---
name: "lprm"
section: "1"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/lprm"
---

# lprm(1)

remove jobs from the line printer spooling queue

## NAME

**lprm** – remove jobs from the line printer spooling queue

## SYNOPSIS

**lprm** \[**-P***printer*\] \[**-**\] \[job # ...\] \[*user* *...*\]

## DEPRECATION NOTICE

This facility is scheduled for removal prior to the release of FreeBSD 16.0.

## DESCRIPTION

The **lprm** utility will remove a job, or jobs, from a printer's spool queue. Since the spooling directory is protected from users, using **lprm** is normally the only method by which a user may remove a job. The owner of a job is determined by the user's login name and host name on the machine where the [lpr(1)](/lpr/1.md) command was invoked.

Options and arguments:

- **-P***printer*

  Specify the queue associated with a specific *printer* (otherwise the default printer is used).

- **-**

  If a single ‘**-**’ is given, **lprm** will remove all jobs which a user owns. If the super-user employs this flag, the spool queue will be emptied entirely.

- *user*

  Cause **lprm** to attempt to remove any jobs queued belonging to that user (or users). This form of invoking **lprm** is useful only to the super-user.

- *job #*

  A user may dequeue an individual job by specifying its job number. This number may be obtained from the [lpq(1)](/lpq/1.md) program, e.g.

  ```
  % lpq -l
  1st:ken				[job #013ucbarpa]
  	(standard input)	100 bytes
  % lprm 13
  ```

If neither arguments or options are given, **lprm** will delete the currently active job if it is owned by the user who invoked **lprm**.

The **lprm** utility announces the names of any files it removes and is silent if there are no jobs in the queue which match the request list.

The **lprm** utility will kill off an active daemon, if necessary, before removing any spooling files. If a daemon is killed, a new one is automatically restarted upon completion of file removals.

## ENVIRONMENT

If the following environment variable exists, it is utilized by **lprm**.

- PRINTER

  If the environment variable PRINTER exists, and a printer has not been specified with the **-P** option, the default printer is assumed from PRINTER.

## FILES

- */etc/printcap*

  Printer characteristics file.

- */var/spool/\**

  Spooling directories.

- */var/spool/\*/lock*

  Lock file used to obtain the pid of the current daemon and the job number of the currently active job.

## DIAGNOSTICS

\`\`Permission denied" if the user tries to remove files other than his own.

## SEE ALSO

[lpq(1)](/lpq/1.md), [lpr(1)](/lpr/1.md), [lpd(8)](/lpd/8.md)

## HISTORY

The **lprm** command appeared in 3.0BSD.

## BUGS

Since there are race conditions possible in the update of the lock file, the currently active job may be incorrectly identified.