Check current print jobs in queue windows

How to Check Current Print Jobs in Queue on Windows: A Clear Guide

When you send a document to your printer, it doesn’t always print instantaneously. Instead, it joins a line of other documents waiting to be printed, known as the print queue. Knowing how to Check current print jobs in queue windows is essential for monitoring printing progress, managing your documents, and troubleshooting any printing issues that may arise. This guide will show you several easy ways to view and manage your print queue in both Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Why Check the Print Queue?

There are several good reasons to keep an eye on your print queue:

Monitor Status: See which documents are currently printing, which are waiting, or if any have encountered errors.
Manage Jobs: Cancel print jobs you no longer need, pause a job to load more paper, or resume a paused job.
Troubleshoot Problems: Identify a stuck print job that might be holding up other documents.
Prioritize Documents: While direct reordering is limited, you can pause less urgent jobs to let critical ones print first.

How to Check Current Print Jobs in Queue via Settings

The Windows Settings app provides a modern interface for accessing printer information, including the print queue.

For Windows 11

Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
In the left-hand navigation pane, click on Bluetooth & devices.
In the right-hand pane, scroll down and select Printers & scanners.
Find and click on your printer from the list of installed printers.
On the printer’s settings page, click the Open print queue button (it may also be labeled “Printer queue” or “See what’s printing”).
The print queue window for your selected printer will open, displaying all current and pending print jobs.

For Windows 10

Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
Click on Devices.
In the left-hand navigation pane, select Printers & scanners.
Find your printer in the list and click on it.
Click the Open queue button that appears below the printer name.
This will open the print queue window, showing the status of your print jobs.

How to Check Current Print Jobs in Queue via Control Panel (Classic Method)

For those who prefer the classic interface, the Control Panel offers another reliable way to access the print queue. This method is quite similar for both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Accessing Devices and Printers

Type “Control Panel” in the Windows search bar and select Control Panel from the results.
If your Control Panel is in Category view, click on View devices and printers under “Hardware and Sound”. If it’s in Large icons or Small icons view, directly click on Devices and Printers.

Opening the Print Queue

In the “Devices and Printers” window, locate your printer in the “Printers” section.
Right-click on the icon of your printer.
From the context menu, select See what’s printing. This will open the print queue window.

Understanding and Managing Print Jobs in the Queue Window

Once you Check current print jobs in queue windows and have the queue window open, you’ll see a list of documents and several options to manage them.

Information Displayed

The print queue window typically shows:

Document Name: The name of the file being printed.
Status: The current state of the job (e.g., Printing, Paused, Error, Deleting).
Owner: The user who sent the print job.
Pages: The number of pages in the document.
Size: The file size of the print job.
Submitted: The time the job was sent to the printer.

Managing Individual Print Jobs

You can manage specific documents in the queue:

Right-click on a print job in the list to access options:
- Pause: Temporarily stops the selected print job.
- Resume: Continues a print job that was previously paused.
- Restart: This option usually requires you to first Pause then Resume the job, or more commonly, Cancel the problematic job and resend it to the printer. If a job is stuck, canceling is often the best first step.
- Cancel: Removes the selected print job from the queue.
- Properties: Shows more details about the specific print job.

Managing All Print Jobs (Printer Menu)

In the print queue window, you can also manage all jobs for that printer using the Printer menu in the menu bar:

Pause Printing: Pauses all print jobs in the queue for that printer. Printing will resume when you uncheck this option.
Cancel All Documents: Clears the entire print queue for the selected printer. This is useful if many jobs are stuck or no longer needed.
You might also find options like “Open As Administrator” for elevated privileges if needed.

Troubleshooting Common Print Queue Issues When You Check Current Print Jobs in Queue Windows

Print Job Stuck in Queue: If a document won’t print or delete, try right-clicking and selecting Cancel. If that fails, try Cancel All Documents from the “Printer” menu. If it’s still stuck, you may need to restart the Print Spooler service.
Printer Offline: Ensure your printer is turned on, properly connected to your computer or network, and doesn’t have any error messages on its display.
Print Spooler Service Issues: The Print Spooler service manages print jobs. If it’s not working correctly, printing will fail.
1. Press Windows key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Scroll down to find Print Spooler in the list of services.
3. Right-click on “Print Spooler” and select Restart. If it’s stopped, select Start.
Driver Issues: Outdated or corrupted printer drivers can cause various printing problems. Consider updating your printer driver from the manufacturer’s website.

Knowing how to effectively Check current print jobs in queue windows allows you to take control of your printing tasks, resolve common issues, and ensure your documents print smoothly.