The HP Envy 6455e is a color inkjet all-in-one with automatic two-sided printing, and when duplex does not work or the back prints upside down, the cause is a setting in the driver or the program, the paper or a slight misunderstanding of the binding. In the print dialog, open the printer's properties and tick Print on Both Sides, or in HP Smart choose two-sided printing in the options; some programs have their own duplex option that overrides the printer's, so check both.
The checks in more detail
On a Mac, use Layout in the print dialog and choose Two-Sided. If the option is missing or gray, the driver does not know that the duplex unit exists, so install HP's full driver or the HP Smart app, which sets it correctly. Check the flip. HP lets you choose to flip on the long edge or the short edge: for a document bound on the left, such as a book, use the long edge, and for one bound at the top, such as a notepad, use the short edge.
A back page that is upside down means the wrong edge is set. Inkjet duplex needs time for the ink to dry before the sheet is reversed, so the printer pauses between sides, and very heavy ink coverage on plain paper can smear, so use paper suited to duplex and set the paper type correctly. Thick or glossy paper may not be supported for automatic duplex, so use manual duplex for those. If the printer jams during duplex, open the rear access panel and clear the sheet gently, and check for scraps.
Keep the paper flat and dry. If the first side prints and the second does not, the printer may have stopped for an error, such as an empty cartridge, so check the display and HP Smart. Update the printer's firmware and the driver. A print job that continues to ignore duplex after these checks can be set as the default: in the printer's preferences, set Print on Both Sides as the default for all jobs. Contact HP with the serial number if the duplex unit fails to turn the sheet.
Differential
Likely causes of “HP ENVY 6455e will not print or scan two-sided”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Duplex not ticked in the driver or program
What separates it Only one side prints
How to confirm Tick Print on Both Sides in both places
- 2
The wrong flip edge
What separates it The back is upside down
How to confirm Switch long and short edge
- 3
The driver does not know of the duplex unit
What separates it The option is gray
How to confirm Install HP's full driver or HP Smart
- 4
Unsupported paper
What separates it Jams or smears
How to confirm Use plain paper or manual duplex
- 5
A printer error between sides
What separates it The second side never prints
How to confirm Check the display and ink
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The exact symptom and when it began
- The ink or toner state
- The paper type used
- The model number
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedTick two-sided printing
ReversibleIn the driver and program.
Choose the right flip edge
ReversibleLong or short.
Install HP's driver
ReversibleIf the option is gray.
Use plain paper
ReversibleFlat and dry.
Clear the rear panel
ReversibleIf it jams.
Set duplex as default
ReversibleIn preferences.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Flip edge
- Long edge for left-bound documents.
- Ink drying
- The printer pauses between sides.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the problem persists after these steps, contact the maker with the model and serial number
- !Do not keep running cleaning cycles
- !Keep the receipt for warranty
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Does the Envy 6455e print both sides?+
Yes, automatically.
Why is the back upside down?+
The flip edge.
Can I make duplex the default?+
Yes.
Does it need time to dry?+
Yes, between sides.