Complete guide to double-sided printing in Word and other formats

Have you ever found yourself needing to print a document on both sides in Word And you didn't know where to start? It's a common question that arises both at work and at home, especially when we want to save paper or prepare more professional and compact documents. Although it seems simple, the reality is that it depends a lot on the printer model and how we have configured our Word. Don't worry, here I'll explain everything in detail, step by step, and with practical tips so you don't get confused with the sheets anymore or end up printing everything backwards.

Double-sided printing, also known as duplex printing, is a very useful feature that allows you to use both sides of a page. Whether your printer does it automatically or you have to rotate the pages manually, there are clear procedures you can follow in Word to make the process as simple as possible. Let's discover what you should look at first and all the options available to you, tailored to your situation and device.

What is double-sided printing and what is it used for?

La double-sided printing It consists of using both sides of a sheet of paper to print content. It is not only a very ecological and economical option, but is also practical for reports, brochures, manuals, or any other long document. By utilizing both sides of the sheet, we reduce the volume of paper used and we get documents that are easier to manage and archive.

Can all printers print on both sides?

Not all printers are equipped with automatic duplex printing. First of all, It is essential to know if your printer allows printing on both sides automatically or if you must do it manually.There are two paths:

• Printer with automatic duplex printing: it automatically prints and rotates the sheets internally.
• Printer without automatic duplexing: You'll have to manually turn the sheets over and reinsert them when prompted by the software or printer.

How do you know? You can find out in three ways:

• Consulting the manual from the printer or the manufacturer's website.
• Reviewing the print options in Word, as I will explain below.
• Searching in the printer properties when printing.

How to check if your printer supports automatic duplex printing from Word

Word makes it very easy to find out if you can print double-sided automatically. Just:

1. Open your document in Word.
2. Click on the tab Archive, located at the top left.
3. Select the option Print.
4. In section Configuration, look if the option appears Doble-Siding printing.

If you see it available, your printer supports the automatic function. If only Print on one side, you will have to resort to manual printing.

Print on both sides automatically in Word

If you are lucky enough to have automatic duplex printerThe process for printing a double-sided document in Word is very easy. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Word file you want to print.
2. Click on Archive > Print.
3. Search in Configuration the option of Doble-Siding printing. On some models, it will appear as 'Turn pages along the long edge' or 'Turn pages along the short edge', depending on whether you want it to read like a book or a notepad.
4. Choose your preferred option, adjust the other printing parameters and press Print.

And that's it! The printer will turn the sheets internally, and the job will be printed perfectly on both sides, without any further intervention from you.

Related article:

The correct way to disable double-sided printing on your Mac

Manual double-sided printing in Word: step by step

Now, if your printer does not print double-sided automatically, that's fine too. Word allows you to do it manually so you don't have to mess around with complicated settings. Here's how to do it:

1. Open the document in Word and go to Archive > Print.
2. En Configuration, Select Print on one side and, among the alternatives, choose Print manually on both sides.
3. press PrintWord will print all the odd-numbered pages (the front of the paper) first, then prompt you to collect the stack of printed paper and return it to the input tray. A pop-up window will usually appear telling you how to do this, so don't worry.
4. Reload the sheets following the on-screen instructions (usually with the printed side facing up and the edge in the paper feed direction, but this may vary depending on the printer and model).
5. Click OK or the message that appears to continue printing on the other side.

Extra tipTest two sheets first to ensure the rotation is correct and the printing isn't upside down. For more details on managing your printing from different devices, visit This guide to printing images on multiple sheets.

Related article:

How to Clear the Print Queue in Windows

Print odd and even pages manually

An alternative solution, especially useful if you are not sure about the manual double-sided printing option or if you have to print many copies and want to keep a tighter control, is print odd pages first and then even pages:

1. In Word, go to Archive > Print.
2. En Configuration, Select Print only odd pages and press Print.
3. When finished, turn the printed stack of sheets as directed (usually rotate them 180 degrees with the printed side facing up) and reinsert it into the tray.
4. En Configuration, Select Print only even pages and print again.

This method is very effective If you want to ensure that pages appear in the correct order and orientation, especially in long documents or those with special numbering.

Related article:

Printing an Image on Multiple Sheets for Enlargement (Creating a Poster)

Isaac

Passionate writer about the world of bytes and technology in general. I love sharing my knowledge through writing, and that's what I'll do on this blog, show you all the most interesting things about gadgets, software, hardware, tech trends, and more. My goal is to help you navigate the digital world in a simple and entertaining way.