How to Cancel Windows XP Print Jobs

Canceling a Windows XP print job can be accomplished in one of several ways. Print jobs may need to be canceled due to printing the wrong document or queuing up too many copies. Another reason to cancel a print job in Windows XP is due to the document sticking or hanging up in the print queue. Depending on the situation, the job can be canceled either from your computer or from the printer itself.

Instructions

1. Press the "Cancel" button on your printer. Depending on the model of printer, the button may also state "Stop" or "Delete." If the job still exists, continue to Step 2.

2. Turn your printer off and wait at least 30 seconds before turning it back on. If the print still exists, continue to Step 3.

3. Go to "Start" and select "Run."

4. Type "control printers" and press "OK."

5. Right-click your printer's icon and select "Open."

6. Right-click the print job you want to cancel and select "Cancel."

   If you want to cancel all print jobs in the queue, go to the "Print" menu and choose "Cancel All Documents."

Tips & Warnings

• Print jobs canceled from your computer may take up to five minutes to disappear from the print queue.

• Never cancel someone else's print job without notifying them. If someone else's print job is stuck, notify them first so they will know to reprint their document. Note that this only applies to users sharing the same printer.

References

• Microsoft: How to Cancel Printing or to Delete a Print Job That Is Stuck in the Print Queue in Windows XP