problems changing hp printer settings from office word from other apps

Question

problems changing hp printer settings from office e.g. select duplex or greyscale . works from other apps

Answer 1

Hi,

Thank you for sharing your question. I understand you’re unable to select duplex or grayscale printing for your HP printer when using Microsoft Office apps, even though those options work fine in other applications.

Empathy: It’s understandably frustrating when specific settings vanish depending on the app—it disrupts workflow and adds unnecessary hassle.

Reason: Microsoft indicates that Office apps like Word or Excel often rely on the printer’s own driver interface ("Printer Properties") to access advanced features like duplexing or color mode, rather than exposing them directly in the Office print dialog.  Additionally, if the universal or generic printer driver lacks capabilities such as duplex detection, Office won’t present these options.

Resolution: Make sure you're using the full-feature HP driver not a basic or universal version—by downloading the proper driver package from HP’s support site.  After installation, open the Office print dialog (File → Print), click Printer Properties (or Preferences), navigate to the Finishing or Color tab, and enable “Print on Both Sides” for duplex or uncheck “Print in Grayscale” to activate color. These options will revert Office to using the printer’s full feature set.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Best Regards,

Noel

Answer 2

The interface for printing is a bit different in different Office applications.

In Word, make sure that you have selected the correct printer. Some options will be available directly from the buttons under Settings. However, you may have to click the Printer Properties link to see the specific options you need.