How to Fix Duplex Printing Issues in InDesign After Software and Hardware Update?

[ZappaJul]

Duplexing will not work in InDesign, although it works fine from all other apps (eg Word, PPT, Photoshop, Lightroom). I've just spent 1hr 59 mins on a call with an experienced Adobe InDesign support agent, and so far, they couldn't find a solution either. I'm pretty sure this used to work OK but haven't tried it for about 7 months. Meanwile InDesign s/w has updated and I changed the Mac from Intel to M3. Can anyone help please?

Since InDesign doesn't have a duplex option of its own, there's no possibility of a driver conflict and it should follow the print driver setting, but it doesn't. Settings tried so far:

• File > Print Booklet > 2-up saddle stitch > Preview (looks correct) > Printer > Double Sided ON, OFF and ON Short Edge
• File > Print > Printer > Double Sided ON, OFF and ON Short Edge

...None of which results in a duplex print. 

Setup: Mac Book Pro M3 Max 2023, Sonoma 14.5, InDesign CC 19.5, Canon Pixma TS9550, also tried on photocopier and Epson duplex printer with same result. 

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[Abhishek Rao]

Hello @ZappaJul, 

Thank you for reporting this with us. We understand how frustrating it would be. As per your issue, would you mind going through the similar community posts and find it useful: Solved: Re: Printing double sided InDesign - Page 2 - Adobe Community - 10899563

Solved: Turn OFF duplex printing in InDesign - Adobe Community - 10884536

Also, if possible please try using another printer and update it is helps. 

Thank you, 

Abhishek Rao

[ZappaJul]

Thanks for your swift response Abhishek, but I had already read that post and all the answers (plus all other posts related to duplexing) and it does not solve my issue; as per OP, I want it to duplex; that solution is to stop it duplexing. As detailed above, I have tried turning Duplexing On and Off  and also tried 3 different printers, with same result.

[ZappaJul]

...and the other link is for someone whose duplexing is coming out upside down. My issue is it is not duplexing at all, despite being set to On in the driver(s).

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Have you checked/set the relevant settings at the printer driver/menu level, and not through InDesign's "mirroring" of them?

[ZappaJul]

Yep! Ad nauseum. So did Adobe support tech... 

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Printers have always had a few problems, especially with new models and updated drivers. There seems, though, to have been a rising tide of this fairly narrow category of mismatch between ID and some printers, mostly HP. I don't recall that any of these issues were successfully resolved.

I suspect there is some new driver code, or changing protocols, or some such out there that one end or the other hasn't addressed. That sort of thing used to be painfully common, but it's become quite rare, almost never needing more than a driver update.

[ZappaJul]

I'm not sure what to look for, other than the obvious contenders suich as page size, layout direction, Duplex / Dounle sided On / On short side / Off (the latter being unintuitive since I want it on, but since others have turned it Off but ended up with duplexing, I tried!).