You can print on both sides of the paper even if your printer cannot flip sheets automatically. Print one side, reload the paper, then print the reverse side. In Microsoft Word, choose File > Print > Print One Sided > Manually Print on Both Sides if the option appears. Otherwise, print odd-numbered pages first and even-numbered pages second. Test the reload direction with a few pages before printing the full document: the correct orientation depends on your printer and feed tray.
Before you start: check the feed path and test a few pages
Manual duplex printing uses two passes through the printer. The first pass prints one face of each sheet; after you reload the sheets, a second pass prints the other face. Printers differ in whether they take paper from a front or rear feed, whether the input tray loads from the top or bottom, and which edge enters first. Those differences determine how to turn and reload the stack.
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- Check the printer’s instructions. Look up manual two-sided printing for your exact printer model and tray. A print setting or reload diagram for another model may not apply to yours.
- Run a short test. Use two or four pages. If the feed direction is unclear, mark the test sheet’s top edge and printed face in pencil before reloading it.
- Check the result. Confirm that the page order is right and that the reverse-side text is upright when you turn the sheet as intended. If it is wrong, adjust how you turn or reorder the stack and test again.
Microsoft also recommends testing the odd/even reload method for the specific printer because the required paper orientation varies. Microsoft’s Word manual-duplex instructions explain the two-pass process.
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Print both sides in Word for Windows
Use Word’s prompted manual-duplex option
If Word displays the manual-duplex option, open File > Print, select Print One Sided, then choose Manually Print on Both Sides. Word prints the first side and pauses with instructions to reload the pages. Follow the prompt and resume printing.
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Use odd and even pages if there is no prompt
- In Word, open File > Print.
- In the print settings, choose Only Print Odd Pages, then print.
- Reload the printed stack using the instructions for your printer and tray.
- Return to the print settings, choose Only Print Even Pages, then print.
- Check the finished stack’s page order and orientation.
Do not assume the stack should be face-up or face-down based on a different printer. The right reload direction is model-specific. Microsoft’s Word guidance documents both the prompted option and the odd/even fallback.
Print manually from Word for Mac
Microsoft’s documented method for Word for Mac is to print odd pages first, reload the sheets, and print even pages second. The paper may need to be rotated or the pages reordered for some printer models, so test before printing a long document.
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- In Word, open the print dialog and set the page range to odd pages only; print that pass.
- Reload or rotate the stack according to the printer’s instructions.
- Set the page range to even pages only and print the second pass.
- Inspect a test sheet to make sure the reverse-side text is upright and the pages are in order.
See Microsoft’s Word for Mac printing instructions for its odd/even approach.
Reloading paper: why printer instructions differ
There is no universal rule for which face should point up or which edge should enter first. Follow the diagram or steps for your specific model and input tray. The examples below show why generic advice can misfeed or reverse pages.
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| Printer or feed type | What its instructions specify | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Epson front-feed models | For the odd pass, set “ImagePrint Last Page First” on; turn it off for the even pass. Rotate the pages and load top-edge first as instructed. | Epson manual two-sided printing |
| Epson rear-feed models | Keep “ImagePrint Last Page First” off for both passes and follow the different stack-flip instruction for rear feeding. | Epson manual two-sided printing |
| HP bottom-loading input trays | The cited HP instructions specify printed-side-up loading; the entering edge varies with long-edge or short-edge binding. | HP manual duplex instructions |
| HP top-loading input trays | The cited HP instructions specify printed-side-down loading; the entering edge varies with long-edge or short-edge binding. | HP manual duplex instructions |
| HP laser procedure cited | Reload printed pages printed-side down and top-edge first for that procedure; this is not a direction for every HP printer. | HP laser printing instructions |
Long-edge binding turns pages like a book; short-edge binding turns them over the top or bottom, like a calendar. Select the binding edge that matches how you want to read the finished pages, and use your model’s instructions for the reload sequence.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Handle odd page counts and paper carefully
Documents with an odd number of pages
When a document has an odd total page count, a final sheet may remain in the printer’s feed path after the two-sided job. Epson says to remove that sheet when printing finishes. Check the output and feeder before assuming a page is missing.
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- COMPACT, CONNECTED, EXCEPTIONALLY EFFICIENT– Connect with built-in dual-band wireless (2.4GHz/5GHz), Ethernet, or to a single computer via USB interface. Prints at speeds up to 36ppm(2), plus automatic duplex printing saves time and reduces paper waste
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Use media supported by your printer
Manual duplexing does not require specialty paper or an accessory; ordinary printer paper is suitable when it is supported by the printer. HP warns against duplexing envelopes, photo or glossy paper, transparencies, and paper lighter than 60 g/m² (16 lb) or heavier than 105 g/m² (28 lb), citing jam and printer-damage risks. Those are HP’s cited limits, not universal rules. Check your printer’s documentation for supported media and weights. HP’s manual-duplex guidance gives its media cautions.
Quick Recap
Fix common manual-duplex problems
- Back sides are upside down: The stack may need to be rotated or flipped differently, or the binding edge may not match how you turn the pages. Test a few sheets and adjust based on the output.
- Pages are out of order: Check whether your printer instructions require reverse page order or a particular odd/even sequence. Epson’s front- and rear-feed directions differ, including the “ImagePrint Last Page First” setting.
- The second pass prints on the wrong face: Recheck whether your tray is a front or rear feed, or a top- or bottom-loading tray, then follow the exact model’s reload diagram.
- A sheet remains in the feeder after printing: For an odd-page document, check for a final sheet left in the feed path and remove it if the printer’s instructions call for it.
- Paper jams or feeding becomes unreliable: Stop the job and check that the paper type and weight are supported for duplex use by your printer.
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