Fix: Windows 10 Print Spooler is still not free

Users have reported issues with their printers. This may be an issue that prevents you from printing any other documents. These solutions may help you resolve this problem.

All printers come with a print queue, which is used to queue up documents for printing. However, sometimes the queue can become jammed or clogged, which can cause printing to stop completely. This can result in documents not printing, " Cancel" not working, and Windows not restarting. There are several ways to fix print queues that won't clear in Windows 10.

Windows 10 can't print a job. Here are the options

Solution 1: Clear the print queue in Windows

Manually cleaning the spooler may resolve your printing issues. This involves manually disabling the Print Spooler service and deleting the files from the print queue. It's much easier than you think. Just follow these steps to do it:

1. First turn off your printer.

2. To search for services, click the Cortana link in Windows 10.

3. To open the window below, you can select Services.

4. Scroll down to the bottom, to Printer Spooler . Double-click on it. Then you can open the window.

5. Press the button to disable the printer spooler. You can stop.

6. On the Windows 10 taskbar, click the File Explorer button.

7. Go to C:\Windows\System32\Printers\Spotlight in File Explorer. This will create a folder with a record of open but unprinted files in the print queue.

8. You can select any file in the folder by holding down the CTRL key. Press the X key to delete. To delete them, click the "X" button in the upper-right corner of File Explorer.

9. Next, click the Print Spooler Properties button. Select Start. In this window, you can reactivate your Printer Spooler.

10. Then, turn on your printer and print.

Solution 2: Clear the print queue using the flag

The Command Prompt can be used to clear the print queue. It's an advanced option, but this solution is quick and easy. It only requires running a few commands.

1. To open Win +X, first press Win +X.

2. Now select Command Prompt (Administrator). You can also open the window by clicking on it.

3. Network Spooler Stop Type : At the indicator, press Enter to deactivate the print queue

4. Next, press Enter and type %systemroot% "System32" pool;* /Q. Pressing Enter will return the command line . You can now clear the stuck print queue.

5. Enter the Coil Start Network to restart the Print Spooler

6. Start printing by turning on the printer

Solution 3: Create a batch file to delete the print queue

Batch files are also useful for various tasks. Print queues that get stuck on the printer can also be fixed with batch files. How to Fix Stuck Print Queues Using Batch Files

1. Use Cortana to search for and open Notepad.

2. The shortcut keys allow you to paste and copy the following text in Notepad: Ctrl+C. You can find it here. Use Ctrl+V.

   • @ Echo
   • echo Disconnect the print spooler
   • echo.
   • Stop network spooler
   • Eco Delete temporary documents from a junk printer
   • echo.
   • del /Q /F /S «%systemroot% «%systemroot% «%systemroot% «*
   • Echo Start print spooler
   • echo.
   • Spooler Network Start

3. Please click on File > Up to 50% off to open the next window

4. Please select All Files in the Save as type drop-down menu.

5. Delete the *.txt from the File name box and replace it with Print Spooler.bat. Any title is acceptable, however the file must have .bat as the end.

6. Please click on You can save to save the batch file.

7. To run the batch file you need, open the folder where it was saved. Click the print queue button.

8. Turn on your printer to print a document.

These are quick, effective, and efficient solutions for a print queue that won't empty in Windows 10. You can update your printer driver through Device Manager if it frequently crashes. You can also use the printer manufacturer's website to download new drivers for Windows 10. Additionally, you can use Windows 10 to troubleshoot your printer problems.

EDITOR'S NOTE This article was first published in January 2017, and has been updated and republished to reflect the latest accuracy, completeness, and freshness.