How to Cancel an Excel Print Job Printing Too Many Copies
Question details
The user needs to cancel an ongoing Excel print job that is mistakenly producing hundreds or thousands of copies.
- Product
- Excel
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- The user accidentally initiated a print job with an excessive number of copies and needs to stop it to save paper and ink.
- Observed behavior
- The printer is continuously printing copies of an Excel document beyond the intended amount.
Act quickly to pause or cancel the print job, as printers process tasks rapidly. Ensure your computer is connected to the printer to successfully send the cancellation command.
Cancel the Print Job via the Windows Print Queue
The quickest way to stop a print job is through the active printers menu in the Windows taskbar.
When you send a document to print, Windows places it in a print queue. Canceling the job from this queue stops your computer from sending further data to the printer.
Look for the printer icon in the Windows taskbar system tray, located in the bottom-right corner of your screen near the clock.
Double-click the printer icon, or right-click it and select 'Open All Active Printers' to view the print queue.
Find the Excel document that is currently printing too many copies in the queue list.
Right-click the document name and select 'Cancel' (or go to Document > Cancel in the top menu). Click 'Yes' to confirm your choice.
Cancel the Print Job Directly on the Printer
If the job has already been fully sent to the printer's memory, canceling it from Windows might not work in time.
Avoid Printing Errors with WPS Spreadsheet
WPS Office offers intuitive print settings and a clear print preview, helping you avoid accidentally printing too many copies. It is fully compatible with Microsoft Excel files and free to use.
- 1. Open your file in WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open your workbook to prepare for printing.
- 2. Access the Print Settings: Click on 'Menu' in the top-left corner and select 'Print', or simply press Ctrl + P on your keyboard.
- 3. Verify Copies and Print: In the Print dialog box, check the 'Number of copies' field to ensure it is set to the correct amount before clicking 'Print'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my printer keep printing even after I hit cancel?
Printers have internal memory that stores a portion of the print job. Even if you cancel the job in Windows, the printer will finish printing the pages that were already loaded into its physical memory.
How do I clear a stuck print job in the Windows queue?
If a canceled job says 'Deleting...' but won't disappear, you may need to restart the Windows Print Spooler service via the Services app, or simply restart both your computer and the printer to clear the queue completely.
Can I pause the print job instead of canceling it?
Yes. In the Windows print queue, you can right-click the active Excel document and select 'Pause'. This temporarily stops the job without deleting it, allowing you to resume it later or clear paper jams.
How can I prevent printing too many copies in Excel?
Always verify the 'Copies' field in the Print dialog box (Ctrl + P) before confirming. Additionally, utilize the Print Preview feature to ensure only the intended pages and amounts are sent to the printer.
