How to Fix Error Printing in Queue: A Comprehensive Guide

Experiencing errors when printing and seeing jobs stuck in the queue can be incredibly frustrating. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the troubleshooting steps to resolve common printing errors and get your documents flowing again.

Understanding Print Queue Errors

The print queue is a temporary storage area on your computer that holds print jobs waiting to be sent to the printer. Errors occur when a job gets stuck, preventing subsequent jobs from printing. Common causes include:

  • Driver Issues: Corrupted or outdated printer drivers.
  • Connectivity Problems: Issues with the USB connection or network connection.
  • Printer Errors: The printer itself may have an error, such as a paper jam or low ink.
  • Software Conflicts: Conflicts with other software installed on your computer.
  • Corrupted Print Jobs: A specific print job may contain corrupted data.

Troubleshooting Steps

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you resolve printing errors in the queue:

1. Basic Checks

Before diving into more complex solutions, perform these quick checks:

  • Printer Power: Ensure the printer is powered on and properly connected to your computer.
  • Paper and Ink/Toner: Verify that the printer has sufficient paper and ink or toner.
  • Cable Connections: Check the USB cable or network cable connecting the printer to your computer. Try a different cable if possible.
  • Printer Display: Look for any error messages on the printer’s display panel and address them accordingly (e.g., clear a paper jam).

2. Clearing the Print Queue

Often, simply clearing the print queue can resolve the issue.

Windows:

  1. Open Services: Press Windows Key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
  2. Find Print Spooler: Locate the “Print Spooler” service in the list.
  3. Stop the Service: Right-click on “Print Spooler” and select “Stop”.
  4. Clear Spool Folder: Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS. Delete all files in this folder. You may need administrator privileges.
  5. Start the Service: Return to the Services window, right-click on “Print Spooler,” and select “Start”.

macOS:

  1. Open System Preferences: Click on the Apple menu and select “System Preferences”.
  2. Printers & Scanners: Click on “Printers & Scanners”.
  3. Select Your Printer: Choose your printer from the list.
  4. Open Print Queue: Click on “Open Print Queue…”.
  5. Delete Jobs: Select each print job and click the “Delete” (X) button to remove them.

3. Restarting the Print Spooler Service

Restarting the print spooler service can often resolve issues.

Windows:

Follow the same steps as clearing the print queue, but instead of deleting files from the spool folder, simply stop and then start the “Print Spooler” service.

4. Updating or Reinstalling Printer Drivers

Outdated or corrupted printer drivers are a common cause of printing problems. Update or reinstall them.

  1. Device Manager: Press Windows Key + R, type devmgmt.msc, and press Enter.
  2. Locate Printer: Expand “Printers” or “Print queues”.
  3. Update Driver: Right-click on your printer and select “Update driver”. Choose “Search automatically for drivers”.
  4. Reinstall Driver (if update fails): If updating doesn’t work, right-click on your printer and select “Uninstall device”. Then, restart your computer. Windows will usually automatically reinstall the driver. If not, download the latest driver from the printer manufacturer’s website and install it.

macOS:

macOS usually handles printer driver updates automatically. However, you can check for updates in the App Store or download the latest drivers from the printer manufacturer’s website.

5. Checking Printer Ports

Incorrect printer port settings can also cause printing errors.

Windows:

  1. Device and Printers: Press Windows Key + R, type control printers, and press Enter.
  2. Printer Properties: Right-click on your printer and select “Printer properties”.
  3. Ports Tab: Go to the “Ports” tab.
  4. Select Correct Port: Ensure the correct port is selected. For USB printers, it should be a USB port. For network printers, it should be a TCP/IP port with the correct IP address.

6. Running the Printer Troubleshooter

Windows includes a built-in printer troubleshooter that can automatically detect and fix common printing problems.

  1. Settings: Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Update & Security: Click on “Update & Security”.
  3. Troubleshoot: Click on “Troubleshoot” in the left pane.
  4. Printer: Select “Printer” and click “Run the troubleshooter”.

7. Checking for Software Conflicts

Sometimes, other software on your computer can conflict with the printer driver. Try temporarily disabling recently installed software to see if it resolves the issue.

8. Performing a Clean Boot

A clean boot starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This can help identify if a background program is interfering with the printing process.

  1. System Configuration: Press Windows Key + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
  2. Services Tab: Go to the “Services” tab.
  3. Hide All Microsoft Services: Check the box that says “Hide all Microsoft services”.
  4. Disable All: Click the “Disable all” button.
  5. Startup Tab: Go to the “Startup” tab and click “Open Task Manager”.
  6. Disable Startup Items: Disable all startup items in Task Manager.
  7. Restart: Restart your computer.

After the clean boot, try printing again. If the problem is resolved, re-enable services and startup items one by one to identify the conflicting program.

9. When All Else Fails: Contact Support

If you’ve tried all of the above steps and are still experiencing printing errors, it may be necessary to contact the printer manufacturer’s support team or a qualified IT professional for further assistance.

Conclusion

Dealing with printing errors in the queue can be a tedious process, but by following these troubleshooting steps, you can often resolve the issue yourself. Remember to start with the basic checks and work your way through the more advanced solutions. With patience and persistence, you’ll be back to printing in no time!