# 1-866-203-7571 Fix the HP Print Job Stuck in Queue

**1-866-203-7571**

When your HP printer refuses to print and the document stays “stuck” in the print queue, it can be incredibly frustrating. You click “Print,” but nothing happens — no error message, no response, and the print queue just shows your job as “Printing” or “Queued.”

This issue is extremely common across HP printer models — from **HP OfficeJet Pro**, **DeskJet**, **LaserJet**, and **Envy series** — especially in Windows and macOS systems. But the good news is, you can fix it yourself with the right troubleshooting steps.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain **why print jobs get stuck in the queue**, **how to clear the print spooler**, **reset printer settings**, and **restore smooth printing performance**.

If you want quick help, you can also contact **HP printer support experts at 1-866-203-7571** for real-time assistance.

## **1. Understanding the Problem: What Does “Print Job Stuck in Queue” Mean?**

When you send a document to print, your computer temporarily stores it in a digital “waiting room” called the **Print Spooler**. The spooler queues up multiple print jobs and sends them to the printer one by one.

However, when there’s a glitch in communication between your computer and the printer, or the spooler becomes overloaded, the queued jobs get stuck — preventing new print requests from going through.

### **Common Symptoms Include:**

* Your printer status shows **“Printing…”** but nothing happens.
* The document remains **in the queue indefinitely**.
* You see **“Deleting”** or **“Error - Printing”** next to the file name.
* The printer **prints old jobs repeatedly** or refuses new ones.
* Restarting the printer doesn’t clear the queue.

When this happens, even cancelling or deleting the print job might not work — indicating the spooler service or printer driver may be malfunctioning.

## **2. Main Causes of HP Print Jobs Stuck in Queue**

Before jumping to the fixes, it helps to know the root causes. Common reasons include:

1. **Corrupt Print Spooler Files** – Temporary files in the print spooler folder can get corrupted.
2. **Printer Offline or Communication Error** – Network or USB connection issues disrupt communication.
3. **Outdated or Corrupted Printer Drivers** – Faulty drivers cause jobs to freeze mid-transfer.
4. **Too Many Pending Jobs** – An overloaded queue prevents new jobs from processing.
5. **Windows Print Spooler Service Malfunction** – If the service is disabled or frozen, printing halts.
6. **Incorrect Printer Port Settings** – A mismatch between printer port and driver port configuration.
7. **Third-Party Software Conflicts** – Antivirus or firewall software blocking the print spooler.

Knowing the cause helps you choose the best fix for your situation.

## **3. Preliminary Checks Before You Begin**

Before applying advanced fixes, perform these basic checks:

### ✅ **Check Printer Power and Connection**

* Ensure your HP printer is **powered on**.
* Check the **USB or Wi-Fi connection** between your computer and printer.
* If wireless, make sure both devices are on the **same network**.

### ✅ **Restart Devices**

Restart your **computer**, **printer**, and **Wi-Fi router**. Temporary communication glitches often disappear after a reboot.

### ✅ **Remove All Pending Jobs**

Try deleting all print jobs manually:

1. Open **Control Panel > Devices and Printers**.
2. Right-click your HP printer and select **“See what’s printing.”**
3. Choose **Printer > Cancel All Documents**.
4. Wait for the queue to clear.

If this fails, move to the next step — clearing the print spooler manually.

## **4. Fix 1: Clear and Reset the Print Spooler Service (Windows)**

This is the most effective method for fixing “HP print job stuck in queue” issues.

### **Step 1: Stop the Print Spooler Service**

1. Press **Windows + R** to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type **services.msc** and press **Enter**.
3. Locate **Print Spooler** from the list.
4. Right-click and select **Stop**.

### **Step 2: Delete Temporary Spooler Files**

1. Press **Windows + R**, type:

   C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS

2. Hit **Enter**.
3. Delete **all files** in this folder. (These are just stuck print jobs, not system files.)

### **Step 3: Restart the Print Spooler**

1. Go back to the **Services** window.
2. Right-click **Print Spooler** again and choose **Start**.
3. Close the window and try printing again.

If the print job clears and your printer starts responding, the issue was caused by **spooler file corruption**.

## **5. Fix 2: Use Command Prompt to Reset the Print Queue**

If you prefer command-line fixes, here’s how to clear the queue instantly:

1. Open **Command Prompt as Administrator**.

2. Enter the following commands one by one:

   net stop spooler
   del %systemroot%\System32\spool\printers\* /Q
   net start spooler

3. Press **Enter** after each line.

4. Restart your computer and printer.

This method works especially well if you have **multiple stuck print jobs** that won’t delete manually.

## **6. Fix 3: Set Your HP Printer as Default**

If your computer keeps sending print jobs to a virtual or offline printer, the queue will remain stuck.

