How to cancel queued prints

Printing documents is a common task for most computer users. However, there are instances when we accidentally send the wrong document to print or realize there was an error in the document after initiating the print job. In such cases, it is essential to know how to cancel queued prints to save paper, ink, and time. This article will guide you through the steps to cancel queued prints on different operating systems.

Windows:

1. The first step to canceling a print job on Windows is to open the control panel. You can do this by clicking on the “Start” menu and selecting “Control Panel” from the list.

2. In the control panel, locate and click on the “Devices and Printers” option. This will display a list of all the printers connected to your computer.

3. Find the printer that is currently printing or has queued print jobs. Right-click on the printer icon and select “See what’s printing” from the drop-down menu.

4. A new window will open, displaying the print queue for that particular printer. Here, you can see all the documents currently waiting to be printed. To cancel a specific print job, right-click on it and select “Cancel” from the options.

5. If you wish to cancel all the queued print jobs, you can click on the “Printer” menu in the print queue window and select “Cancel All Documents.” Confirm your action when prompted.

Mac:

1. On a Mac computer, the process of canceling queued prints is slightly different. Start by clicking on the Apple menu located in the top-left corner of the screen.

2. From the drop-down menu, select “System Preferences.” This will open a new window with various options for your system settings.

3. In the System Preferences window, locate and click on the “Printers & Scanners” option. This will show you a list of all the printers connected to your Mac.

4. Select the printer with the queued print jobs, and you will see a list of documents waiting to be printed. To cancel a specific print job, right-click on it and select “Cancel” from the options.

5. If you want to cancel all the queued print jobs, there is a “Open Print Queue” button at the bottom of the queue window. Click on it, and a new window will open. Here, you can select “Jobs” from the menu and click on “Cancel All Jobs” to clear the print queue.

Linux:

1. Canceling queued prints on Linux depends on the specific printing system you are using. Most Linux distributions rely on the CUPS (Common Unix Printing System).

2. Open your web browser and enter “localhost:631” in the address bar. This will open the CUPS interface, which provides administrative access to printers.

3. In the CUPS interface, click on the “Printers” tab to see a list of installed printers. Select the one with queued print jobs.

4. This will take you to the printer’s queue page. To cancel a specific print job, click on it and select “Cancel Job” from the options.

5. To cancel all the queued print jobs, you can click on the “Cancel All Jobs” button or select “Jobs” from the menu and choose “Cancel All Jobs.”

Canceling queued print jobs is a simple yet important skill to have, as it helps avoid unnecessary paper and ink wastage. By following the steps mentioned above, you can easily cancel print jobs on various operating systems—Windows, Mac, or Linux. Remember to double-check your print settings and documents before initiating the print job to minimize the need for cancellations.