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How to delete a document from the print queue ?

There is a common issue with Windows when trying to cancel or delete a currently printing document from the print queue. It takes a long time, and sometimes it will get stuck and not delete at all, blocking all subsequent print jobs. In some instances, even taking the printer offline, or rebooting the machine will not clear the printing queue.

To clear the print job, simply follow these directions:

1. Navigate to "Services" under "Administrative Tools" (from either Control Panel, the Start>Programs menu, or right-click on My Computer and choose "Manage")
2. Stop the Print Spooler service
3. Open Windows Explorer (Windows Key+E), and navigate to: C:\Windows\system32\spool\PRINTERS
4. Delete any offending print jobs (.spl file extensions).
5. Start the Print spooler service again.

Note: It is also safe to delete other leftover files with an .spl, .shd, or .tmp extensions from the C:\Windows\system32\spool\PRINTERS folder.


  User Reviews/Comments:
    rate:
   avg:
by anonymous - 2013-02-27 16:21
Thank you!
by rnrola29 - 2013-03-11 23:06
Many thanks fix my problem
by geestar - 2013-03-16 04:56
Nice one. I will remember this
by anonymous - 2013-03-20 08:39
THANK U SO MUCH
by Kris - 2013-04-30 03:41
Excellent indeed! The printer may still not print!
by anonymous - 2013-04-30 13:41
Wow it really works!!!Thanks a lot...:)
by pablo-skils - 2013-05-07 21:52
This looked like very good advice, but it didn't work for me. The Printers folder shows nothing except a line of text 'This folder is empty.'

Yet in the print spooler I can still see the job, the status of which remains 'Deleting - Printing'

The status of the printer in Devices and Printers remains 'Offline'

So far I have tried:

Deleting it and re-adding printer.
Removing printer battery and power cable.
Rebooting computer.
C:\DeletePrintJobs.cmd
Combinations of the above.

At least I now realize why none of the above have been effective.

Anybody know where I need to dig to remove this annoyance?
by pablo-skils - 2013-05-07 22:47
OK so I figured it out. I have printer spools installed on my Windows Home Server drive, as well as my desktop. The active spool was on the WHS. It was just a matter of using Remote Desktop Manager software to access the home server, and then by following these instructions the problem went away.
by anonymous - 2013-06-06 06:50
thanks very helpfull
by Will - 2013-07-02 09:27
Great! That worked thanks!
by anonymous - 2013-07-05 00:47
super helpful! thanks for sharing :)
by anonymous - 2013-08-09 17:37
Terrific -- thank you!!!
by Mary - 2013-09-29 14:07
That helped so much when nothing else would and it was easy enough that I could do it. Thank you!!!
by anonymous - 2013-11-20 15:23
amazing! it really worked! :)
by amanda - 2013-11-20 23:31
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I can't believe that with all of today's technological advances, printers still suck so much. Why can't printing just be easy? Your post helped tremendously tonight!
by Ieuan - 2013-12-02 14:53
you're a king!!!
spent literally hours going through troubleshooting suggestions to no avail and your solution fixed the problem in 2 mins. very happy and much appreciated.
by anonymous - 2014-01-16 10:32
I didn't have any .spl files, only .shd files. You can safely delete leftover files that have an .spl, .shd, or .tmp extension from the C:\Winnt\System32\Spool\Printers directory. These files should have been automatically deleted when the print job was printed.
by anonymous - 2014-01-24 00:39
wonderfull it worked
by herin - 2014-01-26 07:58
thanks a lot...
i was been trying since many days...
at last i m done with it...
its great...
by bigraves - 2014-02-04 14:09
Glad everyone can clear the files. Now, how do we prevent them. Mine return with every print job (thus keeping me from printing). I am on a home network (wireless), and it only seems to affect one computer. Removed splashtop, and use a batch file to clear the folder. Uninstalled/re-installed the printer. Successfully printed while connected to USB cable, failed immediately trying wireless. I am about to give up.
WIn 7 Pro, Epson workforce, up to date firmware/drivers.
by anonymous - 2014-03-16 15:29
Old advice - but still works! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
by HP Colorsmart - 2015-01-20 19:56
Sorry, this help did not work for me. Documents are still blocking the printer queue.
by anonymous - 2015-03-15 10:46
tanks
but in my system , it dosnt work
what can I do
by behrooz - 2015-03-15 10:58
wow
It worked . tanks a lot
by behrooz - 2015-03-15 11:01
I think you have not carefully to step 1 as well as me
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