Hp Toner, Laser Printer Reference Center

When you send a document to your HP printer, most machines store the document in memory before they begin printing.  This is especially the case when multiple print jobs have been sent to a networked printer.  In this case, the printer will store all documents in its queue, or memory, until it is able to begin printing them in the order they were received.

Most of the time, this process works seamlessly, but there are times when the printer may get stuck and be unable to print a document in its memory due to an error in the document or a glitch in the printer or its software.  Other times, a user may send a document to the printer for printing, but change their mind or need to make one more edit, and therefore they need a way to clear the printer’s memory.

There are a number of different ways to accomplish this task, depending on the model of printer and whether it is a local printer connected directly to your computer or a networked printer connected via network cable.

If it is a local printer, open the printer’s software on your computer.  In most cases, there will be a printer icon in your taskbar.  If so, double-click the icon to pull up the printer status screen.  If not, open the software either from a desktop icon, in your Programs folder, or by going to the Control Panel and clicking on Printers.  Find the document or documents you wish to clear and choose Delete. 

If you are using a networked printer, you should be able to access the printer’s software using the method above.  If not, most network printers include a web interface which can be accessed by any network user.  Check the HP manual for specific instructions for how to access this interface.  The interface should provide a status screen that will allow you to clear specific documents from memory, or even clear all documents.

The next time your printer is having problems or is stuck on a print job, hopefully these steps will get you back up and running quickly.