Mac OS X Print Job Manager hogs CPU, slows system

Several users have reported an issue in which the Mac OS X Print Job Manager, a process labeled PrintJobMgr, inexplicably begins swamping the processor, using 99 percent of CPU.

MacFixIt reader Paul Schimmel writes:

"When I send a print job to my printer (Canon IP4000) which is connected to a airport express on my wireless (g) network and the printer itself is off, the process PrintJobMgr start to use all my CPU resources. [...] This situation might not always be clear to user as one can close he printing queue monitor and see no waiting print job at all. I can repeat this behavior every time."

The CPU usage generally clears up when a print job is completed, but can linger if there is a stalled print queue or another issue.

Fixes

Kill PrintJobMgr This issue can generally be resolved, at least temporarily, by launching Activity Monitor (located in /Applications/Utilities) and quitting the process PrintJobMgr.

See this article for more information on using Activity Monitor to eliminate hanging or otherwise system-resource-hogging processes.

Delete stalled print queues Navigate to ~/Library/Printers and double-click your printer, then delete any undesired print jobs.

Turn the printer off then back on Doing so can sometimes restart failed or otherwise problematic print jobs.

Reset printing system Under Leopard, launch System Preferences then go to the Printer & Fax pane. Control-click on your printer and select "Reset printing system..." from the contextual menu.

Under Tiger, open Printer Setup Utility, located in Applications/Utilities go to the "Printer Setup Utility" menu at the top of the screen and select "Reset Printing System".

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You may also want to peruse our tutorial on resolving common printer problems.

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