How to Set Double-Sided Printing by Default in Acrobat on Mac
Question details
The user wants to configure Adobe Acrobat on a Mac to print documents double-sided (duplex) by default.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Printing PDF documents frequently and wanting to save paper by having duplex printing enabled automatically.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat does not retain double-sided printing preferences natively, as it defers to the printer driver and macOS print system settings.
Ensure your printer physically supports automatic duplex printing and that you have installed the latest manufacturer printer driver for your Mac.
Create a Double-Sided Printer Preset in macOS
Since Adobe Acrobat relies on your Mac's printer drivers, creating a custom macOS print preset is the most reliable way to make duplex printing the default.
Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Reader do not independently save duplex printing preferences across sessions. Instead, they pass the print job to macOS.
By saving your preferred settings as a default preset in the system print dialog, Acrobat will automatically default to double-sided printing for future documents.
Open a PDF in Adobe Acrobat and press 'Command + P' or navigate to 'File' > 'Print' in the top menu bar.
Click the 'Printer...' button at the bottom left of the Acrobat print dialog to open the native macOS print window. Click 'Yes' if prompted with a warning about using system dialogs.
Check the box for 'Two-Sided' next to the Copies field. If you do not see this checkbox, look for a 'Layout' dropdown menu and select 'Long-Edge binding' or 'Short-Edge binding'.
Click the 'Presets' dropdown menu and select 'Save Current Settings as Preset...'. Name the preset 'Double-Sided Default' and choose whether to apply it to 'Only this printer' or 'All printers'.
Ensure the new preset is selected in the Presets dropdown, then click 'Print'. Acrobat will now use these macOS settings for your print jobs.
Efficient PDF Handling and Printing with WPS Office
WPS Office offers a fast, lightweight, and highly compatible PDF reader for Mac users. Its streamlined print interface integrates flawlessly with macOS native printer presets, making double-sided printing and document management effortless.
- 1. Download and Install: Get the free WPS Office application for Mac from the official website and complete the installation.
- 2. Open Your Document: Right-click your PDF file, choose 'Open With', and select WPS Office.
- 3. Access Print Options: Click the 'Print' icon on the top toolbar or press the 'Command + P' shortcut.
- 4. Print Double-Sided: In the clean print dialog, simply verify your duplex settings or native macOS presets, then click 'Print'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the double-sided option missing in Adobe Acrobat?
Acrobat reads this capability directly from the printer driver. If it's missing, you may be using a generic AirPrint driver instead of the manufacturer's specific driver, or the printer simply lacks the hardware for duplex printing.
Do I have to click the 'Printer...' button every time I print?
No. Once you save the macOS preset with double-sided printing enabled and use it once, Acrobat typically remembers the last used OS settings for subsequent print jobs.
How do I turn off double-sided printing for just one document?
When the Acrobat print dialog opens, simply uncheck the 'Print on both sides of paper' option if available, or click 'Printer...', change your macOS preset back to 'Default Settings', and proceed to print.
