How to Print Back to Back (Double-Sided) in Word

Printing back to back (double-sided, or duplex) saves paper and makes documents look more professional. Word handles it automatically if your printer supports duplex printing, and walks you through it manually if it doesn’t. This guide covers both, choosing long-edge or short-edge flipping, printing odd and even pages separately, Word for Mac, and fixes for upside-down or misaligned backs.

Quick Answer

Go to File > Print, change Print One Sided to Print on Both Sides (Flip pages on long edge), and click Print. If that option isn’t there, choose Manually Print on Both Sides.

Method 1: Automatic Double-Sided Printing

1. Press Ctrl + P.
2. Pick your printer.
3. Under Settings, click Print One Sided and choose:
   • Flip pages on long edge for normal portrait documents (turns like a book).
   • Flip pages on short edge for landscape documents or top-bound pages (turns like a notepad).
4. Click Print.

If the option is missing, your printer may still support duplex; check Printer Properties for a Two-sided or Duplex setting, and make sure the duplex unit is enabled in the driver’s device settings.

Method 2: Manually Print on Both Sides

1. In File > Print, choose Manually Print on Both Sides.
2. Click Print. Word prints the odd pages first.
3. When prompted, take the printed stack and put it back in the tray to print the other side. How you flip it depends on your printer (see the test below).
4. Click OK to print the even pages.

Method 3: Odd Pages, Then Even Pages

1. In File > Print, click Print All Pages and choose Only Print Odd Pages. Print.
2. Reload the paper, choose Only Print Even Pages, and print.

If your printer outputs pages face up, you may need File > Options > Advanced > Print and check Print pages in reverse order for one of the passes.

Find the Right Way to Reload Paper

Printers differ. Before a long job, mark an X on the top of a blank sheet, put it in the tray, print a single page, and see where the text lands relative to your mark. Then you’ll know which side faces up and which edge goes in first.

Word for Mac

1. Press Command + P and click Show Details if needed.
2. Check Two-Sided, or choose Layout from the menu and set Two-Sided to Long-Edge binding or Short-Edge binding.
3. For printers without duplex, choose Paper Handling, print Odd Only, reload, then Even Only.

Set Up the Document for Double-Sided Printing

• Mirror margins: Layout > Margins > Mirrored adds extra inside margin for binding.
• Different odd and even headers: double-click the header and check Different Odd & Even Pages to put page numbers on outside edges.
• Start chapters on the right: use Layout > Breaks > Odd Page.

For two pages per side, see how to print two pages on one sheet. For folded booklets, see how to print a booklet in Word.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Fix
Back side is upside down	Switch between long-edge and short-edge flipping
Pages out of order on manual duplex	Use Print pages in reverse order, or reverse the stack before reloading
Odd total page count leaves a blank	Normal; the last sheet has one printed side
Text shows through	Use heavier paper (24 lb / 90 gsm)

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make double-sided the default?

Set Two-sided as the default in the printer’s Printing preferences in Windows Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.

Does Word for the web support double-sided printing?

It passes a PDF to your browser; choose two-sided in the browser’s print dialog or printer settings.

Summary

1. File > Print > Print on Both Sides (long edge for portrait).
2. Use Manually Print on Both Sides if your printer lacks duplex.
3. Test paper orientation before long jobs.
4. Use mirrored margins and odd/even headers for bound documents.