Want to print both sides of the paper? You should enable duplex printing. Here’s how to do it in simple steps.
Generally, most printers only print one side of the paper. To print on the other side, you must flip the paper manually before printing. However, if your printer has automatic duplex printing capability, you can use the built-in duplex printing feature in Windows 11 and Windows 10 to automatically print on both sides of the paper. You don’t have to flip the paper manually, the printer does it for you and prints on both sides of the paper. That is the main reason why duplex printing is very popular in offices, schools, and commercial environments.
While duplex printing is enabled by default, there might be situations, such as unintentional changes, outdated drivers, etc., that can disable it. That good thing, as long as your printer supports it, you can easily turn on duplex printing with just a few clicks. This tutorial shows you how. Let’s get started.
Before You Start
- Administrator rights are required to disable or enable duplex printing in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Steps to Enable Duplex Printing in Windows 10
To enable the duplex printing mode in Windows 10, follow the steps given below.
- Open the Start menu by pressing the “Windows key”.
- Search for “Printers & Scanners” and click “Open“
- Click the printer. On Windows 10, click the printer and then click “Manage”.
- Click the “Printing Properties” options.
- Go to the “Device Settings” tab.
- Expand the “Installable Options” menu.
- Select the “Installed” option from the “Duplex Unit” dropdown menu.
- Click “OK” to save changes.
- Close the properties window.
- Close the Settings app.
- Restart your system and printer.
- With that, you’ve enabled duplex printing in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
From now on, you can print on both sides of the paper without manually flipping it.
Important Notes
- Depending on your printer and its driver, the duplex option might be under a different tab or option. So, take a look at all the tabs if you cannot find the duplex option as shown in the steps above.
- If you still cannot find the duplex option in the Printer Properties window, your printer might not support it, or the driver needs to be updated. If it’s a driver issue, try the steps after updating the driver.
- After enabling the option, you need to select the duplex or print on both sides option while sending the print instruction to print on both sides of the paper. Generally, the option will be available under the advanced options section in the print dialog box.
More printer-related guides:
- How to set the default printer in Windows 10
- How to connect a wireless printer to Windows 10
- Steps to add Printer option to Send to Menu
If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to assist.
Update: The tutorial has been updated to streamline the steps and simplify the language.
