Troubleshooting

How to Print Double-Sided on Linux (Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian)

📅 March 15, 2026⏰ 9 min read✎ DuplexFix Team

Contents

  1. Configure Duplex in CUPS
  2. Print from Evince (Document Viewer)
  3. Print from LibreOffice
  4. Print from Firefox
  5. Command-Line Duplex Printing (lpr)
  6. Troubleshooting Linux Duplex Issues
  7. FAQ

Linux uses CUPS (Common Unix Printing System) for all printing, which gives you powerful control over duplex settings. The tricky part is finding those settings, they're buried in different places depending on whether you're printing from a PDF viewer, LibreOffice, Firefox, or the command line. This guide covers all of them.

Method 1: Configure Default Duplex in CUPS

Setting duplex at the CUPS level means it applies to all print jobs from any application, a handy default for heavy duplex users.

Step 1. Open CUPS admin interface

Open a browser and navigate to http://localhost:631. Click Printers to see installed printers.

Step 2. Open printer settings

Click your printer name, then click Set Default Options from the Administration dropdown.

Step 3. Find duplex/sides setting

Look for Sides, Duplex, or Two-Sided Printing. Set it to Two-Sided-Long-Edge (for portrait/standard documents) or Two-Sided-Short-Edge (for landscape).

Step 4. Save and test

Click Set Default Options to save. Print a test document from any application, duplex should now be enabled by default.

Method 2: Evince (GNOME Document Viewer)

Evince is the default PDF viewer on Ubuntu and most GNOME-based distros:

  1. Open your PDF in Evince
  2. Press Ctrl+P or go to File → Print
  3. In the print dialog, click the Properties button next to the printer name
  4. Find the Page Setup or Duplex tab and set Two-sided printing to Long-edge or Short-edge
  5. Click OK and Print

Method 3: LibreOffice Writer / Impress

LibreOffice has its own print dialog on Linux:

  1. Press Ctrl+P to open the print dialog
  2. Click Properties next to the printer name
  3. Under the General or Device tab, find Duplex and set it to Long edge (Book) or Short edge (Tablet)
  4. Alternatively, look under the Page Layout tab for a "Brochure" mode which auto-handles duplex booklets

Method 4: Firefox

In Firefox on Linux, the print dialog may show a simplified view:

  1. Press Ctrl+P
  2. Click Print using the system dialog at the bottom of the Firefox print preview
  3. In the system CUPS dialog that opens, navigate to the Job Options or Duplex section
  4. Enable two-sided printing and click Print

Method 5: Command Line (lpr / lp)

For scripting or headless use, Linux lets you duplex print from the terminal:

Using lpr

lpr -P PrinterName -o sides=two-sided-long-edge document.pdf

Replace PrinterName with your actual printer name (use lpstat -p to list printers).

Using lp

lp -d PrinterName -o sides=two-sided-long-edge document.pdf

Other useful duplex options

sides=two-sided-short-edge, for landscape / flip-up binding
number-up=2, print 2 pages per side
outputorder=reverse, reverse page order for face-down trays

Troubleshooting Linux Duplex Printing

Duplex option not showing in any application

Check if your printer's PPD (PostScript Printer Description) file declares duplex capability. Run: grep -i duplex /etc/cups/ppd/YourPrinter.ppd. If nothing returns, your printer's Linux driver may not expose duplex, you'll need to use manual duplex or install an updated driver via the manufacturer's website or apt install printer-driver-*.

Pages printing upside-down on back

You have the binding edge set incorrectly. Switch from two-sided-long-edge to two-sided-short-edge (or vice versa) and reprint.

Manual duplex needed, which side to flip?

Use DuplexReady in Firefox or Chrome on Linux. It runs as a web app, detects your printer's output type, and reorders the PDF for correct manual duplex printing.

Need duplex printing on Linux without the terminal?

DuplexReady runs in any Linux browser, no install, no commands needed.

Try DuplexReady Free

FAQ

Run lpoptions -p YourPrinter -l | grep -i duplex in the terminal. If you see duplex options listed, your printer supports it via CUPS. If no results appear, duplex is not in the driver/PPD, either use manual duplex or find an updated driver from your printer manufacturer's Linux support page.

Yes. Use the CUPS admin UI at localhost:631 or run: lpoptions -d YourPrinter -o sides=two-sided-long-edge. This sets the system-wide default. Individual applications can still override this per-job.

Yes. DuplexReady is browser-based and works on any Linux distribution running Firefox, Chrome, or Chromium. No installation, no dependencies, no command-line needed.