### **Steps:**

1. Open **Control Panel > Devices and Printers**.
2. Right-click your **HP printer** and select **Set as Default Printer**.
3. Ensure it shows a green checkmark.
4. Retry printing the document.

If you see multiple printers (like “HP Printer Copy 1”), remove duplicates — they can confuse the print spooler.

## **7. Fix 4: Update or Reinstall HP Printer Drivers**

Outdated drivers often cause print jobs to freeze or miscommunicate with your system.

### **Option 1: Update Drivers Automatically**

1. Go to **Device Manager (Windows + X → Device Manager)**.
2. Expand **Printers or Print Queues**.
3. Right-click your HP printer → **Update driver** → **Search automatically**.

### **Option 2: Reinstall Drivers Manually**

1. Uninstall the existing HP printer driver from **Control Panel > Programs & Features**.
2. Visit **HP’s official support website**.
3. Download the **latest driver** for your printer model.
4. Install it and restart your system.

After reinstalling, test the printer again.

## **8. Fix 5: Check and Reset the Printer Port Settings**

Incorrect port configuration can block communication between your PC and HP printer.

### **Steps:**

1. Go to **Control Panel > Devices and Printers**.
2. Right-click your HP printer → **Printer Properties**.
3. Click on the **Ports** tab.
4. Ensure the correct **USB or WSD port** is selected.
5. If wireless, use a **Standard TCP/IP Port** with the printer’s IP address.

If unsure about the correct IP, print a **Network Configuration Page** from your printer’s control panel.

## **9. Fix 6: Run the HP Print and Scan Doctor Tool**

HP offers a free diagnostic utility that automatically detects and fixes print queue errors.

### **How to Use:**

1. Download **HP Print and Scan Doctor** from HP’s website.
2. Run the tool and select your HP printer.
3. Click **Start** and follow on-screen instructions.
4. The tool will fix spooler issues, driver conflicts, and connectivity errors automatically.

After completing, restart your printer and computer.

## **10. Fix 7: Check for Windows or macOS Updates**

Sometimes, outdated operating system components conflict with printer software.

### **For Windows:**

* Go to **Settings → Windows Update → Check for Updates**.
* Install any available updates, especially those for printer drivers.

### **For macOS:**

* Click **Apple menu → System Settings → Software Update**.
* Download and install any pending updates.

After updating, reconnect your HP printer and test a print job.

## **11. Fix 8: Delete and Re-add the Printer**

Removing and re-adding the printer gives your system a clean slate.

### **For Windows:**

1. Go to **Settings → Devices → Printers & Scanners**.
2. Click your HP printer → **Remove device**.
3. Restart your PC.
4. Click **Add a printer or scanner** → Reconnect your HP printer.

### **For macOS:**

1. Go to **System Preferences → Printers & Scanners**.
2. Select your printer and click the **minus (-)** button to remove it.
3. Click the **plus (+)** button to add it back.

This refresh clears corrupted printer profiles.

## **12. Fix 9: Check for Firewall or Antivirus Interference**

Security software can occasionally block communication between your computer and printer.

### **Steps:**

1. Temporarily **disable your antivirus** or **firewall**.
2. Try printing a document.
3. If it works, add the **HP printer software** as an exception in your antivirus settings.
4. Re-enable your protection afterward.

## **13. Fix 10: Clear the Print Queue Using HP Smart App (For Wireless Printers)**

If you’re using the HP Smart App on Windows or mobile devices:

1. Open the **HP Smart app**.
2. Click on your printer.
3. Go to **Printer Settings → Print Queue**.
4. Cancel all print jobs.
5. Restart both printer and computer.

This is especially useful for **HP OfficeJet, Envy, and Smart Tank printers** connected via Wi-Fi.

## **14. Fix 11: Perform a Factory Reset on HP Printer**

If nothing else works, resetting the printer can clear firmware and memory errors.

### **Steps (General):**

1. On the printer’s control panel, navigate to **Setup → Printer Maintenance → Restore Defaults**.
2. Confirm the reset.
3. Reconnect your printer to Wi-Fi or your PC afterward.

**Caution:** This will erase saved settings like Wi-Fi passwords and fax logs.

## **15. Fix 12: Resolve HP Smart Printing Services Conflicts**

Some HP printers use background services like **HP Smart Device Service (HP SDS)** which sometimes conflict with print spooler operations.

### **How to Fix:**

1. Press **Windows + R**, type `services.msc`, and hit Enter.
2. Find **HP Smart Device Service**.
3. Right-click → **Restart**.
4. Also restart the **Print Spooler** service.

Retry printing — this often resolves queue freezing for enterprise printers.

