How to Print Double Sided on Mac: A Comprehensive Guide

Printing on both sides of paper, also known as duplex printing, is a great way to save paper and reduce your environmental footprint. While most modern printers offer this feature, setting it up on your Mac isn’t always straightforward. Many users encounter situations where the double-sided printing option is missing or greyed out, leading to frustration and unnecessary paper waste.

This guide will walk you through various methods to enable double-sided printing on your Mac, troubleshoot common issues, and ensure you can effectively utilize this feature across different applications. Whether you’re a student, professional, or home user, mastering duplex printing on your Mac will enhance your productivity and contribute to a more sustainable printing practice.

Common Methods to Enable Double-Sided Printing on Mac

There are several approaches to activate double-sided printing on your Mac. Start with the simplest methods and progress to more advanced solutions if needed.

Method 1: Using the Print Dialog Box

This is the most common and easiest way to enable double-sided printing if the option is readily available.

Open your document and go to File > Print (or press Command + P).
In the Print dialog box, look for a “Two-Sided” or “Double-Sided” option. It’s often located near the Copies or Pages settings.

Print Dialog Two-Sided Option
Select the checkbox or dropdown menu to activate double-sided printing. You might see options like “Long-edge binding” (for documents read like a book) or “Short-edge binding” (for documents flipped like a notepad). Choose the one that suits your needs.
Click “Print” to start your double-sided printing job.

If you don’t see the “Two-Sided” option in the main Print dialog box, it might be hidden under Layout settings.

In the Print dialog box, find the dropdown menu (it might say “Copies & Pages” or the name of the application you’re printing from).
Click on the dropdown menu and select “Layout”.
Look for the “Two-SSided” option within the Layout settings.

Print Dialog Layout Option
Choose your desired binding and click “Print”.

Method 2: Checking Printer Options & Supplies in System Preferences

If the “Two-Sided” option is consistently missing or greyed out, you need to verify your printer’s configuration in System Preferences.

Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.
Select your printer from the list on the left.
Click on “Options & Supplies…” button.
In the Options & Supplies window, navigate to the “Options” tab.
Look for a setting related to “Duplex Unit” or “Two-Sided Printing”.

Printer Options Duplex Unit
Make sure the “Duplex Unit” or similar option is checked or enabled. If it’s not checked, your Mac might not recognize your printer’s duplex capability.
Click “OK” to save the changes.
Try printing again and see if the double-sided option is now available in the Print dialog box.

Method 3: Resetting the Printing System

Sometimes, corrupted printer settings can cause issues with feature availability. Resetting the printing system can resolve these problems.

Caution: Resetting the printing system will remove all your printers from the list. You will need to re-add them afterward.

Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Printers & Scanners.
Right-click (or Control-click) in the empty space within the printers list on the left side.
Select “Reset printing system…” from the context menu.
Click “Reset” to confirm. You may be asked to enter your administrator password.
After resetting, click the “+” button at the bottom of the printers list to add your printer again.
Follow the prompts to re-add your printer. Pay close attention to the next step regarding printer drivers.

Method 4: Selecting the Correct Printer Driver

Using the correct printer driver is crucial for accessing all your printer’s features, including duplex printing. macOS sometimes defaults to generic drivers like “AirPrint,” which may not fully support all printer functionalities.

When adding your printer back after resetting (or when initially adding a printer), after clicking the “+” button:
Wait for your printer to appear in the list.
Instead of immediately clicking “Add,” look for the “Use” dropdown menu. It usually defaults to “Secure AirPrint” or “AirPrint.”

Use Dropdown Menu in Add Printer
Click on the “Use” dropdown menu.
Select the specific driver for your printer model, usually listed by the printer manufacturer’s name (e.g., “Epson”, “HP”, “Brother”). Avoid options that include “AirPrint” if you want full feature access.

Select Printer Specific Driver
If you see multiple driver options for your printer, try selecting the one that explicitly mentions “duplex” or “full features.” You might need to experiment to find the optimal driver.
Click “Add” to add the printer with the selected driver.
After adding, check the “Options & Supplies” as described in Method 2 to ensure the “Duplex Unit” is now correctly recognized and enabled.

