Change Printer Setting to Print One Side Only on Windows 11/10

Changing your printer setting to print one side only is a simple process in both Windows 11 and Windows 10. By accessing Printers & scanners, opening Printing Preferences, and disabling Two Sided Printing, you can quickly switch your printer to single-sided mode. 

In this guide, you will learn how to change printer settings to print single-sided documents step by step, including devices from HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, and other popular brands.

So let’s start it!

Change Printer Setting to Print One Side Only on Windows 11/10

To change your printer setting to print one side only in Windows 11 or Windows 10, open Settings, go to Bluetooth & devices, select Printers & scanners, choose your printer, and open Printing Preferences. Under the Duplex Printing or Two Sided Printing section, select Off or Print on One Side, then save the changes. Your printer will now print single-sided documents by default.

Step 1: Open the Windows Settings App

The first thing you need to do is open the Settings app on your Windows computer. This is where Windows stores all device-related options, including printers and scanners.

If you are using Windows 11, click the Start menu located on the taskbar. After that, click the Settings icon. The icon usually looks like a small gear symbol. You can also press the Windows + I keyboard shortcut to open Settings instantly.

If you are using Windows 10, the process is almost the same. Click the Start button, then choose Settings from the menu.

Once the Settings window opens, you will see different categories for managing your computer. This includes system settings, devices, personalization options, and more.

For beginners, the easiest method is using the keyboard shortcut because it works in both Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Step 2: Open the Printers & Scanners Section

Inside the Settings app, you now need to locate the printer management area.

In Windows 11, click Bluetooth & devices from the left sidebar. After that, select Printers & scanners from the list on the right side.

In Windows 10, click Devices, then select Printers & scanners from the left panel.

This section shows all printers connected to your computer. You may see wireless printers, USB printers, virtual PDF printers, or shared office printers, depending on your setup.

Carefully look for the printer you actually use for printing documents. The printer may display its full brand name and model number, such as:

• HP LaserJet
• Canon PIXMA
• Brother DCP Series
• Epson EcoTank

If you have multiple printers installed, choosing the correct one is very important because changing settings on the wrong printer will not fix your issue.

Step 3: Select Your Printer

Now, click on the printer you want to configure.

After selecting the printer, Windows will display several management options. Depending on your printer model and Windows version, you may see buttons such as:

• Open print queue
• Manage
• Printer properties
• Printing preferences

For this guide, you mainly need the Printing Preferences option because this is where paper handling and printing modes are controlled.

If you do not immediately see Printing Preferences, first click Manage. This opens another screen containing advanced printer options.

Take your time during this step. New users often confuse Printer Properties with Printing Preferences. While both contain printer settings, the option you need for single-sided printing is usually under Printing Preferences.

Step 4: Open Printing Preferences

Once you find Printing Preferences, click it.

A new window will appear with several tabs and printer settings. The exact appearance depends on your printer manufacturer, but most printers organize settings similarly.

You may notice tabs such as:

• Layout
• Paper
• Quality
• Advanced
• Finishing

The setting for one-sided printing is usually located inside the Layout or Finishing tab.

Some printers use different names for duplex printing. Common names include:

• Two-Sided Printing
• Duplex Printing
• Print on Both Sides
• Automatic Duplexing

Do not worry if your screen looks slightly different from screenshots online. Printer interfaces vary by brand and driver version.

Step 5: Disable Double-Sided Printing

This is the most important step in the process.

Look for the setting related to double-sided or duplex printing. Once you find it, change the option to one of the following:

• Off
• Disabled
• Print on One Side
• Single Sided

For example, if your printer currently says Print on Both Sides, click the dropdown menu and switch it to Print on One Side.

Some printers use checkboxes instead of dropdown menus. In that case, simply uncheck the box for duplex or two-sided printing.

This setting tells the printer to stop printing on the back side of the paper automatically.

If your printer supports automatic duplex printing, turning this feature off ensures every page prints only on the front side.

Step 6: Apply and Save the Settings

After disabling double-sided printing, click the Apply button if available. Then click OK to save your changes.

This step is very important because closing the window without saving may cancel your changes.

Once saved, Windows stores the updated printer preference as the default setting for future print jobs.

That means you usually will not need to repeat these steps every time you print something.

However, some applications like Microsoft Word, Google Chrome, or Adobe Acrobat Reader can temporarily override printer settings during individual print jobs. If that happens, you may also need to select Print on One Side directly inside the app’s print menu.

Step 7: Test the Printer

Now it is time to confirm everything works correctly.

Open a simple document, webpage, or PDF file and choose the print option.

Before clicking the final print button, check the print preview screen carefully. Look for any setting mentioning:

• Two Sided
• Duplex
• Print on Both Sides

Make sure it is disabled.

Print a small test document with two or three pages. If each sheet contains printing on only one side, the configuration was successful.

Testing the printer immediately helps you avoid wasting paper later when printing important documents.

How to Change One-Sided Printing in Microsoft Word?

Sometimes Windows settings are correct, but applications still print double-sided pages because of their own print preferences.

If you frequently print from Microsoft Word, follow these steps:

• Open your document in Word and click File.
• Select Print from the menu.
• Inside the print settings area, locate the dropdown menu that controls page sides.
• If it currently says Print on Both Sides, change it to Print One Sided.
• After that, click Print.

This method only changes the setting for the current print job, while the earlier Windows method changes the printer’s default settings.

How to Change One-Sided Printing in PDF Files?

PDF readers like Adobe Acrobat Reader also allow users to control duplex printing separately.

• Open your PDF file and press Ctrl + P to open the print window.
• Locate the setting labeled Print on Both Sides of Paper.
• Remove the checkmark or switch the setting to single-sided printing.
• Click Print to continue.

This is useful when printing contracts, forms, invoices, or scanned documents that should remain single-sided.

Why is your printer still printing double-sided?

Many users wonder why their printer continues using duplex printing even after changing the settings once. There are several possible reasons.

• One common reason is that certain apps override the Windows default print configuration.
• Another possibility is outdated printer drivers. Old drivers may fail to save updated preferences correctly.
• Shared office printers can also reset settings automatically if controlled by a network administrator.
• In some cases, the printer firmware itself stores duplex printing as the default option.

Restarting the printer and computer can sometimes solve temporary configuration issues.

FAQs

How do I make my printer always print one-sided?

Open Settings, go to Printers & scanners, select your printer, open Printing Preferences, and disable Two Sided Printing. Save the changes to make one-sided printing the default mode.

Why is my printer printing double-sided automatically?

Your printer likely has duplex printing enabled in its default settings or inside the application you are printing from.

Can I change one-sided printing in Windows 11?

Yes. Windows 11 allows you to modify printer preferences through the Bluetooth & devices section in Settings.

Does every printer support one-sided printing?

Yes. Even printers with duplex capabilities can still print single-sided documents when configured properly.

What does duplex printing mean?

Duplex printing means printing on both sides of a paper sheet automatically or manually.

Can applications override printer settings?

Yes. Programs like Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat Reader can temporarily use their own print settings for individual documents.