How to Fix Missing Double-Sided PDF Printing in Adobe Reader on Mac
Question details
Users are unable to locate or use the double-sided (duplex) printing option when trying to print PDF files from Adobe Reader on a Mac, despite the feature working correctly in other applications.
- Product
- Adobe Reader
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Printing a new or existing PDF document utilizing the Adobe Reader application.
- Observed behavior
- The two-sided printing option is missing or unavailable in the primary Adobe Reader print dialog, preventing users from printing pages front-and-back.
Verify that your printer hardware physically supports automatic double-sided (duplex) printing and that you have installed the most recent macOS printer drivers from the manufacturer's official website.
Access macOS System Printer Features in Adobe Reader
Bypass Adobe's default print dialog and access the native macOS system printer settings to force two-sided printing.
Adobe Reader utilizes its own custom print dialog which can sometimes fail to retrieve advanced driver settings like duplexing. Opening the native macOS print dialog ensures you have access to all features supported by your specific printer.
Open your PDF in Adobe Reader and click 'File' > 'Print' or press Command + P.
Click the 'Printer...' button located at the bottom left of the Adobe print dialog. If prompted with a warning about bypassing Adobe's dialog, click 'Yes'.
In the macOS print dialog, click 'Show Details' at the bottom if the advanced settings are hidden.
Select 'Layout' or 'Printer Features' from the central dropdown menu, check the 'Two-Sided' box, and choose either 'Long-Edge binding' or 'Short-Edge binding'. Click 'Print' to proceed.
Re-add the Printer with the Proper Driver
macOS might have installed a generic AirPrint driver that lacks duplex capabilities. Removing and re-adding the printer can force the system to use the correct full-feature driver.
Easily Print Double-Sided PDFs with WPS Office on Mac
If Adobe Reader continues to hide your duplex printing options, try the built-in WPS PDF tool. WPS Office provides a clear, unified print dialog on Mac, allowing you to easily select double-sided printing without diving into complex system settings.
- 1. Open the PDF: Launch WPS Office for Mac and open your PDF document.
- 2. Open Print Settings: Click on the 'Print' icon in the top toolbar or press Command + P to bring up the WPS print dialog.
- 3. Select Duplex Printing: Locate the 'Two-Sided' printing checkbox directly in the main layout options.
- 4. Print the Document: Select your preferred binding edge (Long Edge or Short Edge) and click 'Print'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my printer print double-sided in Microsoft Word but not in Adobe Reader?
Adobe Reader utilizes its own customized print dialog which can sometimes fail to communicate properly with macOS printer drivers. Accessing the system 'Printer...' dialog bypasses this issue and forces the settings to apply.
Is double-sided printing called something else on a Mac?
Yes, depending on your specific printer brand and driver, the double-sided option might be labeled as 'Two-Sided', 'Duplex', 'Back-to-Back', or 'Print on both sides' within the layout settings.
How do I fix small black boxes appearing over text when printing PDFs on Mac?
This is often caused by font rendering or transparency flattening issues in the PDF viewer. You can resolve it by clicking 'Advanced' in the Adobe print dialog and checking the 'Print As Image' option.
Can I set double-sided printing as the default in Adobe Reader?
You can save a preset within the native macOS print dialog. After setting up 'Two-Sided' printing, click the 'Presets' dropdown, select 'Save Current Settings as Preset', and use this preset for future print jobs.
