Printing a Google Doc on both sides of the paper saves paper and makes handouts, reports, and booklets feel more professional. Google Docs uses your browser’s print dialog, so the two-sided option depends on your printer and browser. This guide shows how to turn on duplex printing in Chrome and other browsers, use your printer’s own settings, and print double-sided manually on printers that can’t do it automatically.
Quick Answer
In Google Docs, press Ctrl + P (Cmd + P on Mac). Choose your printer, click More settings, check Print on both sides (or Two-sided), choose Flip on long edge, and click Print. If the option isn’t shown, your printer may not support automatic duplex printing; use the manual method below.
Print Double-Sided in Chrome
- Open the document and choose File > Print or press Ctrl + P.
- Next to Destination, select your printer (not “Save as PDF”).
- Click More settings.
- Check Print on both sides, then choose:
- Flip on long edge for portrait documents that turn like a book.
- Flip on short edge for landscape documents or pages that flip upward like a notepad.
- Click Print.
Use Your Printer’s Own Dialog
If Chrome’s dialog doesn’t show two-sided options:
- On Windows, click Print using system dialog at the bottom of the More settings list (or press Ctrl + Shift + P), then open Preferences or Properties and look for Duplex, Two-sided, or Print on both sides.
- On Mac, choose Print using system dialog, then check Two-Sided in the Mac print window.
In Safari, Firefox, and Edge, look for Two-Sided, Print on both sides, or Duplex in the print dialog; the wording varies.
Manual Double-Sided Printing
If your printer can’t flip pages automatically:
- Press Ctrl + P, set Pages to Custom, and enter the odd pages, for example
1,3,5,7. Print. - Take the printed stack and reinsert it into the paper tray, blank side ready to print. The orientation depends on your printer; test with two pages first (mark the top of a sheet with a pencil).
- Print the even pages:
2,4,6,8. - If the document has an odd number of pages, remove the last odd page before reloading or add a blank page at the end.
Some printer drivers offer a Manual duplex option in the system dialog that prompts you to flip the pages.
Tips for Better Results
- Use File > Page setup to set margins; for binding, add extra space on the inside edge.
- Insert page breaks (Ctrl + Enter) so new sections start where you want them.
- Switch pageless documents to Pages format (File > Page setup) so they print with page numbers and proper breaks.
Troubleshooting
- Two-sided option is grayed out: duplexing may be disabled in the printer’s settings, or you selected Save as PDF.
- Back pages are upside down: switch between long edge and short edge.
- Printing from a phone: in the Docs app, tap the three-dot menu > Share & export > Print, and look for two-sided options in your phone’s print screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Google Docs have its own duplex setting?
No. Two-sided printing is controlled by your browser’s print dialog and your printer.
Can I save a double-sided PDF?
PDFs don’t store duplex settings. Choose two-sided when you print the PDF.
Summary
- Press Ctrl + P and select your printer.
- Open More settings and check Print on both sides.
- Choose long edge for portrait documents.
- Print odd pages, flip, then even pages if your printer can’t duplex.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.