Canon's duplex article for the G5020, G6020 and G7020 explains the driver settings. Open the printer driver setup window and, on the Page Setup tab, tick Duplex Printing and confirm Automatic is ticked; choose a page layout such as Normal-size, Fit-to-Page, Scaled or Page Layout. Because duplex leaves a narrower print area, the document may not fit on one page, so click Print Area Setup and choose normal-size or reduced printing, and set the stapling side, which the driver picks from the orientation and layout.
The checks in more detail
When you print, the document prints on one side and, for manual duplex, asks you to reload the paper before it prints the second side. Canon lists the limits: if a media type other than plain paper is selected, Duplex Printing (Manual) is grayed out; if Borderless, Tiling/Poster or Booklet is chosen, Duplex and Stapling Side are grayed out.
If the back side is smudged during duplex printing, run Bottom Plate Cleaning in the Canon IJ Printer Assistant Tool. Canon explains there are automatic and manual duplex; automatic is simpler, and the printer's spec sheet tells you which your model has. On Mac use the Two-Sided option in the print dialog. If Automatic is missing, update the driver, since a generic driver may not show it. Check paper size and weight limits for duplex. If you print two-sided often, choose a model with automatic duplex, keep the model driver installed and use plain paper.
Save a duplex preset in the driver so the setting is one click. Print a two-page test to see which side is which before printing a long document, and check the binding edge so pages are not upside down.
Differential
Likely causes of “Canon printers will not print or scan two-sided”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A media type other than plain
What separates it Manual duplex is grayed out because the media type is not plain paper
How to confirm Choose plain paper as the media type, and the duplex option returns
- 2
Borderless or booklet layout
What separates it Duplex is grayed out because a borderless or booklet layout is chosen
How to confirm Choose a standard layout, since borderless and booklet do not allow duplex
- 3
A generic driver
What separates it There is no Automatic option because a generic driver is in use
How to confirm Install the driver for your model from Canon's support site
- 4
A smudged back side
What separates it There is ink on the reverse because the back side is smudged
How to confirm Run Bottom Plate Cleaning, which cleans the part that smudges the reverse
- 5
An unsupported paper size
What separates it Duplex is refused because the paper size is not supported
How to confirm Use a paper size that the duplex unit supports
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The model and whether it has automatic duplex
- The driver settings that the dialog shows
- The media type and the layout that you chose
- Any options that appear grayed out in the dialog
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedOpen the driver
ReversibleOpen the driver, and go to the Page Setup tab, where the duplex option is found.
Tick Duplex Printing
ReversibleTick Duplex Printing, and confirm that Automatic is chosen, if your model offers it, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Choose a layout
ReversibleChoose a layout, such as Normal size or Fit to Page, that allows duplex, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Set Print Area Setup
ReversibleSet the Print Area Setup to Normal or reduced, so the page fits on both sides.
Set the stapling side
ReversibleSet the stapling side, if needed, so the pages turn the right way, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Use plain paper
ReversibleUse plain paper for manual duplex, since other types are often not allowed, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Clean the bottom plate
ReversibleClean the bottom plate if the reverse is smudged, using the maintenance routine, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Automatic and manual
- Some PIXMA models duplex automatically; the TR4520 does, and the G-series has options for both.
- Laser
- imageCLASS MF models support automatic duplex.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models TS9521C, G7020, G6020, GX7021, GX4020, Color imageCLASS LBP632Cdw, Color imageCLASS MF656Cdw.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If Automatic is missing on a model that supports it, reinstall the model driver
- !If the back is smudged, run Bottom Plate Cleaning
- !If duplex jams, check the duplex path for any scraps of paper
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Duplex settings and limits.
PIXMA duplex on Windows.
Automatic duplex.
Duplex settings for the TS8320.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
How do I enable duplex?+
Tick Duplex Printing on the Page Setup tab.
Why is Manual grayed out?+
A media type other than plain paper is selected.
Why are Duplex and Stapling grayed out?+
Borderless, Tiling/Poster or Booklet is chosen.
What is Print Area Setup?+
It lets you use normal-size or reduced printing.
What is manual duplex?+
You reload the paper for the second side.
Does Mac differ?+
On a Mac, the setting is different, so use the Two-Sided option in the print dialog.
Can the driver hide the option?+
Yes, a generic driver can hide the option, so install the driver for your model.
Which paper sizes work?+
Check the model's limits for the paper sizes that work with duplex.