Unable to Print Two-Sided in Word for Mac

Question

Unable to Print Two-Sided in Word for Mac

I switched over from Windows to a MacBook Pro not long ago. I am using the Office 365 for Mac software, and this may turn out to be a Microsoft question, but I thought that I would start out here first. I am able to print double-sided in Excel (for Mac), but the option is not shown for Word. (I am also given the two-sided option when printing pdf documents.) I am using an HP Photosmart C 7280 All-in-One printer, and the drivers that are installed are the latest ones supplied by HP for a Mac. The printer is about eight years old, but it functions like a charm. It may be that the drivers are too old, but nothing more recent is available from HP. Nonetheless, I don't understand why it prints double-sided for Excel, but not for Word.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS Sierra (10.12.6)

Posted on Nov 14, 2017 12:18 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Grant Bennet-Alder

Level 10

127,141 points

Nov 15, 2017 2:34 PM in response to Colonel_Biggs

I created my screen shot with the "Preview" program. Yours will say "Microsoft Word" or "Microsoft Excel" or whatever program is trying to Print.

That label should have additional Menu choices in it, such as:

Layout

Color Matching

Paper Feed

Cover Page

the Two-sided option you are looking for should be on the "Layout" section, along with multiple pages per sheet, odd/even pages, and other options.

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Answer 2

sberman

Level 10

263,781 points

Nov 14, 2017 4:54 PM in response to Colonel_Biggs

I don't have a specific answer to your question, as I use Apple products (Pages, Numbers, Keynote) instead of Microsoft (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

However, since you say you can print double-sided from PDF, why not simply create PDF output from Microsoft Word and then print that double-sided?

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Answer 3

Nov 15, 2017 10:18 AM in response to Colonel_Biggs

in the screenshot I posted, the label Preview is a menu-of-menus that leads to paper handling, and other options, which should include double-sided.

Be certain you have not accidentally installed the driver as an "AirPrint " driver, which will have no advanced features.

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Answer 4

Nov 15, 2017 2:21 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I was unable to paste my Print Screens into this message, although I am sure that there is a way. I do not have the screens that you showed earlier. For example, the Preview mode does not exist on my Print screen, nor does Standard under Presets.

Under Presets, I have Default Settings and Last Used.

Below this option, I can choose Copies and Pages, Microsoft Word, Paper Handling and other non-relevant settings.

I removed the printer from System Settings, re-booted, and added it back. No change. It just may be that HP isn't updating its drivers for the older models. But why Excel spreadsheets are given the two-sided option, and not Word, is beyond me.

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Answer 5

Nov 15, 2017 4:49 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

You are right on the money! Under the Layout option, the Two Sided option was another drop-down. I'm not sure why it is configured differently than the Excel print page (where is an option right beside No. of Copies), but it works.

Many thanks for your time expended. Learning the intracacies of the Mac after several decades on Windows has been a challenge.

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Answer 6

Nov 15, 2017 6:48 AM in response to Colonel_Biggs

do you have the Printer pane expanded? the option does not show otherwise. This is "regular":

this is expanded:

.

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Answer 7

Nov 14, 2017 4:57 PM in response to sberman

Thanks for your post.

I have done that. But, since I do a lot of writing, I'd prefer to do away with in between steps, if you know what I mean.

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Answer 8

Nov 15, 2017 6:54 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks for your reply. I have it in the expanded view, as you showed in your post. But, I can't seem to find a two-sided option.

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Answer 9

alex7375

Level 3

695 points

Nov 15, 2017 7:02 AM in response to Colonel_Biggs

I have seen this before. try removing the printer from your printers list and then re-add the printer.

Also make sure you have the latest drivers installed.

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