How to Print Double-Sided (Duplex) in Windows 11

You want to print on both sides of the paper (double-sided, also called duplex) instead of one side per sheet.

Why: Many printers can flip the page for you automatically (automatic duplex); others can’t, in which case you print one side, flip the stack, and reprint (manual duplex). The option lives in the Print dialog of the app you’re printing from. We’ll use Word as the example since it’s the most common.

Step 1: Check whether your printer does duplex automatically

1. In Word, click File > Print.
2. Under Settings, find the dropdown that says Print One Sided.
3. Click it. If you see Print on Both Sides as an option, your printer supports automatic duplex.

If the only “both sides” choice is Manually Print on Both Sides, your printer can’t flip pages itself — skip to Step 3.

Step 2: Turn on automatic double-sided printing

1. In File > Print, click the Print One Sided dropdown.
2. Choose Print on Both Sides.
3. For most documents pick the option that flips on the long edge (like a book). Choose short edge only for flip-up, notepad-style layouts.
4. Click Print.

Step 3: Print double-sided manually (printer with no auto-duplex)

1. In File > Print, click the Print One Sided dropdown and choose Manually Print on Both Sides.
2. Click Print. Windows prints all the front sides first.
3. When prompted, take the printed stack, flip it over, and reload it into the paper tray in the correct orientation.
4. Click Continue (or press OK on the prompt) to print the back sides.

Tip: If the second pass comes out upside-down or on the wrong side, you flipped the stack the wrong way — print a 2-page test document first so you only waste one sheet getting the flip direction right.

Step 4 (optional): Make double-sided the default for one printer

To avoid choosing it every time, set duplex in the printer’s own preferences:

1. Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, click your printer.
2. Open Printing preferences (or Printer properties > Preferences).
3. On the Finishing or Layout tab (the wording depends on your printer’s driver), turn on Print on both sides / Two-sided printing, then click OK.

FAQ

There’s no “Print on Both Sides” option at all. Your printer hardware doesn’t have an automatic duplexer. Use Manually Print on Both Sides (Step 3) instead.

Long edge vs short edge — which do I want? Long edge for normal portrait documents that read like a book. Short edge for documents you flip vertically, like a calendar or notepad.

Can I do this from a PDF or browser? Yes — the Print dialog in Adobe Reader, Edge, and Chrome all have a Print on both sides / Two-sided option when the printer supports it. The choice may read “Both sides” or “Duplex” depending on the app.

Sources: Microsoft — Print on both sides of the paper (duplex printing) in Word