How to Fix Blank Pages When Printing PDFs Double-Sided on a Mac
Question details
The user needs to fix an issue where printing a PDF double-sided on a Mac leaves the reverse side of the paper blank, forcing the second page onto a new sheet.
- Product
- PDF Reader / Printer
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Printing a multi-page PDF document using the double-sided (duplex) print setting.
- Observed behavior
- The printer outputs the first page on one side, leaves the back side entirely blank, and begins printing the second page on the front side of the next sheet.
Ensure your printer physically supports automatic double-sided (duplex) printing and that you have installed the latest printer drivers specific to your macOS version.
Adjust Mac Print Layout and Duplex Settings
Configure the layout and two-sided printing options properly in the print dialog to prevent forced blank pages.
Often, a conflict between the PDF reader's layout settings and the Mac printer driver's layout settings can force unwanted blank pages. Using a strict 1x1 layout can resolve this.
Open your PDF file and go to File > Print, or press Command+P on your Mac keyboard.
In the Print dialog, check the box for 'Two-Sided'. Depending on your document, choose 'Flip on Long Edge' for portrait orientation or 'Flip on Short Edge' for landscape.
Locate the Layout or Multiple pages section. If using multiple pages per sheet causes issues, select 'Custom' and set it to a 1 x 1 layout to ensure only one document page maps to one physical side.
Ensure the Page Order is set to 'Horizontal' (or standard) and that your Page Range includes all pages.
Test with an Alternative PDF Document
Determine whether the blank page issue is caused by the printer settings or the specific formatting of the current PDF file.
Print and Manage PDFs Flawlessly with WPS Office
WPS Office provides a highly optimized PDF reader for Mac that offers intuitive layout management and seamless integration with macOS printer drivers, preventing blank page errors during double-sided printing.
- 1. Open the PDF: Launch WPS Office for Mac and open the PDF file you wish to print.
- 2. Access the Print Interface: Click 'File' in the top menu bar and select 'Print', or simply press Cmd+P.
- 3. Configure Duplex Options: In the print settings panel, check the 'Two-sided' option and verify the scaling is set to 'Actual Size' or 'Fit to Printable Area' with a 1x1 layout.
- 4. Print the Document: Click 'Print' to send the document to your printer and get perfect double-sided pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my printer print 4 pages per sheet when I select 2 in the multiple section?
This happens when both your PDF reader and your Mac's printer driver attempt to scale the pages simultaneously. To fix this, set the layout in the PDF software to a 'Custom' 1 x 1 layout, and let the printer's native layout settings handle the duplexing.
Does the 'Flip on Long Edge' setting cause blank pages?
No, 'Flip on Long Edge' only controls the orientation of the text on the back of the page (which is the standard setting for portrait documents). Blank pages are typically caused by mismatched page scaling, custom page breaks embedded in the PDF, or incorrect page per sheet layouts.
How can I check if my PDF file has hidden blank pages embedded in it?
Open the PDF in your reader and expand the thumbnail panel on the left side, or scroll through the pages one by one. Authors sometimes insert blank pages intentionally so that new chapters always start on an odd-numbered, right-facing page.
