How to Print Double-Sided on Windows and Mac

01Quick answer

To print double sided, open the Print dialog and look for an option such as two-sided, both sides or duplex. If your printer supports automatic duplex printing (it turns the page over by itself), choosing that option is all you need. If it doesn’t, you can print manually: print one side, reload the pages, then print the other side. This guide covers both methods on Windows and Mac, for anyone saving paper or printing booklets and handouts.

02Before you start

• Find out if your printer has automatic duplex. The specifications in your manual or on the manufacturer’s website say so. Many printers do; some budget models don’t.
• Check the print preview so you know how many pages the document has.
• Use plain paper in good condition. Thin, damp or curled paper is more likely to jam when it passes through twice.

03Why this happens

Double-sided options sometimes seem to be missing even on printers that support them.

Usually simple to fix:

• The option is in the printer’s preferences rather than the main Print dialog.
• The computer is using a basic driver that doesn’t show duplex options.
• The document app (such as a web browser or PDF reader) names the option differently.
• The paper size or type selected doesn’t support automatic duplex on that printer.

Needs the manufacturer or a repair service:

• The printer’s duplex unit jams every time even with suitable paper.
• Automatic duplex worked before and now reports an error the manual doesn’t explain.

04Print on both sides automatically

On Windows

1. Open the document and choose Print.
2. Look for a two-sided or both-sides option in the print window. Many apps show it directly. If not, select Printer properties or Preferences and look on the layout or finishing tab, depending on your printer’s driver.
3. Choose to flip on the long edge for normal portrait documents, or the short edge for landscape pages or calendar-style flipping.
4. Print.

   What you should see: the printer pulls the page back in after printing the first side and prints the second. Don’t take the page out until it’s finished.

On a Mac

1. Open the document and choose File, then Print.
2. Look for a Two-Sided option. If you don’t see it, click Show Details or open the layout section of the print options.
3. Choose long-edge or short-edge binding, then click Print.

If the two-sided option isn’t shown at all, your Mac may be using a basic driver. Re-adding the printer or installing the maker’s driver may reveal it; our guide to installing or updating a printer driver explains how.

05Print on both sides manually

Use this method if your printer has no automatic duplex.

1. In the Print dialog, choose to print odd pages only. In many apps this is under a page range or pages option.
2. When they’re printed, note which way the pages came out and which side was printed.
3. Put the stack back in the paper tray so the blank side will be printed and the top of the page goes in the right direction. Your printer’s manual explains which way up paper should face in its tray.
4. Print even pages only.

   Did the pages line up? If the second side is upside down or on the wrong side, test with two sheets first next time and mark the top with a pencil.

Some Windows drivers offer a guided manual duplex option that prompts you to turn the pages over. If yours does, follow its instructions.

06Booklets and other layouts

Double-sided printing is also the starting point for some useful layouts.

• Booklets: some apps and printer drivers offer a booklet layout that arranges pages so that a folded stack reads in order. Look for it in the layout or finishing options. If it isn’t offered, your word processor may have its own booklet setting.
• Several pages per sheet: combining two or four pages on each side saves even more paper for drafts and notes. The option is usually called pages per sheet, in the same layout area.
• Handouts with a blank back page: check the page count first. If the document has an odd number of pages, the last sheet will be blank on the back, which is normal.

07Common mistakes to avoid

• Picking short-edge flipping for a normal portrait document, which turns every back page upside down.
• Reloading pages the wrong way round during manual duplex. Test with two pages first.
• Removing a page while the printer is still turning it over.
• Using heavy card or glossy photo paper for automatic duplex when the manual says it isn’t supported.

08If it still doesn’t work

If the duplex option is missing on a printer that supports it, update or reinstall the driver from an official source. If pages jam during duplex printing, see our paper jam guide and check that the paper type is supported. For repeated duplex errors, contact the printer manufacturer through its official support website.

09The short version

Choose two-sided printing in the Print dialog or the printer preferences, with long-edge flipping for portrait pages. Without automatic duplex, print odd pages, reload the stack and print even pages.

10FAQ

What is the difference between long edge and short edge?

Long-edge flipping turns the page like a book, which suits portrait documents. Short-edge flipping turns it like a notepad or calendar, which suits landscape pages.

Why is there no double-sided option when I print?

The option may be hidden in the printer properties, or your computer may be using a basic driver without duplex settings. Some printers also don’t support automatic duplex at all, in which case use the manual method.

Can I make double-sided printing the default?

Yes. In your printer’s printing preferences on Windows, set two-sided as the default. On a Mac, you can save the current print settings as a preset and pick it each time.

Why does the second side come out smudged?

On inkjets, the printed side may still be slightly wet when the page is pulled back in. Some printers have a setting to add drying time, and using plain paper rather than glossy paper helps.

Is double-sided printing slower?

Usually, yes, because the printer prints one side, pulls the page back in and prints the other. It uses half the paper, though.