Mac

How to print double-sided on a Mac

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Updated 9 October 2026 · Checked October 2026

Device: MacBook Pro · Software: macOS Tahoe 26

Publisher: Saadat Rafiq

2 min read6 steps

Screenshot from the guide: How to print double-sided on a Mac

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-print-double-sided-on-a-mac/ · Checked October 2026 · MacBook Pro · macOS Tahoe 26

In this guide
  1. Open the print window
  2. Choose the printer
  3. Open the Double-sided menu
  4. Choose On
  5. Or choose On (Short Edge)
  6. Click Print
  7. Good to know
  8. Sources
Quick answer

Choose File, Print in the app, open the Double-sided menu in the print window and choose On. For pages that should flip like a notepad, choose On (Short Edge). Then click Print. The option only appears if the printer can print on both sides.

3 of 6 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below

Device
Mac
Shown on
macOS Tahoe 26 (MacBook Pro)
Real screenshots
3 of 6 steps
Checked
October 2026
Sources
1 official, linked below

Step by step

Take this guide with you

Print it, or pick "Save as PDF" in the print window.

Steps
Also include
  1. Mac screenshot: Open the print window
    Tap the picture to see it full size

    Open the print window

    With the document open, choose File, Print, or press Command + P.

  2. Mac screenshot: Choose the printer
    Tap the picture to see it full size

    Choose the printer

    Check the Printer menu at the top. The double-sided option depends on the printer selected there.

  3. Print windowPrinterCopiesDouble-sidedNot there? Click Show Details

    Open the Double-sided menu

    It is in the main part of the print window. In some apps you first click Show Details at the bottom.

  4. OnTurns on the long edge, like a bookRight for normal upright documents

    Choose On

    On turns the pages over on the long edge, like a book. This is right for normal upright documents.

  5. Short EdgeTurns on the short edge, like a notepadUse it for landscape pages and slides

    Or choose On (Short Edge)

    This turns the pages over on the short edge, like a calendar or notepad. Use it for landscape pages and slides.

  6. Mac screenshot: Click Print
    Zoomed in on the setting. Tap to see the whole screenTap the picture to see it full size

    Click Print

    The Print button is at the bottom right. In the picture it is grey because no printer is selected on that Mac. The preview on the left does not change. The printer does the turning.

About this guide

Printing on both sides halves the paper you use. On a Mac the setting is in the print window of every app, as long as the printer has a duplex unit, which most current office and home printers do.

These steps are for recent versions of macOS.

Good to know

If there is no Double-sided menu, the printer or the app does not support it. Check the printer's manual. Some printers need the duplex unit switched on in System Settings, Printers & Scanners, under the printer's options.

Without a duplex printer you can still do it by hand: print the odd pages first, put the stack back into the tray and print the even pages. Test with two sheets first to see which way round the paper has to go.

If the printer does not appear at all: how to add a printer to a Mac.

In short: File, Print, Double-sided menu, On (or On (Short Edge)), Print.

Sources

Links checked in October 2026. Menus and features can change after software updates. These steps match the version named at the top.

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