Using Duplex Printing

Some printers support duplexing, meaning that they allow printing on both sides of a piece of paper. Being able to print on both sides depends on what type of printer you have set as your default printer. For instance, an HP LaserJet Pro MFP M227fdw prints duplex but other models of HP printers may not offer this as an option.

Assuming that you have a printer that supports duplexing and that you have a printer driver that supports it, you can turn it on by following these steps if you are using Word 2007:

1. Press Ctrl+P. Word displays the Print dialog box.
2. From the list of available printers, select the printer on which you want the document printed.
3. Click on the Properties button. This displays a Properties dialog box for the printer you selected.
4. Select the Paper tab, then click the More Options button.
5. Change the Duplex Printing option to either Flip on Long Edge or Flip on Short Edge, depending on how you want your document printed.
6. Close the dialog boxes and print your document.

If you are using Word 2010 or Word 2013, the steps to set printing options are changed around quite a bit. Follow these steps, instead:

1. Press Ctrl+P. Word displays the File tab of the ribbon, with the Print option selected at the left.
2. From the list of available printers, select the printer on which you want the document printed.
3. Click on the Printer Properties link, located just under the place where you specify a printer. Word displays a Properties dialog box for the printer you selected.
4. Select the Paper tab, then click the More Options button.
5. Change the Duplex Printing option to either Flip on Long Edge or Flip on Short Edge, depending on how you want your document printed.
6. Close the dialog boxes and print your document.

If you are using Word 2016 or a later version, follow these steps, instead:

1. Press Ctrl+P. Word displays the File tab of the ribbon, with the Print option selected at the left.
2. From the list of available printers, select the printer on which you want the document printed.
3. Click on the Printer Properties link, located just under the place where you specify a printer. Word displays a Properties dialog box for the printer you selected.
4. Select the Layout tab.
5. Click the drop-down arrow to the right of the box below the Print on Both Sides heading to display a list of options. Select either Flip on Long Edge or Flip on Short Edge, depending on how you want your document printed.
6. Close the dialog boxes and print your document.

Again, these steps will vary based on the printer you are using. You may need to look around in the printer's Properties dialog box to see where the actual control for duplexing is located. (Another good place to look is on the Finishing tab, if such a tab exists in your printer's Properties dialog box.)

One final tip, as I get the question a lot: For most printouts of regular document pages, you'll want to choose to flip your output on the long edge. Think of your document printed and in a binder. As you turn pages, you are "flipping" them. If they are flipped on the long edge, you'll be able to read them correctly as you turn the pages.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (9724) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Using Duplex Printing.