How to Turn Off Double-Sided PDF Printing on Mac
Question details
The user needs to disable double-sided (duplex) printing for PDF files on macOS, as files continue to print double-sided despite the option appearing to be disabled.
- Product
- PDF Reader
- Device & OS
- macOS High Sierra
- Scenario
- Printing PDF documents from a Mac to a printer that forces duplex printing, lacking an obvious toggle in the default print interface.
- Observed behavior
- PDFs print double-sided even when duplex printing seems disabled in the printer settings, and the PDF print dialog does not show an explicit option to turn it off.
Ensure your printer is turned on, connected to your Mac, and that you have your administrator password ready in case you need to reinstall the printer drivers.
Adjust Layout and Finishing Settings in the Print Dialog
Use the detailed Mac print dialog to locate and disable the printer-specific two-sided printing option.
Open your PDF file and press Command + P, or go to File > Print in the top menu bar.
Click the 'Show Details' button at the bottom of the print dialog if the window only displays basic options.
Click the dropdown menu located in the middle of the window (usually showing the application name, like 'Preview' or 'Acrobat') and select 'Layout' or 'Printer Features'.
Find the 'Two-Sided' option and change it to 'Off'.
Click the 'Print' button to print your document single-sided.
Remove and Reinstall the Mac Printer Driver
If the two-sided printing option is completely missing from the print dialog, your Mac may be using a generic AirPrint driver that lacks specific layout controls.
Print PDFs Easily with WPS Office
WPS Office provides a highly compatible and user-friendly PDF reader for Mac, allowing you to seamlessly adjust print settings like single-sided or double-sided printing without complex menus.
- 1. Open PDF in WPS: Launch WPS Office on your Mac and open the PDF file you wish to print.
- 2. Access Print Settings: Click on 'Menu' and select 'Print', or simply use the Command + P keyboard shortcut.
- 3. Disable Duplex: In the WPS print dialog, look for the 'Print on both sides' or 'Two-sided' checkbox and uncheck it.
- 4. Print Document: Click the 'Print' button to successfully print your document single-sided.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the two-sided printing option grayed out on my Mac?
The option may be grayed out if your printer does not physically support automatic double-sided printing, or if macOS is using an incorrect or generic printer driver. Reinstalling the official driver from the manufacturer usually fixes this issue.
How do I make single-sided printing the default on my Mac?
Open any document and press Command + P. Adjust the settings to disable two-sided printing. Then, click the 'Presets' dropdown menu, choose 'Save Current Settings as Preset', name it 'Single-Sided', and ensure this preset is selected the next time you print.
Does WPS Office for Mac support custom PDF print settings?
Yes, WPS Office fully integrates with macOS print dialogs. It allows you to control duplex printing, page scaling, orientation, and other custom layout settings directly within its clear interface.
