> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://helping.alive-pic.com/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# Print Queue and Job Management

Behind every smooth printing experience is a well-managed queue. ALIVE Magic Print handles print jobs with the kind of reliability you need when 200 wedding guests are lined up at your booth.

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## How the Queue Works

When a guest taps Print on your iPad, the job travels over Wi-Fi to ALIVE Magic Print, where it enters the print queue. Jobs are processed **one at a time**, in the order they arrive — sequential processing that keeps your printer happy and your prints consistent.

Each job in the queue includes:

* The **image** to be printed
* The target **printer** and queue (Standard or Strips)
* Number of **copies**
* **Template** information (layout, background, slots)

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## Persistent Queue

Print jobs are saved to disk the moment they enter the queue. This means your queue **survives app restarts** — if ALIVE Magic Print closes unexpectedly or you need to reboot your computer, pending jobs are still there when the app comes back up.

No lost prints. No unhappy clients.

|| If you restart ALIVE Magic Print, the app picks up where it left off. Pending and failed jobs remain in the queue and resume processing automatically.

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## Automatic Retry Mechanism

Paper jams happen. Printers hiccup. ALIVE Magic Print handles transient failures with an automatic retry system:

| Attempt | Delay Before Retry |
| --- | --- |
| 1st retry | 5 seconds |
| 2nd retry | 15 seconds |
| 3rd retry | 60 seconds |

The increasing delays give your printer time to recover — whether it's a momentary communication glitch or a brief paper feed issue.

If all 3 retries fail, the job is marked as **failed** in the queue. You can see failed jobs in the dashboard and decide whether to retry manually or discard them.

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## Auto-Cleanup

Completed jobs don't pile up forever. ALIVE Magic Print automatically removes completed jobs from the queue after **24 hours**. This keeps the dashboard clean and the app running lean, even across multi-day events or back-to-back bookings.

Failed jobs are **not** auto-cleaned — they stay in the queue until you handle them.

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## What Happens When a Print Fails

Here's the full lifecycle of a failing job:

1. Job is sent to the printer
2. Print fails (communication error, paper jam, etc.)
3. **1st retry** after 5 seconds
4. **2nd retry** after 15 seconds
5. **3rd retry** after 60 seconds
6. If still failing, the job is marked as **Failed**
7. The job stays in the queue for you to review

You can then fix the issue (reload paper, reconnect USB, clear a jam) and retry the job manually from the dashboard.

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## Tips for Managing Print Jobs During Events

* **Monitor the queue during busy events** — Keep the ALIVE Magic Print dashboard visible on your computer screen so you can spot issues early.
* **Restart the app if the queue seems stuck** — If jobs aren't processing and the printer is fine, a quick restart of ALIVE Magic Print usually clears things up. Your pending jobs will still be there.
* **Watch for repeated failures** — If the same job keeps failing, the issue is likely with that specific image or your printer needs attention.
* **Keep paper stocked** — The most common cause of print failures at events is running out of paper. Stay ahead of it.

| During high-volume events, glance at the queue between sessions. Catching a failed job early means you can reprint before the guest leaves.

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## What's Next?

* [Live Print Preview](/en/article/live-print-preview-6e894l) — See what's about to print before it hits paper
* [Print Jobs Not Completing](/en/article/print-jobs-not-completing-adj1zi) — Troubleshoot stuck or failed jobs