How to clear the print queue on an HP printer

Offices are characterized by having a large number of printers, since the amount of documentation that is printed in a single day is incredibly large. Despite this, even a printer can be connected to multiple computers, ensuring a consistent print queue. But, What to do if that list urgently needs to be deleted?

Clean the print queue of the HP printer

HP computers are widespread due to their reliability and the large number of possible functions. For this reason, many users wonder how to remove the print ready file queue on these devices. In reality, the printer model is not that important, so all disassembled alternatives will be suitable for any equipment of this type.

Method 1: clear the queue using the “Control Panel”

A fairly straightforward method of clearing the queue of ready-to-print documents. You don't need a lot of computer skills and it's quite fast to use.

1. To start, we are interested in the menu. “Start”.. Once there, you must find the section called “Devices and printers”.. Open it.
2. Here are all the printing devices that are connected to the computer, or simply previously used by its owner. The printer in use today should be marked in the corner. This means that it is installed by default and all documents go through it.
3. We make a single click with the right mouse button on it. In the context menu, select “View print queue”..
4. After these actions, a new window opens in front of us listing all relevant documents ready to print. Including the one that has already been accepted by the printer, necessarily shows. If a specific file needs to be deleted, can be found by name. If it is necessary to stop the operation of the device completely, the entire list is cleared with a single click.
5. For the first option, you must click on the file with the PCM and choose “Undo”.. This action will completely remove the ability to print a file, unless I add it again. Printing can also be paused through a special command. Despite this, this is only useful temporarily if the printer, as an example, paper jam.
6. All files can be deleted from the printout using a special menu that is opened by pressing the key.. “Printing machine”.. Then you need to choose “Clean the print queue”..

This option to clear the print queue is quite simple, As it was mentioned already.

Method 2: interact with the system procedure

At first sight, It might seem that this method differs from the previous one due to its complexity and that it requires computer engineering knowledge. Whatever, this is far from the case. The option considered may become the most popular for you personally.

1. In the beginning, must run a special window “To run”.. If you know where it is on the menu “Start”.You can run it from there, but there is a keyboard shortcut that will make it much faster: Win + R.
2. A small window appears in front of us, containing only one line to complete. Enter in it the command to show all active services: services.msc. Then click on “AGREE”. or the key Entered.
3. The window that opens offers us a fairly wide list of relevant services in which we have to find “Print manager”.. Then right click on it with the PCM and select “Restart”..

In this aspect, It should be noted that a complete stop of the procedure, which is enabled for the user after pressing the adjacent button, may make the printing procedure unavailable later.

This concludes the description of this method. All that can be said is that it is a fairly efficient and fast method., which is especially useful if the standard option is not enabled for some reason.

Method 3: delete a temporary folder

It is not uncommon for the simplest methods to fail and it is necessary to resort to manual deletion of temporary folders responsible for printing. Most of the time, this happens because the documents are locked by a device driver or the operating system. This is why the queue does not clear.

1. To start, It is important to highlight restart your computer and even the printer. If the queue is still full of documents, will have to move on.
2. To directly delete all data written to printer memory, it is necessary to enter a special directory C:WindowsSystem32Spool.
3. It has a folder called “Printers”. All queue information is stored here. You must remove it via any available method, but don't delete it. You should immediately pay attention that all data will be erased with no chance of recovery. The only option to re-add them is to send the file to print.

This concludes the examination of this method.. It is not very comfortable to use, since it is not easy to remember the long path to the folder, and offices rarely have access to these directories, which immediately excludes the majority of possible adherents to this method.

Method 4: command line

The slowest and most complicated method that can help you clear the print queue. Despite this, there are situations when you can't do without it.

1. First, run cmd. You must do it as an administrator, so you must travel the next route: “Starts”. – “All the programs” – “Standard” – “Command line”..
2. Click on PCM and select … “Execute as an administrator”..
3. Immediately after, a black screen appears in front of us. Don't be alarmed, because this is what the command line looks like. On the keyboard, enter the following command: net stop spooler. Stops the service responsible for the print queue.
4. Then, we write two commands in which the most important thing is not to make mistakes in any of the characters:

del %systemroot%system32spoolprinters*.shd /F /S /Q
del %systemroot%system32spoolprinters*.spl /F /S /Q

5. Once all the commands have been executed, the print queue should be empty. This is probably because all files with SHD and SPL extensions have been removed, but only from the directory that we specify in the command line.
6. After performing this procedure, it is essential to run the command net start spooler. This will reactivate the printing services. If you forget this, subsequent operations associated with the printer may be difficult.

It should be noted that this method is only feasible if the temporary files that create the document queue are located exactly in the folder with which we are working.. Specified as exists by default, if no actions are performed on the command line, the folder path is different from the default.

This option is only feasible if certain conditions are met. At the same time, not the easiest. Despite this, may be useful.

Method 5: BAT file.

In reality, this method is not very different from the previous one, since it implies executing the same commands and needs the previous condition. But if that doesn't scare you and all the folders are in the default directories, can continue.

1. Open any text editor. The standard in these cases is Notepad, which has a minimal feature set and is great for creating BAT files.
2. Immediately save the document in BAT format. No need to write anything before.
3. Don't close the file itself. After saving, write the following commands in it:

del %systemroot%system32spoolprinters*.shd /F /S /Q
del %systemroot%system32spoolprinters*.spl /F /S /Q

4. Now save the file again, but don't change the extension. A ready-to-use tool for instant reel removal is at your fingertips.
5. All you have to do to use it is to double click on the file. This action will replace the need to constantly enter a character set on the command line.

Note that if the folder path is still different, the BAT file must also be edited. You can do it at any time through the same text editor.

Therefore, we have checked 5 effective methods to clear print queue on HP printer. It is only important to note that if the system is not “hanging” and everything works in normal mode, then you need to start the removal procedure with the first method, since it is the safest.

Has this post helped you?