How to Fix Printer Always Prints 2 Copies on Windows 10/11?

Oct 05, 2026 3 min read 3 views

Fix Printer Always Prints 2 Copies on Windows 10/11

If your printer is printing two copies every time you send a document, do not worry - this is a common issue and usually easy to fix. The problem is almost always in your printer settings, either from the printer itself or from the settings of the application you are printing from.

Here are different solutions that you can apply to fix the printer printing twice on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Method 1: Change the Number of Copies in Printer Settings

Go to the Start menu and click on Control Panel
Choose Hardware and Sound
Select Devices and Printers
Right-click on your printer and select Printer Properties
Look for the Number of Copies setting - if it is set to 2, change it to 1
Click Apply and OK

This is the most common cause - someone accidentally changed the default copy count to 2.

Method 2: Uncheck Bidirectional Support

Bidirectional communication between your computer and printer can sometimes cause double printing. Disabling it often fixes the issue:

Go to Start menu > Control Panel
Choose Hardware and Sound
Select Devices and Printers
Right-click on your printer icon
Choose Printer Properties
Click on the Ports tab
Uncheck the option Enable Bidirectional Support
Click Apply and OK

Method 3: Install the Latest Printer Drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers can cause all kinds of printing issues including double printing. To install fresh drivers:

Go to Start menu > Control Panel
Choose Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers
Click on Add a printer
If your printer appears in the list, select it and click Next
If your printer is not listed, select "The printer I want is not listed"
Choose "Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings" and click Next
Select the port your printer uses and click Next
Click Windows Update to download the latest driver list
Select your printer model and complete the installation

You can also download the latest driver directly from your printer manufacturer's website for the most up-to-date version.

Method 4: Check Copy Settings in the Application

Sometimes the problem is not in the printer settings but in the application you are printing from. Check these based on what you are using:

Microsoft Word:

Click File > Print
Check the Copies field - make sure it says 1

PDF Documents (Adobe Reader):

Click the Print icon
Check the Copies field and set it to 1

Web Pages (Chrome/Edge/Firefox):

Press Ctrl + P
Check the Copies field and make sure it is set to 1

Method 5: Reset Your Printing System

If none of the above methods work, resetting the entire printing system can help:

Go to Start menu > Control Panel (set View to Large Icons)
Select Administrative Tools
Click on Print Management
Choose Print Servers
Right-click in the empty space next to your print server name
Choose Remove or Add Servers
Select Remove All and click OK
Re-add your printer and test

Method 6: Reinstall the Printer Completely

As a last resort, completely remove and reinstall your printer:

Open Device Manager from the Start menu
Find your printer in the device list and delete it
Go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers
Select any remaining printer entry and click Print Server Properties
Delete all printer drivers from the list
Restart your PC
Download and install the latest full printer driver from your manufacturer's website
Set up your printer again

Printer Prints 2 Copies FAQ

Q1. Why does my printer print 2 copies when I only selected 1? Ans: The most common reason is that the default copy count in your printer settings is accidentally set to 2 instead of 1. This can happen after a driver update, a Windows update, or if someone changed the setting without realizing it. Go to Devices and Printers, right-click your printer, open Properties, and check the copies setting.

Q2. Can a virus cause my printer to print multiple copies? Ans: It is extremely rare for a virus to cause double printing. In almost all cases, the problem is a misconfigured printer setting or a driver issue. If your printer suddenly starts printing multiple copies along with other unusual computer behavior, running a full antivirus scan is a good idea, but the printer issue itself is almost certainly a settings problem.

Q3. Does this fix work for both USB and wireless printers? Ans: Yes, these solutions work for any printer connected to Windows 10 or 11, whether it is connected via USB cable, WiFi, or Ethernet. The printer settings, bidirectional support, and driver options are all managed through Windows regardless of how the printer is physically connected.