## **16. Fix 13: Use Safe Mode or Clean Boot**

If a third-party app is interfering with the printer, booting into Safe Mode can help isolate the cause.

### **Steps:**

1. Press **Windows + R**, type `msconfig`, and hit Enter.
2. Under the **Services** tab, check **Hide all Microsoft services**.
3. Click **Disable all** → Apply → OK.
4. Restart your computer.

If printing works in clean boot, re-enable services one by one to find the culprit.

## **17. Fix 14: HP Printer Offline or Pause Status**

If your HP printer is set to “Offline” or “Pause Printing,” the queue won’t process.

### **Steps:**

1. Go to **Control Panel → Devices and Printers**.
2. Right-click your HP printer → **See what’s printing**.
3. Click **Printer menu** → Uncheck **Use Printer Offline** and **Pause Printing**.

Try resending the document.

## **18. Fix 15: Check for Low Ink or Paper Jam**

Surprisingly, physical issues like low ink or paper jams can also keep jobs stuck in queue.

### **Steps:**

1. Open your HP printer cover.
2. Remove jammed paper or debris.
3. Ensure there’s enough paper and ink.
4. Restart the printer.

Then, try printing again.

## **19. Fix 16: Use HP Web Services (for Network Printers)**

If your HP printer supports **HP ePrint** or **Web Services**, resetting them can clear network communication errors.

### **Steps:**

1. Open the printer’s **control panel**.
2. Go to **Web Services Setup**.
3. Turn off and then re-enable Web Services.
4. Print a test page to verify.

## **20. Fix 17: Update HP Firmware**

HP regularly releases firmware updates that fix known bugs, including queue freezing.

### **Steps:**

1. Visit the **HP Support website**.
2. Enter your printer model.
3. Download and install the latest **firmware update** utility.
4. Follow the prompts to update via USB or Wi-Fi.

Restart your printer afterward.

## **21. Fix 18: Use HP Support Assistant**

HP Support Assistant provides diagnostic tools and automatic driver updates.

### **Steps:**

1. Download **HP Support Assistant** from HP’s website.
2. Install and run the tool.
3. It will scan for printer issues and suggest fixes automatically.

## **22. Fix 19: Reconfigure Wireless Network Connection**

If your printer is connected wirelessly, intermittent network drops can freeze print jobs.

### **Steps:**

1. Forget the printer’s Wi-Fi connection on your PC.
2. Reconnect it via **Wi-Fi Setup Wizard** on the printer.
3. Ensure a strong signal and avoid dual-band switching issues (2.4 GHz preferred).
4. Retry printing.

## **23. Fix 20: Contact HP Printer Experts (1-866-203-7571)**

If you’ve tried all these methods but your HP printer still won’t clear the print queue, the problem could be deeper — like corrupted firmware, advanced driver conflicts, or a hardware memory fault.

You can get direct help from **certified HP printer experts** by calling **1-866-203-7571**.
They can:

* Remotely diagnose spooler or driver issues.
* Reconfigure printer software for stable communication.
* Fix HP OfficeJet, DeskJet, Envy, and LaserJet queue problems instantly.

Professional support ensures your printer is restored quickly without losing productivity.

## **24. Preventive Tips to Avoid Print Queue Problems**

Once fixed, follow these tips to prevent future issues:

✅ Always use the latest **HP printer drivers and firmware**.
✅ Avoid cancelling print jobs midway.
✅ Regularly **clear the spooler cache** if you print frequently.
✅ Keep your printer connected to a **stable Wi-Fi network**.
✅ Don’t overload the print queue with too many documents at once.
✅ Perform a **printer maintenance check** monthly.
✅ Use genuine HP ink or toner cartridges.

These steps can help maintain smooth printing performance and prevent job freezes.

## **25. Summary**

| Problem | Solution |
| ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------- |
| Print job stuck in queue | Clear print spooler files |
| Printer not responding | Restart print spooler service |
| Old jobs reprinting | Delete spooler cache |
| Printer offline | Set as default printer & enable online mode |
| Driver issues | Update or reinstall HP drivers |
| Persistent problem | Contact HP support at **1-866-203-7571** |

## **Conclusion**

The “HP Print Job Stuck in Queue” problem can be caused by anything from corrupted spooler files to driver issues or connection faults. Thankfully, most cases can be resolved by clearing the spooler, updating drivers, or resetting printer settings.

If your printer continues to freeze despite these fixes, don’t hesitate to **call HP Printer Support at 1-866-203-7571**. Their technicians can help you fix print queue issues instantly and ensure your printer runs flawlessly again.

**Need immediate help? Call HP Printer Support now at 1-866-203-7571 for expert troubleshooting and guaranteed fixes for print queue problems.**