How to Fix Double-Sided Printing Problems in Acrobat Reader
Question details
The user is unable to print PDF documents on both sides of the paper using Acrobat Reader, despite the printer supporting duplex printing in other applications.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Attempting to print a PDF document using the automatic double-sided printing feature.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat Reader does not display or enable the duplex or two-sided printing option in its print dialog, even though the printer is capable of it.
Verify that your printer physically supports automatic double-sided printing and that it is turned on and properly connected to your Windows computer.
Enable Duplex Printing in Printer Properties
Manually force the duplex setting through the Windows printer properties within the Acrobat print dialog.
Sometimes Acrobat Reader's main print interface fails to pull the duplex capabilities directly. Accessing the printer's native properties menu allows you to bypass the Adobe interface and apply the hardware settings directly.
Open your PDF document in Acrobat Reader and press Ctrl+P to launch the Print dialog box.
Click on the 'Properties' or 'Printer Properties' button located near the top right, next to the selected printer's name.
Navigate to the 'Layout', 'Finishing', or 'Features' tab (the exact tab depends on your printer manufacturer).
Select the 'Print on Both Sides' or 'Duplex Printing' option, choose how you want to flip the pages (long edge or short edge), click 'OK', and then click 'Print'.
Update or Reinstall Your Printer Driver
Fix communication issues between Acrobat Reader and your printer by installing the latest manufacturer printer drivers.
Use WPS Office to Print Double-Sided Documents Easily
If Acrobat Reader continues to cause printing compatibility issues, WPS Office offers a powerful, built-in PDF tool that seamlessly communicates with Windows printer drivers, making duplex printing fast and hassle-free.
- 1. Open your PDF: Right-click your PDF file, select 'Open with', and choose WPS Office.
- 2. Launch Print Settings: Click on the 'Print' icon located in the top-left toolbar, or simply press Ctrl+P.
- 3. Select Duplex Mode: In the Print dialog, easily locate the 'Print on both sides' option natively displayed on the main menu and check the box.
- 4. Print the Document: Select whether to 'Flip on long edge' or 'Flip on short edge' according to your preference, then click the 'Print' button.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my printer print double-sided in Word but not in PDF?
Different applications interact with Windows printer drivers differently. Programs like Microsoft Word might utilize different driver calls than Adobe Acrobat. Acrobat Reader strictly requires the driver to report duplex capabilities in a specific format, so a slight driver misconfiguration might cause Adobe to miss the feature while Word still works.
How do I manually print double-sided if my printer lacks automatic duplexing?
Within the Acrobat print dialog, look for the 'More Options' section. Choose to print 'Odd Pages Only' first. Once those pages are printed, flip the stack of paper over, place it back into your printer's paper tray, return to the print menu, and choose to print 'Even Pages Only'.
Where is the 'Print on Both Sides' option located in the Mac version of Acrobat?
On a Mac, you may need to open the Acrobat Print dialog and click the 'Printer...' button at the bottom. This opens the macOS system print dialog where you can check the 'Two-Sided' box next to the Copies field, or select 'Layout' from the central dropdown menu to configure two-sided printing.
