Printing from your iPhone or iPad is usually simple until you need to cancel a job. The Print Queue on iOS devices helps you see what’s printing and lets you stop unwanted print jobs before they waste your paper and ink. To cancel a print job on your iOS device, double-click the Home button (or swipe up from the bottom on newer models) to open the App Switcher where you’ll find the Print Center app that appears when printing is in progress.
When you send something to print from your iOS device, the Print Center appears automatically. This helpful tool shows all current print jobs and their status. You can tap on any job in the queue that you want to cancel. The Print Center app only shows up during active print jobs and disappears when printing is complete.
If you’re having trouble finding the Print Center, remember it only appears in the App Switcher while printing is in progress. For iPhone users who frequently print documents, knowing how to access and use the Print Queue can save time and resources when a print job needs to be stopped quickly.
Guide to iOS Print Queue Information
While iOS doesn’t have a dedicated “Print Queue” app like macOS or Windows, you can still access information about your active print jobs through the Print Center. This appears automatically when you initiate a print job.
Here’s how to access and manage your iOS print queue information:
1. Initiate a Print Job:
- Open the app you want to print from (e.g., Photos, Safari, Files, Mail).
- Tap the Share icon (usually a square with an arrow pointing up) or the Action button (often represented by three dots
...). - Look for and tap Print. If you don’t see it immediately, you might need to scroll down the share sheet.
- On the Print Options screen, select your Printer if it’s not already chosen. Ensure your printer is AirPrint-enabled and on the same Wi-Fi network as your iOS device.
- Tap Print in the upper-right corner to send the job to the printer.
2. Accessing the Print Center (Active Print Jobs):
The Print Center will appear automatically once a print job is sent. There are a couple of ways to access it while a print job is in progress:
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Via App Switcher:
- On iPhones with a Home button: Double-press the Home button.
- On iPhones without a Home button: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle.
- Look for the Print Center app icon (it looks like a printer). Tap on it to open.
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Sometimes as a Notification: A notification might briefly appear indicating a print job is in progress. Tapping this notification might also take you to the Print Center.
3. Viewing Print Job Status:
Once you open the Print Center, you will see a list of your active print jobs. The status of each job will be displayed, such as:
- Printing: The job is currently being sent to or processed by the printer.
- Holding for Authentication: Some printers might require authentication directly at the printer.
- Idle: The job is waiting in the queue to be printed.
- There might also be error messages if the print job has failed (e.g., “Printer Offline”).
4. Managing Print Jobs (Cancelling):
If you need to cancel a print job:
- Open the Print Center as described above.
- Tap on the print job you want to cancel.
- Tap Cancel Printing.
- Confirm that you want to cancel the job.
Important Considerations:
- Print Center Only Appears When Active: The Print Center app icon will only appear in the App Switcher when there is an active print job in the queue. If no printing is in progress, you won’t see it.
- No Persistent Print History: iOS does not typically keep a long-term history of completed print jobs within the Print Center.
- Printer-Specific Apps: Some printer manufacturers (like HP, Canon, Epson, Brother) offer their own iOS apps. These apps might provide more detailed information about the printer status, ink levels, and potentially a more comprehensive view of the print queue, including past jobs. Check the App Store for an app specific to your printer model.
- AirPrint Requirement: For this method to work seamlessly, your printer needs to support Apple’s AirPrint technology.
In summary, to check your iOS print queue information, initiate a print job and then access the Print Center via the App Switcher. From there, you can view the status of your current print jobs and cancel them if necessary.
Key Takeaways
- Access Print Center by opening the App Switcher during active printing to view or cancel print jobs.
- Print Center appears automatically when printing and disappears when all jobs are complete.
- Tap on any print job in the queue to select and cancel it before printing completes.
Managing Print Jobs on iOS Devices
iOS devices let you print photos and documents easily. You can check on your print jobs and cancel them if needed using the Print Center app.
Accessing the Print Center
To access Print Center on your iPhone or iPad, first start printing something. Tap the Share icon in the app you’re using. Then select Print from the options.
After you start a print job, open the App Switcher. On newer iPhones, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold. On older models with a Home button, double-click the Home button.
The Print Center app will appear in the App Switcher. This app only shows up when you have active print jobs. Tap on Print Center to see all your current print jobs.
In Print Center, you can see details about each print job. This includes the printer name, number of pages, and job progress.
Canceling a Print Job
If you need to stop a print job, open the Print Center as described above. The app shows all your active print jobs.
To cancel printing, simply tap on the print job you want to stop. You’ll see a Cancel Printing button at the bottom of the screen. Tap this button to stop the job.
For multiple print jobs, you can cancel them one by one. Select each job and tap the Cancel button.
If Print Center doesn’t appear in the App Switcher, your print job might have already finished. The app disappears when all print jobs are complete.
If you’re having trouble finding Print Center, you might need to check if your printer is AirPrint compatible. AirPrint is Apple’s technology that allows direct printing without extra apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
iPhone users might need to cancel print jobs for many reasons. Here are answers to common questions about managing print tasks on iOS devices.
How can a print job be aborted on an iPhone?
To abort a print job on an iPhone, double-tap the Home button or swipe up from the bottom of the screen on newer models. This opens the App Switcher. Look for the Print Center app that appears when printing is active.
Tap on Print Center to open it. Then tap on the print job you want to cancel. You’ll see a Cancel Printing option. Tap this to stop the print job.
What steps are necessary to remove a print job from an iPhone’s queue?
Open the App Switcher by double-tapping the Home button or swiping up from the bottom on newer iPhone models. Find and select the Print Center app in the App Switcher.
Once in Print Center, you’ll see all current print jobs. Tap on the job you want to remove. Then tap the Cancel Printing button to remove it from the queue.
The print job will be deleted from the queue right away.
Is there a way to access and manage the Print Center on an iOS device?
The Print Center app only shows up when you have an active print job. It’s not a permanent app on your home screen.
To find it, start a print job first. Then open the App Switcher. Print Center should appear among your recent apps.
From Print Center, you can check print status and manage all print jobs currently in progress.
What methods are available for clearing a stuck print job on an iPhone?
For stuck print jobs, first try the standard cancel method through Print Center. If that fails, turn off the printer and turn it back on after 30 seconds.
Another method is to reset the printing system. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the info icon next to your network, and forget the network. Then reconnect to it.
You can also try restarting your iPhone. Press and hold the power button, then slide to power off. After a minute, turn your device back on.
Can you terminate a printing process from the iOS Print Center?
Yes, the iOS Print Center lets you terminate any active printing process. Access Print Center through the App Switcher after starting a print job.
Inside Print Center, tap on the print job you want to stop. Then tap the Cancel Printing button at the bottom of the screen.
This cancels the print job and removes it from the queue.
How to resolve issues with print jobs not canceling on iOS?
If a print job won’t cancel, restart your printer first. Turn it off completely, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on.
Next, check if your printer’s software needs updates. Visit the App Store to see if your printer’s app has any available updates.
If problems continue, restart your iPhone. Sometimes the connection between your iPhone and printer needs to be reset completely.
As a last resort, you can reset your network settings. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Note this will remove all saved Wi-Fi passwords.
