to cancel print jobs in the first place, always check the preview before printing. Make sure the printer selected is the one you intend to use and confirm that all settings such as number of copies or selected pages are correct.
You can also consider setting your printer to ‘Manual Start’ or ‘Hold for Authentication’ in office environments where you want to review jobs before they are released to the printer.
Final Thoughts
Cancelling a print job is simple once you know where to look. Whether you stop it on the printer, on your computer or from your phone, acting quickly can prevent wasted paper and ink. Keeping your system free of stuck jobs also helps your printer run smoothly and stay ready for the next important task.