How to Print on Both Sides of the Paper (Duplex Printing)

01Key takeaway

Duplex printing means printing on both sides of each sheet. If your printer has automatic duplex, choose the two-sided option in the print dialog and pick whether pages flip on the long edge (like a book) or the short edge (like a notepad). If it doesn’t, many drivers offer manual duplex, which prints one side, then asks you to turn the stack over and reload it.

02Terms used in this guide

• Duplex: printing on both sides of the paper.
• Automatic duplex: the printer turns the sheet over internally to print the second side.
• Manual duplex: you turn the printed pages over and reload them yourself.
• Long-edge binding: pages flip like a book, for portrait documents.
• Short-edge binding: pages flip like a calendar or notepad, often used for landscape documents.

03Check what your printer supports

Look for “automatic two-sided printing” or “auto duplex” in the specifications or manual. Some printers duplex only certain paper sizes and weights; thick card, photo paper and envelopes usually aren’t supported. If your printer lacks automatic duplex, check whether its driver offers a manual duplex option.

04Print two-sided automatically

In Windows 11

1. Open your document and choose Print (Ctrl+P).
2. Select your printer.
3. Look for a two-sided or duplex option. In many apps it appears in the main print dialog as “Print on both sides”; in others it is under Printer properties or Preferences.
4. Choose flip on long edge for portrait documents, or flip on short edge for landscape ones.
5. Print, and wait for the printer to finish the second side before removing pages.

You should see: the printer pause briefly while the ink or toner settles, pull the sheet back in, and print the reverse side.

On a Mac

1. Open your document and choose File, then Print (Command+P).
2. If the dialog is small, click Show Details.
3. Find the Two-Sided option or menu and turn it on. Some apps list it under a Layout section.
4. Choose long-edge or short-edge binding if offered.
5. Click Print.

To make two-sided the usual choice on a Mac, save the settings as a preset from the Presets menu in the print dialog. In Windows, set two-sided as the default in the printer’s preferences, opened from Settings, then Bluetooth & devices, then Printers & scanners. Our guide to print settings shows where these options live.

05Print both sides by hand

If there is no automatic duplex, you can still print both sides.

1. Do a test run first. Draw a small arrow in pencil on the top edge of a plain sheet, facing up, and load it in the tray. Print a one-page document and note where the arrow ended up: this shows you which way the printer feeds and which side it prints.
2. Print the first side. Use the driver’s manual duplex option if available; it will print one side and show instructions. Otherwise, choose “Print odd pages only” (offered in many apps’ print dialogs).
3. Let the pages dry. Inkjet pages may need a minute, so the ink doesn’t smudge or transfer.
4. Reload the stack. Using what your test showed, turn the stack over and put it back in the tray the right way round. Don’t add other paper.
5. Print the second side. Follow the driver’s prompt, or choose “Print even pages only”. If the page count is odd, you may need to remove or add a blank sheet so the pages line up.

Did the pages line up? If the backs are upside down, rotate the stack 180 degrees next time. If they are in the wrong order, try the app’s reverse-order option for the second pass.

06Tips for better two-sided prints

Two-sided printing asks a little more of the paper and the printer, because each sheet goes through twice. These habits help:

• Use slightly heavier paper if text shows through from the other side, staying within the manual’s duplex limits.
• Flatten curled paper. Curled or damp sheets are more likely to jam during duplexing. Store paper flat in its wrapper.
• Avoid heavy ink coverage on both sides of thin paper with an inkjet; it can wrinkle.
• Clear jams carefully. If paper jams in the duplex unit, follow the manual’s steps; see clearing paper jams.

07When to get more help

If the two-sided option is missing even though your printer supports it, the driver may be a basic one. Install the full driver from the manufacturer’s support site or Windows Update and check that the duplex unit is enabled in the printer’s properties (some drivers have an “installable options” or “device settings” section). If the printer jams every time it duplexes, check paper size, weight and loading, then contact the manufacturer’s support.

08Common questions

Does duplex printing slow things down?

Yes, a little. The printer waits for the first side to dry or settle and turns the sheet internally, so two-sided jobs take longer than single-sided ones.

Why is the back of my page upside down?

The binding edge setting doesn’t match the document. Use long-edge for portrait documents and short-edge for landscape ones, or the other way round if you want a calendar-style flip.

Can I duplex photo paper or envelopes?

Usually not. Most printers support duplex on plain paper only. Check the manual.

Can I make every document print two-sided?

Yes, by setting two-sided as the default in the printer’s preferences or saving a preset on a Mac. You can still switch back to one-sided for individual jobs, such as forms that must be single-sided.

Does duplex printing save money?

It halves the paper used for longer documents. Ink or toner use is about the same, because you still print the same number of pages.