Tips for 2-sided printing on Mac and Windows

If you have a 2-sided printer (also known as a Duplex printer), this type of printing is easy to do with the presets in the Microsoft Word application. But if you only have a printer on one side, you have to take care to flip the paper when you finish printing on one side. First, let’s take a look at both the printer options on Word in both Windows and Mac.

2-sided printing is a simple way to save paper Shutterstock

Print Double-sided in Word on Windows

It only takes a few steps to set up 2-sided printing on Windows from document editing applications like Word (Excel does the same) if your printer supports 2-sided printing. Otherwise, use the manual method.

1. Print with Duplex printer

Open your Word document, select the File tab, and then select “Print”.

Select Print on Both Sides to print 2-sided on Duplex machine Screenshots

Select Printer at the top if not set up > below Settings, open the second drop-down box and select one of the options from the “Print on Both Sides” section (if your printer is a printer that supports printing). 2 sides) including:

Flip pages on long edge: This method is often used when printing in portrait format and closing the left margin, pinning the left corner (flip to the left when viewing). Or when printing in landscape format with the top margin closed (flip upwards when viewing).

Flip pages on short edge: Used when printing in landscape format and turning the page to the left. Or when printing in portrait format and turning the page up to view.

After selecting, check the remaining settings and then click Print to print.

If you don’t see the Print on Both Sides option, your printer probably doesn’t support 2-sided printing (automatically flips the paper). Then refer to the section below.

2. Manually 2-sided printing

Select Manual Print on Both Sides to manually print 2-sided on a regular printer Screenshots

If your printer can only print 1 way, finish printing 1 side and then flip them over to print the rest of the pages. Microsoft Word on Windows gives you 2 ways to print in this style.

In the second drop-down box under Settings, select ” Print on Both Sides”. Using this option, Word prompts you when it’s time to turn your printed pages.

Alternatively, use the first drop-down box under Settings and select “Only Print Odd Pages” or “Only Print Even Pages” and then check the other settings. then click Print to print.After printing on one side, you need to turn the top of the paper over and print the other side, flipping the top of the paper depends on the printer.

2-sided printing with Word on Mac

While the 2-sided printing options in Word on a Mac are similar to those on a Windows computer, there are a few slight differences.

1. Print with Duplex printer

Duplex 2-sided printing option on Mac Screenshots

Open your Word document and from the menu choose File > Select Printer and Presets if necessary. In the pop-up dialog box, select Layout.

At the bottom, select Long- or Short-Edge Binding next to Two-Sided (2-sided), depending on which way you want the pages to be flipped, and click Print to print when you’re done with the setup. If 2-sided printing is not available, you can print it manually in the following way.

2. Manual 2-sided printing

Manual 2-sided printing option on Mac for regular printers Screenshots

If you don’t have a Duplex duplex printer, you can manually print 2-sided in Word on your Mac by printing even (Even Pages Only) or odd (Odd Pages Only) pages and manually turning them over and printing. The other side is similar to Windows.