To print double-sided on Windows, open the app’s File > Print screen, select your printer, open its Properties or Preferences, and enable Duplex, Two-sided, or Print on both sides. Choose flip on long edge for portrait pages that should turn like a book; choose flip on short edge for portrait pages that should turn like a calendar. Driver labels and available options vary, so check the preview or print one test sheet if you are unsure.
Print double-sided from a Windows app
- Open the document’s print screen. In the app, select File > Print or its equivalent.
- Select the printer you intend to use. Then open Printer Properties, Preferences, Printer Setup, or a similarly named control.
- Find the two-sided setting. Look for Two-sided, Duplex, or Print on both sides. Depending on the driver, it may appear under Layout, Features, or Finishing. HP’s Windows instructions, for example, use a Finishing tab, and note that labels and application layouts can differ.
- Choose the flip edge that matches how the printed pages should turn. See the guide below.
- Print and check the reverse side. Turn the page as you intend to read it and confirm the back is upright. If the result is wrong, change the flip-edge option and try a single sheet.
Microsoft describes these options as TwoSidedLongEdge and TwoSidedShortEdge: each names the edge along which the sheet flips. The practical book-versus-calendar guidance below follows from that axis; a particular app or driver may present different wording.
Long edge or short edge: which should you choose?
| Setting | How the sheet flips | Common use for portrait pages |
|---|---|---|
| Flip on long edge | Around the sheet’s long side | Book-like pages |
| Flip on short edge | Around the sheet’s short side | Calendar-like pages |
Think about how you will turn the finished page, not just the paper tray. For landscape layouts, the appropriate edge can differ from the usual portrait choice; use the preview and a test sheet to confirm the back prints upright in the intended reading orientation.
Why is “Print on both sides” missing?
- Check the printer’s duplex capability. Consult the printer manual or its properties. The option may appear only when the printer supports duplex printing.
- Confirm the selected printer and driver. Make sure Windows is sending the job to the intended device and that its installed driver exposes the duplex feature.
- Check whether automatic duplex hardware is installed. On the HP enterprise models covered by HP’s Windows guidance, automatic two-sided printing requires an automatic duplexer. If it is not installed, HP provides a manual-printing procedure.
If automatic duplex is unavailable, the app or driver may print one side and prompt you to reinsert the pages. Follow the prompt or the exact printer manual: paper paths and reinsertion orientation vary by model, so there is no safe universal instruction for which way to flip the stack.
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Check the paper before duplex printing
Media limits depend on the printer. For the HP printers covered by its guidance, HP warns against two-sided printing on envelopes, photo or glossy paper, transparencies, and paper lighter than 60 g/m² (16 lb) or heavier than 105 g/m² (28 lb), citing the risk of jams or printer damage. These limits are not universal; check the manual for your exact model and paper.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Before considering a different printer
Check your current printer’s manual and installed configuration first. Duplex features can vary among configurations in the same product series. For one specific example, HP lists automatic duplex printing as standard on the LaserJet Pro 4002dw; that specification does not establish current price, stock, or availability in your region.
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