Can't change the double-sided printing option on my Epson printer to 'on'- any advice?

Depending upon how one approaches the Print menu the screen will look slightly different. In the event the screen looks like this one:

Then select the up-and-down arrows and a dropdown will appear, thus:

In this event, select the "Two-sided Printing settings".

What I've found is that it is best to select all the other print settings first, then select the Two-sided option last. Otherwise, the Two-sided option can reset itself back to single-sided.

The Epson menu in this regard is terrible, in my opinion. If one doesn't catch the problem that it defaulted back to single-sided there is typically not enough time to stop the printing. This is especially true if the printer isn't sitting beside the computer and is, say, in another room or, heaven forbid, upstairs (or you're upstairs and the printer is downstairs).

By the way, I feel your frustration! (don't ask me how I know)

Instead of going to the Layout menu item as you did, look for another one called "Printer Features" my Epson Printer offers this. Look among the various feature sets and in one of them you should find the two-sided printing (mine was in the sixth set of features!). Different printers may look different than this one but it is an Epson ...

Don't see your screen shots.

Do you have this option?

MtD

Anne - just looked the printer up on-line at https://www.epson.co.uk/products/printers/inkjet-printers/for-home/expression-home-xp-225#specifications and under Technical Specifications > Printing, it says that double-sided is "manual". What is "manual"? Good question. Hence, that is why it is "greyed out".

My guess is that one takes all the paper out of the printer so it won't print any more. Then, print one page at a time. For duplex, or double sided, after it comes out, re-insert it to print the other side. Don't know how else it could be "manual". Another option is to try and find some instructions on-line.

Check to make sure the ink is dry before printing the back side.

Oh, and please avoid screen shots with personal information.

I apologize for taking so long ... other stuff in life.

While I have an Epson printer, it is a different model from the one you have so while many things are similar (using OS X, same brand printer), it is a different model printer. The Tech specs say "manual" printing for double-sided. I didn't think about how doing multiple sheets "manually" can be done.

Idea:

1) Take all the paper, except for one sheet, out of the paper tray, then select "Print" all 6 sheets;

2) After the first sheet is printed, turn over (look at the paper tray to see which side it prints on), and insert the 1st page in the paper tray. If the printer doesn't start to print it may be on "Pause" (I don't know what the printing application does), if so, then select Resume or Continue (I don't know if such an option is available).

3) Repeat (programers call this a Do-Loop) steps 1 and 2 until all 6 sheets are printed.

If the above doesn't work then the other idea would be to print individual pages; f.e., Print p2; Print p3, etc., while controlling the paper feed. This way, after printing p.1, one can print p. 2 & 3 together if p.2 is set properly in the feeder tray so the blank side of p.1 is printed.

There may be an easier way, and hopefully there is. Well, if you have money the easier way is to order a duplex printer on-line and have it delivered to your doorstep, but that aside ... Actually, that may not actually be easier because then the old printer would have to be disposed of somehow and that is work.

Wish I could help more but given Epson's instructions that is all I can think of.