Basics

10 reasons why Printing queue doesn’t work in Windows 10 (and how to fix it)

A print queue that refuses to move is usually caused by the print spooler, driver issues, or connectivity problems — and most cases can be fixed without reinstalling Windows. If your Printing queue not working in Windows 10, this article explains the common causes and gives clear, step-by-step fixes so you can get printing again quickly.

You’ll learn the ten most common reasons the print queue stops functioning, concise quick fixes, and detailed troubleshooting steps (including exact menus and commands) so both beginners and more advanced users can resolve the problem.

Key Takeaway

Restarting the Print Spooler service and clearing the spool folder fixes the majority of print-queue issues; if that doesn’t help, update or reinstall the printer driver and check connectivity and permissions.

Quick Fix Guide

Quick Fix Guide

Reason for the Problem Quick Solution
Print Spooler service stopped or crashed Restart the Print Spooler service (Services or net stop spooler && net start spooler).
Corrupted or outdated printer driver Update or reinstall the printer driver via Devices and Printers or Device Manager.
Printer set to Offline or paused Open the printer queue and uncheck Use Printer Offline / resume printing.
Stuck or corrupted print jobs in queue Stop spooler, delete files in C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS, then restart spooler.
Incorrect default printer or wrong port Set correct default printer and confirm the printer port/IP in Printer Properties.
Connectivity issues (USB/network) Check cables, Wi‑Fi/ethernet, or ping the printer IP; try a different USB port or cable.
Permissions or sharing problems Grant Print permissions or re-enable printer sharing in Printer Properties > Sharing.
Windows Update / OS bug Run Windows Update or uninstall the latest update; use System Restore if needed.
Spooler folder corruption or low disk space Clear spool folder, run Disk Cleanup, and free space on system drive.
Antivirus/firewall or 3rd-party print manager interference Temporarily disable security software or remove print-management apps and test.

Detailed Fixes for “Printing queue not working in Windows 10”

1) Print Spooler service stopped or crashed

Why it causes the problem:
The Print Spooler is the Windows service that manages print jobs. If it stops or crashes, print jobs cannot be processed or sent to the printer.

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Step-by-step solution:

  1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter to open Services.
  2. Find Print Spooler in the list, right-click it, and choose Restart. If it is stopped, choose Start.
  3. To use commands, open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:
    • net stop spooler
    • net start spooler
  4. If the service keeps crashing, check Event Viewer: Event Viewer > Windows Logs > System for errors related to spooler.

Notes/tips:

  • If restarting fixes it temporarily but it recurs, continue to steps for clearing the spool folder and updating drivers (below).

2) Corrupted or outdated printer driver

Why it causes the problem:
Bad or incompatible drivers can hang the spooler, cause communication failures, or prevent jobs from converting to the correct format.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
  2. Select the printer, click Remove device (if needed), then click Add a printer or scanner to reinstall.
  3. For driver updates: press Win + XDevice Manager → expand Print queues or Printers, right-click your printer and select Update driverSearch automatically.
  4. To fully remove problematic drivers:
    • Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
    • Click any printer, then Print server properties (top menu). Under the Drivers tab, remove the old driver.
    • Alternatively, run printui /s /t2 (press Win + R, paste command) to open the Print Server Properties dialog directly.

Notes/tips:

  • Download the latest driver from the printer manufacturer’s website (select Windows 10 64-bit/32-bit as appropriate).
  • If a generic driver works, use it to confirm the issue is driver-specific.

3) Printer set to Offline or paused

Why it causes the problem:
If Windows thinks the printer is offline or paused, it won’t send jobs to the device even though physically connected.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, select your printer and click Open queue.
  2. In the printer window, ensure Pause Printing is unchecked and Use Printer Offline is unchecked (menu Printer at top).
  3. Right-click the printer in Devices and Printers and choose See what’s printing then click Printer > Cancel All Documents if needed.

Notes/tips:

  • Toggle Set as default in the printer list if the wrong default is selected.

4) Stuck or corrupted print jobs in queue

Why it causes the problem:
A single corrupted job can block the entire queue; Windows attempts to process it repeatedly and gets stuck.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Stop the spooler: open Command Prompt (Admin) and run net stop spooler.
  2. Open File Explorer and go to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS (requires admin permission).
  3. Delete all files in that folder (these are the stuck jobs).
  4. Restart the spooler: net start spooler.
  5. Re-send the print job.

Notes/tips:

  • If files won’t delete, ensure spooler is stopped and you have admin rights.
  • You can also cancel from the print queue GUI but manual deletion is faster when queue is stuck.

5) Incorrect default printer or wrong port

Why it causes the problem:
Windows may send jobs to a wrong or non-existent port (USB, TCP/IP) or to an old default pipe.

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Step-by-step solution:

  1. Open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, choose the correct printer and click Manage > Set as default.
  2. Open Devices and Printers (Control Panel), right-click the printer, select Printer properties > Ports tab and confirm the correct port is selected (for network printers, this is often a Standard TCP/IP Port with a correct IP address).
  3. If the IP changed, remove and re-add the printer using the updated IP.

Notes/tips:

  • For network printers, use the printer’s network menu to print a configuration page to confirm its IP address.

