How to Print Double-Sided PDFs in Adobe Reader on Mac
Question details
The user is unable to print a PDF double-sided in Adobe Reader on a Mac, despite the duplex printing feature working perfectly in Apple Preview.
- Product
- Adobe Reader
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Attempting to print a PDF document on both sides of the paper using Adobe Reader.
- Observed behavior
- Two-sided printing fails from Adobe Reader due to conflicts between Adobe's custom print workflow and the macOS printer driver configurations.
Verify that your physical printer supports automatic duplex (two-sided) printing and is securely connected and turned on.
Enable Duplex Support in Mac System Settings
Configure the macOS printer driver to ensure it accurately reports its duplex capabilities to third-party applications like Adobe Reader.
Often, the printer driver fails to report its duplexing capabilities to Adobe Reader. Manually enabling the duplex unit within the macOS system preferences will force the system to recognize the hardware.
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select 'System Settings' (or 'System Preferences' on older macOS versions).
Scroll down and click on 'Printers & Scanners', then select your specific printer from the devices list.
Click the 'Options & Supplies' button, then navigate to the 'Options' tab in the resulting pop-up window.
Check the box for 'Duplex Unit' or 'Two-Sided Printing', then click 'OK' to save the changes. Restart Adobe Reader and try printing again.
Adjust the Adobe Reader Print Workflow
Use the system print dialog within Adobe Reader to bypass software-specific communication errors with the printer driver.
Easily Print Double-Sided PDFs with WPS Office
WPS Office comes with a powerful, built-in PDF reader for Mac that integrates flawlessly with your system's native printer drivers. Avoid complex print dialog conflicts and print your double-sided documents with just a few clicks.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office for Mac from the official website.
- 2. Open Your PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your PDF file directly in the integrated PDF reader.
- 3. Open Print Menu: Press 'Cmd + P' to bring up the streamlined WPS print dialog.
- 4. Select Duplex Printing: Toggle the 'Two-Sided' option within the print layout menu.
- 5. Print Document: Click 'Print' to quickly and flawlessly output your double-sided document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does double-sided printing work in Preview but not in Adobe Reader?
Apple Preview leverages the native macOS print architecture directly, ensuring seamless communication with the printer driver. Adobe Reader uses its own custom print handling system, which can sometimes fail to recognize advanced driver features like duplexing unless explicitly configured in Mac system settings.
Where is the 'Print on both sides of paper' option located in Adobe Reader?
In the main Adobe print dialog, the option is typically located under the 'Page Sizing & Handling' section. If it is missing, your printer's duplex capabilities are not being detected, and you must click the 'Printer...' button at the bottom to access system-level duplex options.
What should I do if the 'Two-Sided' option is greyed out on my Mac?
A greyed-out option usually indicates that macOS does not recognize the duplex hardware installed on your printer. Navigate to System Settings > Printers & Scanners > Options & Supplies, and ensure the 'Duplex Unit' check box is enabled under the Options tab.
Does my printer brand affect how Adobe Reader prints double-sided pages?
Yes, certain printer drivers (such as specific models from Epson, Canon, or HP) may exhibit unique communication issues with Adobe's custom print dialog on macOS, requiring you to manually trigger the system print menu to enforce two-sided printing.
