---
name: "lpq"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "cups"
version: "2:2.4.20-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/lpq"
---

# lpq(1)

show printer queue status

## NAME

lpq - show printer queue status

## SYNOPSIS

**lpq** \[ **-h** *server*\[**:***port*\] \] \[ **-E** \] \[ **-U** *username* \] \[ **-P** *destination*\[**/***instance*\] \] \[ **-a** \] \[ **-l** \] \[ **+***interval* \]

## DESCRIPTION

**lpq** shows the current print queue status on the named printer. Jobs queued on the default destination will be shown if no printer or class is specified on the command-line.

The *+interval* option allows you to continuously report the jobs in the queue until the queue is empty; the list of jobs is shown once every *interval* seconds.

## OPTIONS

**lpq** supports the following options:

- **-E**

  Forces encryption when connecting to the server.

- **-P** *destination*\[**/***instance*\]

  Specifies an alternate printer or class name.

- **-U** *username*

  Specifies an alternate username.

- **-a**

  Reports jobs on all printers.

- **-h** *server*\[**:***port*\]

  Specifies an alternate server. Note: This option must occur before all others.

- **-l**

  Requests a more verbose (long) reporting format.

## SEE ALSO

[**cancel**(1)](/cancel/1.md), [**lp**(1)](/lp/1.md), [**lpr**(1)](/lpr/1.md), [**lprm**(1)](/lprm/1.md), [**lpstat**(1)](/lpstat/1.md), CUPS Online Help (http://localhost:631/help)

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2020-2024 by OpenPrinting.