Method 5: Using CUPS Interface (Advanced)

For advanced users, macOS utilizes the Common Unix Printing System (CUPS). You can access CUPS through a web interface to configure printer settings, including duplex printing, at a deeper level.

Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal).
Type the following command and press Enter:
```
sudo cupsctl WebInterface=yes
```
Enter your administrator password when prompted. This command enables the CUPS web interface.
Open your web browser (e.g., Safari, Chrome).
In the address bar, type localhost:631 and press Enter. This will take you to the CUPS web interface.
Click on the “Printers” tab.
Select your printer from the list.
In the “Administration” dropdown menu, choose “Set Default Options”.
Look for options related to “Duplex” or “Two-Sided Printing.” The exact wording will vary depending on your printer model.

Unfortunately, a generic image for CUPS duplex settings is not feasible due to its highly printer-specific nature. The settings will be text-based and require careful examination.
Enable duplex printing (e.g., by selecting “Installed” for a “Duplex Unit” option).
Click “Set Default Options” to save the changes.
In Terminal, type the following command and press Enter to disable the CUPS web interface for security:
```
 sudo cupsctl WebInterface=no
```

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even after trying the methods above, you might still encounter problems. Here are some common issues and their solutions:

“Two-Sided” Option Greyed Out

If the “Two-Sided” option is greyed out in the Print dialog box, it usually indicates that the printer driver or system settings are not correctly configured to recognize duplex printing capability.

Verify Printer Capabilities: Double-check your printer’s specifications to ensure it actually supports automatic duplex printing. Some printers may only offer manual duplexing (requiring you to manually re-insert paper).
Correct Driver: Ensure you are using the printer-specific driver from the manufacturer and not an “AirPrint” or generic driver (as explained in Method 4).
Options & Supplies: Revisit the “Options & Supplies” settings in System Preferences (Method 2) and confirm that the “Duplex Unit” or equivalent option is enabled.
Reset Printing System: Try resetting the printing system (Method 3) and re-adding your printer with the correct driver.

Double-Sided Printing Not Working in Specific Applications

In some cases, double-sided printing might work in some applications (like Safari or TextEdit) but not in others (like Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Word). This can be due to application-specific print settings or driver interactions.

Application Print Settings: Some applications, especially professional software like Adobe Acrobat or InDesign, might have their own print dialogs or settings that override the system-wide settings. Explore the print settings within the specific application. Look for a “Printer…” button in the application’s print dialog, which might open a more detailed printer settings window.
Application Updates: Ensure your applications are up to date. Software bugs or compatibility issues can sometimes affect printing functionality.
Test in Different Applications: Try printing from various applications to isolate whether the issue is application-specific or system-wide.

Printer Not Supporting Duplex Printing (Hardware Limitation)

If none of the software solutions work, and the “Duplex Unit” option is consistently absent even with the correct drivers, it’s possible that your printer model simply does not have the hardware capability for automatic duplex printing.

Printer Manual: Consult your printer’s manual or the manufacturer’s website to confirm if your specific model supports automatic duplex printing.
Manual Duplexing: If your printer lacks automatic duplexing, you might still be able to perform manual duplex printing. This involves printing odd pages first, then manually flipping and re-inserting the printed pages to print even pages on the back side. macOS print dialog usually offers options for “Odd pages only” and “Even pages only” under “Pages to Print” setting, which can be used for manual duplexing. However, the exact steps for manual duplexing can vary depending on your printer and application.

Conclusion

Enabling double-sided printing on your Mac is usually a straightforward process, but driver issues or misconfigurations can sometimes complicate things. By following the methods outlined in this guide, from basic print dialog settings to advanced CUPS configuration, you should be able to successfully print double-sided on your Mac and enjoy the benefits of paper saving and efficient printing. Remember to always use the correct printer-specific drivers and verify your printer’s hardware capabilities for duplex printing to ensure optimal functionality.