Double-sided printing or duplex printing is printing on both sides of the paper, like printing in books. Double-sided printing helps the environment by cutting the number of pages required for printing in half—thereby cutting down overall paper usage substantially. Sometimes, specific documents also require duplex printing, such as when printing a book or journal.
Printing basically depends on the type and functionality of the printer attached to the computer.
While some printers offer automated double-sided printing, many do not.
With Microsoft Word, it is possible to print double-sided on all types of printers, allowing three methods of duplex printing—one each for printers that can print double-sided and flip papers automatically, for printers that can print double-sided but require manual paper flipping, and for regular manual printers. These are three methods:
- Automatic Double Sided Printing – For printers supporting double-sided printing
- Printing using Manual Flip – For printers which require a manual flip
- Manual Double-sided printing– For standard printers
Method #1: For Printers supporting Automated Double-Sided Printing
This method is for printers supporting automated double-sided printing. These printers will print all the odd pages first, and will automatically flip the bunch of papers internally for printing all the even pages on the other side of the bunch.
Step 1: Open the Word document.
Step 2: Got to File-> Print Menu
On the top menu, click on File to open the File menu, then click on Print on the left.
Select the proper printer under Printer, and set the Printer Properties for automated duplex printing (depends on specific printer model).
Step 3: Go to Settings
Under Settings, click on Print One-Sided, and a second option opens. Select Print on Both Sides. Another list of options drops down.
Step 4: Make the selection
Within the selection, click on Print on Both Sides—select the version that says Flip pages on short edge—this will avoid printing the reverse side of each page upside down.
Step 5: Start Printing
Click on the Print icon to start printing the pages in duplex mode.
The automatic printer will first print all the odd pages, then flip the papers over and print all the even pages in the document.
Method #2: Double-Sided Printing with Word Prompt for Manual Flip
This method is for printers that support duplex printing, but need manual flipping of papers.
Step 1: Open the Word document.
Step 2: Got to File -> Print Menu
Click on File to open the File menu, then click on Print on the left. Select the proper printer under Printer, and set the Printer Properties for double-sided printing, starting with odd pages first (depends on specific printer model).
Step 3: Go to Settings
Under Settings, click on Print One-Sided, and a second option opens. Select Manually Print on Both Sides.
Step 4: Click on the Print icon to start printing.
The printer will print all the odd pages and stop. Word will prompt to reload paper for printing the even pages. After reloading, close the prompt to start printing the even pages. Some printers may need you to click on the Print icon again.
Method #3: Manual Double-Sided Printing
This method is suitable for double-sided printing on regular printers that do not support duplex printing.
Step 1: Open the Word document.
Step 2: Got to File -> Print Menu
On the top menu bar, click on File to open the File menu, then click on Print on the left. Select the proper printer under Printer, and set the Printer Properties appropriately (depends on specific printer model).
Step 3: Go To Settings
Underr Settings, click Print All Pages, and a menu will drop down. At the bottom, click on Only Print Odd Pages.
Step 4: Start Printing
Click on the Print icon to print all the odd pages of the document. Once all the odd pages have finished printing, simply turn the stack of papers over manually and reintroduce them into the printer tray, taking care not to turn them around.
Step 5: Go back to Settings and click on Print All Pages again.
This time select Only Print Even Pages.
Step 6: Click on the Print icon to start printing the even pages.
Conclusion
It does not matter whether your printer supports automated double-sided printing, manual duplex printing, or it is only a regular printer. Microsoft Word allows you to easily print your documents double-sided (on both sides of the paper) by using one of the three methods above matching your printer.