Duplex Print Does not Work in Windows 7

SYMPTOM

Duplex print does not work in Windows 7. However, it works on your Windows XP computer with the same printer. This issue persists after updating printer driver.

CAUSE

In earlier versions of windows, there was an option to say that a duplex unit was installed under printer properties. Windows 7 has split properties into multiple items in the context menu.

SOLUTION

To enable duplex printing in this kind of situation, please perform the following steps:

1. Click Start - Devices and Printers.

2. In Devices and Printers, right click on the printer, click "Printer Properties".

3. In the printer’s properties dialog box, switch to the Device Settings tab. In this tab, you should find an option to turn duplex printing on.

APPLIES TO

Windows 7 Starter

Windows 7 Home Basic

Windows 7 Home Premium

Windows 7 Professional

Windows 7 Enterprise

Windows 7 Ultimate

Comments

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    This does not work for me on my HP Color LaserJet 2605dn in Windows 7 Professional SP1. Instead, pulling up the properties of the printer shows only two (2) tabs: General and Hardware. It would be really great to have some way to use to built-in duplex capabilities of this printer!

  • Anonymous
    June 22, 2013
    thanks for the useful tip... but why, oh why... why is Windows such a ***?!

  • Anonymous
    January 22, 2014
    "This does not work for me on my HP Color LaserJet 2605dn in Windows 7 Professional SP1. Instead, pulling up the properties of the printer shows only two (2) tabs: General and Hardware. It would be really great to have some way to use to built-in duplex capabilities of this printer". I did the same thing - be sure to look at the options carefully - select Printer Properties, NOT Properties

  • Anonymous
    February 23, 2014
    Thanks, while this was not the exact fix, it lead me near enough that I found the problem. I have a Xerox 6250DP and duplex (two sided printing) was not working. I discovered that I had installed a generic driver and I had to configure the driver to my printer model. Under the Configuration tab, I clicked Installable Options and changed the Printer Model. Hope this helps someone. I had a hard time finding an exact solution online.

  • Anonymous
    April 13, 2014
    As with everyone, duplex worked fine in XP and now with Windows 7 it does not. I tried all of the solutions above. I have tried universal drivers and the actual drivers. We are an enterprise with 600 plus users and the problems happens with HP, Xerox and Dell printers. I guess the "increased productivity available in Windows 7" does not include saving paper. Really, not to be a wise-guy, but none of our printers do duplex since the "upgrade" to Windows 7.

  • Anonymous
    February 27, 2015
    thank you

  • Anonymous
    August 04, 2015
    No option to turn on duplex printing