How to Enable Double-Sided PDF Printing in Adobe Acrobat
Question details
The user wants to know how to print a PDF document on both sides of the paper using Adobe Acrobat.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Printing a multiple-page PDF document and needing to use duplex printing to save paper or format a physical booklet.
- Observed behavior
- The user is unable to print on both sides of the paper because they cannot locate the duplex printing settings in Adobe Acrobat.
Verify that your physical printer supports automatic duplex (double-sided) printing and is loaded with enough paper before adjusting the software settings.
Enable Print on Both Sides in Acrobat Settings
Use the built-in print dialog in Adobe Acrobat to easily activate double-sided printing for your current document.
Adobe Acrobat detects your printer's capabilities directly from the system driver. As long as your printer supports duplex printing and the driver is correctly installed, the option will be readily available in the print menu.
Open your PDF document in Adobe Acrobat. Click on 'File' in the top menu bar and select 'Print', or press the shortcut Ctrl+P (Cmd+P on Mac).
In the Print dialog box, verify that the correct printer is selected from the 'Printer' drop-down menu at the top.
Look for the checkbox labeled 'Print on both sides of paper' and click to check it. You can also choose whether to flip the paper on the long edge or the short edge depending on your binding preference.
Click the 'Print' button at the bottom right of the dialog box to send your document to the printer.
Update and Configure the Printer Driver
If Acrobat does not show the double-sided printing option, manually enable the duplex feature in your computer's printer driver properties.
Print PDFs Double-Sided Easily with WPS Office
WPS Office features a robust, built-in PDF reader and editor that makes duplex printing incredibly straightforward. It serves as a lightweight, powerful alternative for viewing, editing, and printing PDFs without complex menus or heavy subscription fees.
- 1. Open PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open your target PDF document using the built-in WPS PDF tool.
- 2. Access the Print Dialog: Click the 'Menu' button in the upper left corner and select 'Print', or simply press the Ctrl+P keyboard shortcut.
- 3. Select Double-Sided Options: In the Print setup window, locate the 'Print on both sides' checkbox and enable it, choosing your preferred flipping edge.
- 4. Print Your File: Ensure your duplex-compatible printer is selected, then click 'Print' to finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the 'Print on Both Sides' option missing in Acrobat?
This happens when Adobe Acrobat doesn't detect duplex capabilities from your printer. It is usually caused by an outdated printer driver, a printer that doesn't physically support automatic double-sided printing, or the duplex unit being disabled in your operating system's printer properties.
How can I manually print double-sided if my printer doesn't support automatic duplex?
In the Acrobat Print dialog, under 'Pages to Print', click 'More Options' and choose 'Odd pages only'. Print the document, then flip the printed stack over, place it back into the printer's input tray, and print the document again using the 'Even pages only' setting.
Does double-sided PDF printing work on a Mac?
Yes. On macOS, when you click Print in Acrobat, you may need to click the 'Printer...' button at the bottom of the dialog to open the Mac system print settings. From there, check the 'Two-Sided' box next to the Copies field, or find it under the 'Layout' dropdown menu.
