Printer Is Not Printing Both Sides in Windows (Canon, HP, Epson, Brother)

If your printer suddenly stops printing on both sides of the paper, it can feel like a small feature that turned into a big inconvenience. Duplex printing, also known as two-sided printing, is one of those everyday tools that saves paper, reduces clutter, and makes documents look more professional. When it stops working on Windows 11 or Windows 10, the issue is usually tied to settings, drivers, or printer capabilities rather than a hardware failure.

Whether you are using a Canon, HP, Epson, or Brother printer, this guide walks you through everything step by step.

Printer Is Not Printing Both Sides in Windows 11 or 10 (Canon, HP, Epson, Brother)

If your printer is not printing double-sided in Windows 11 or Windows 10, check if duplex printing is enabled in Printer Properties, ensure the correct printing preferences are selected, update or reinstall the printer driver, and confirm that your printer supports automatic duplex printing. You may also need to manually enable two-sided printing in your printer’s settings panel.

Understanding the Issue for Each Brand

Canon Printers

Canon printers usually support duplex printing, but the option can be hidden if the driver is outdated or incorrectly installed. Many Canon models require you to manually enable duplex in Printing Preferences. If the option is missing, it often means the driver installed is a basic one provided by Windows instead of the full Canon driver.

HP Printers

HP printers sometimes disable duplex printing due to incorrect settings in the HP Smart app or Windows print settings. In some cases, the duplex unit may not be detected properly, especially after a system update. HP printers also allow manual duplex printing, which requires flipping pages.

Epson Printers

Epson printers rely heavily on correct driver installation. If duplex printing is not working, it is often due to incorrect driver configuration or settings not being saved properly. Epson also separates duplex settings under advanced print preferences, which can confuse beginners.

Brother Printers

Brother printers typically have reliable duplex features, but issues arise when default print profiles override settings. If duplex printing is disabled, it is often due to incorrect device configuration or network-related miscommunication between the printer and your PC.

Step 1: Check If Your Printer Supports Duplex Printing

Before changing settings, confirm that your printer actually supports automatic double-sided printing.

Go to Settings > Bluetooth and Devices > Printers and Scanners > Select Your Printer > Manage > Printer Properties > Device Settings tab

Look for an option labeled Duplex Unit or Two-Sided Printing. If it says “Not Installed,” your printer either does not support automatic duplex or it is not enabled.

If your printer does not support automatic duplex, you can still use manual duplex printing, where you reinsert the paper after one side prints.

Step 2: Enable Duplex Printing in Printing Preferences

Sometimes the feature is available but not turned on by default.

Go to Settings > Bluetooth and Devices > Printers and Scanners > Select Your Printer > Printing Preferences

Inside this window, look for options like Print on Both Sides, Two-Sided Printing, or Duplex Printing. Set it to either Flip on Long Edge or Flip on Short Edge, depending on your document type.

Click Apply and then OK to save the changes.

This ensures that every print job automatically uses double-sided printing unless manually changed.

Step 3: Set Duplex Printing as Default in Control Panel

Even if you enable duplex printing, Windows might override it unless you set it as the default.

Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers > Right-click Your Printer > Printing Preferences

Enable Two-Sided Printing, then click Apply and OK.

Next, right-click the printer again and select Printer Properties > Advanced tab > Printing Defaults, and make sure duplex printing is enabled there as well.

This step ensures consistency across all applications.

Step 4: Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers

Outdated or incorrect drivers are one of the most common causes of this issue.

Go to Settings > Windows Update > Check for Updates

Install any pending updates. After that, visit the official website of your printer brand and download the latest full-feature driver package.

To reinstall manually, go to Device Manager > Print Queues > Right-click Your Printer > Uninstall Device

Then restart your computer and install the latest driver you downloaded.

A proper driver installation often restores missing duplex options.

Step 5: Enable Duplex Unit in Printer Properties

Sometimes Windows does not recognize the duplex unit automatically.

Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers > Right-click Your Printer > Printer Properties > Device Settings

Look for the Duplex Unit and change it from Not Installed to Installed.

Click Apply and OK.

This tells Windows that your printer is capable of double-sided printing.

Step 6: Check Application-Level Print Settings

Some applications override system print settings.

For example, when printing from a browser or document editor:

Press Ctrl + P > Select Printer > Preferences or More Settings

Make sure Two-Sided Printing is enabled within the app itself.

If this option is disabled here, it will ignore your system-wide settings.

Step 7: Use the Correct Paper Type and Size

Certain paper types or sizes can disable duplex printing automatically.

Go to Printing Preferences > Paper/Quality tab

Ensure the paper type is set to Plain Paper and the size is standard, such as A4 or Letter.

Avoid using special media like envelopes or labels when testing duplex printing.

Step 8: Restart Print Spooler Service

The print spooler manages print jobs, and restarting it can fix glitches.

Press Windows + R > Type services.msc > Press Enter

Scroll down to Print Spooler, right-click it, and select Restart.

After restarting, try printing again.

Step 9: Use Windows Printer Troubleshooter

Windows includes a built-in tool to fix printing issues.

Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other Troubleshooters > Printer > Run

Follow the on-screen instructions and let Windows detect and fix problems automatically.

Step 10: Reset Printer to Factory Settings

If nothing works, resetting the printer can resolve configuration issues.

Use your control panel to find Settings > Restore Defaults or Factory Reset.

After resetting, reconnect the printer to your computer and reinstall the driver.

FAQs

Why is the duplex option missing on my printer?

This usually happens when the wrong driver is installed or the duplex unit is disabled in printer settings. Installing the correct driver typically fixes this.

Can I print double-sided if my printer does not support duplex?

Yes, you can use manual duplex printing. Print odd pages first, then flip the paper and print even pages.’

What is the difference between ‘flip on long edge’ and ‘ flip on short edge’?

Flip on long edge is used for book-style printing, while flip on short edge is used for calendar-style printing.

Why does my printer print only one side, even when duplex is enabled?

This could be due to application settings overriding system settings, or incorrect paper type selection.

Does updating Windows affect printer settings?

Yes, Windows updates can sometimes reset printer configurations or install generic drivers, which may disable duplex printing.