6) Connectivity issues (USB/network)

Why it causes the problem:
Loose USB cables, failing network adapters, or wrong Wi‑Fi settings prevent the computer from reaching the printer.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. For USB printers: try a different USB cable and USB port; avoid USB hubs.
  2. For network printers: confirm printer and PC are on the same network. On PC, open Command Prompt and ping the printer IP: ping 192.168.x.x.
  3. Run Windows network troubleshooter: Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Network Adapter.
  4. If wireless, restart the printer’s Wi‑Fi or reconnect it to the network using the printer control panel.

Notes/tips:

  • Temporary switch to a wired connection to isolate wireless issues.

7) Permissions or sharing problems

Why it causes the problem:
If the print server or shared printer denies permission, jobs from other users or PCs won’t be processed.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. On the print host: open Control Panel > Devices and Printers, right-click printer → Printer propertiesSharing tab.
  2. Ensure Share this printer is checked and click Additional Drivers if clients use different architectures.
  3. Under Security, ensure the user group (e.g., Everyone or specific users) has Print permission.
  4. For domain environments, check Group Policy settings that might restrict printing.

Notes/tips:

  • Avoid giving full control unless necessary; only enable Print and Manage documents for trusted admins.

8) Windows Update or OS bug

Why it causes the problem:
Occasionally a Windows update introduces a bug that affects printing or drivers.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Check for updates: Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates and install any available patches.
  2. If the issue started after a recent update, uninstall the update: Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history > Uninstall updates.
  3. Use System Restore to revert to a point before the issue occurred. Find it via Control Panel > Recovery > Open System Restore.

Notes/tips:

  • Monitor the Microsoft Support site and printer vendor forums for known issues after major updates.

9) Spooler folder corruption or low disk space

Why it causes the problem:
The spool folder or system drive full/corrupted prevents creation of temp files for print jobs.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Free disk space: run Disk Cleanup (press Win, type Disk Cleanup) and remove temporary files.
  2. Clear the spool folder as described in reason 4.
  3. Run sfc /scannow and DISM commands in an elevated Command Prompt:
    • sfc /scannow
    • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Notes/tips:

  • Large print jobs (images/PDFs) may require substantial temporary space; ensure sufficient free space on the system drive (C:).
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10) Antivirus/firewall or third-party print manager interference

Why it causes the problem:
Security software may block the spooler or network traffic to printers; third-party print management tools can intercept jobs and cause conflicts.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Temporarily disable antivirus/firewall and test printing (open the security app and use the disable option — re-enable afterward).
  2. If third-party print managers are installed (e.g., Papercut, uniFLOW), check their services or uninstall if testing shows they cause the issue.
  3. If disabling fixes printing, create an exception in the security software for spoolsv.exe or allow the printer’s IP address.

Notes/tips:

  • Do not leave protection disabled permanently; configure exceptions instead.

Preventive tips and when to contact support

  • Run the built-in Printer Troubleshooter: Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Printer. It automates many common checks.
  • Keep drivers and Windows up to date, and periodically restart the Print Spooler.
  • Maintain sufficient free disk space on the system drive.
  • If you manage many printers (small business or office), consider using centralized print server best practices and scheduled spooler restarts.
  • Contact printer manufacturer support if hardware errors appear on the printer display or if firmware updates are available.
  • Contact your IT department if printers are managed by policies or if server-side permissions are involved.

FAQ

How can I cancel all print jobs at once?

Open the print queue (Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners > select printer > Open queue), then in the print window choose Printer > Cancel All Documents. If the queue is stuck, stop the spooler (net stop spooler), clear C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS, then net start spooler.

Will reinstalling Windows fix print queue problems?

Reinstalling Windows is rarely necessary. Most issues are resolved by restarting the Print Spooler, clearing the spool folder, updating drivers, or fixing connectivity; try these first.

How do I completely remove old printer drivers?

Use Print Server Properties: open Control Panel > Devices and Printers, click any printer, then Print server properties (top menu) > Drivers tab; remove the obsolete drivers. For stubborn drivers, run printui /s /t2 as admin.

Can network security block printing between devices?

Yes — firewalls or network isolation (guest Wi‑Fi) can block ports used for printing (TCP 9100, LPR, or SMB). Ensure devices are on the same network and open necessary ports or add printer IP exceptions in the firewall.

What if print jobs only fail from one user account?

This suggests a profile/permission issue. Test printing from another user on the same PC; if it works, recreate the user profile or reset the local printer permissions in Printer Properties > Security.

Conclusion

Most print-queue failures are fixed by restarting the Print Spooler, clearing stuck jobs, updating/reinstalling drivers, and verifying connectivity and permissions. If you follow the steps above, your Printing queue not working in Windows 10 issue should be resolved quickly; contact your printer vendor or IT support only if hardware faults or server-level restrictions remain.

About the author

Jonathan Dudamel

Jonathan Dudamel

I'm Jonathan Dudamel, an experienced IT specialist and network engineer passionate about all things Windows. I have deep expertise in Microsoft project management, virtualization (VMware ESXi and Hyper-V), and Microsoft’s hybrid platform. I'm also skilled with Microsoft O365, Azure ADDS, and Windows Server environments from 2003 through 2022.

My strengths include Microsoft network infrastructure, VMware platforms, CMMS, ERP systems, and server administration (2016/2022).