How to Print Double Sided on Windows 11

Windows 11 has made duplex printing easier, but the settings still aren't obvious at first glance. This guide shows you every method: from the quickest approach in any app to setting duplex as your default for all future jobs.

Step 1: Check if Your Printer Supports Duplex

Before you dig into settings, confirm what type of duplex your printer supports:

• Automatic duplex: The printer flips the paper internally. Look for "Auto-Duplex," "Duplex Unit," or a two-sided icon on your printer specs or in Device Manager.
• Manual duplex only: You print one side, flip the stack manually, then print the other side. Windows will prompt you when to flip.

Method 1: From Windows Settings

1. Open Printers & Scanners

   Go to Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners. Click your printer.
2. Open Printing Preferences

   Click Printing preferences. This opens the full driver options window.
3. Find the Duplex Setting

   Look under the Finishing, Layout, or Basic tab for "Two-Sided Printing" or "Print on Both Sides."
4. Select Binding Direction

   Choose Flip on Long Edge for portrait documents (like letters, reports). Choose Flip on Short Edge for landscape documents.
5. Apply and OK

   Click OK. This changes the default for all future print jobs from this printer.

Method 2: From the Print Dialog (Any App)

This method works in Microsoft Word, Edge, Chrome, Adobe Reader, any application on Windows 11:

1. Press Ctrl+P to open the print dialog.
2. In the print dialog, look for "Two-sided", "Print on Both Sides", or a dropdown showing "One Sided."
3. If you don't see it immediately, click "More settings" (in the browser print dialog) or "Properties / Preferences" (in native Windows dialogs).
4. Enable duplex and choose your binding edge.
5. Click Print.

How to Set Duplex as Default on Windows 11

To avoid enabling it every single time you print:

1. Press Win + S, search for "Printers & scanners", open it.
2. Click your printer → Printing Preferences.
3. Set Two-Sided to your preferred option.
4. Click Apply → OK.

Now every print job from this printer will default to double-sided. You can still override it in individual print dialogs when you need single-sided output.

Manual Duplex on Windows 11

If your printer doesn't have an automatic duplex unit, here's the manual process:

1. Open the print dialog and choose "Manually Print on Both Sides" (if available) or just print the odd pages first.
2. Windows will print all odd pages and then show a dialog: "Remove the printed pages, flip them, reload them, and click Continue."
3. Flip your paper, the exact direction depends on your printer model. Most common: flip the stack so the printed side faces down and the top edge stays at the top.
4. Click Continue to print the even pages.

Troubleshooting Windows 11 Duplex Issues

Duplex option not showing

Update your printer driver from the manufacturer's website. Old drivers sometimes don't expose duplex options to Windows.

Option is greyed out

Go to Device Settings in Printer Properties and check if the duplex unit shows as "Not Installed." Change it to "Installed" and click OK.

Pages printing upside down

You've selected the wrong binding edge. Switch between Long Edge and Short Edge. Also check our guide: Why Is My Double Sided Printing Not Working?

Printer prints all pages single-sided despite duplex being enabled

Some applications override printer defaults. Check the print dialog within the specific application. Word has its own duplex toggle in the print window that takes precedence.