How to Photocopy on Printer: 2 Copy Methods (4 Easy Steps)

While most printers are used for printers, you can also photocopy with them too. Just look for the flatbed scanner or document feeder on top of your unit and you’ll be making copies in no time. In this guide, you’ll learn how to photocopy on your printer.

Making copies on your printer is simple. First, confirm the type of copier you have. Look for a flatbed scanner or an automatic document feeder (some have both). Then follow the following steps.

How to Photocopy on Printer: 2 Options

To photocopy on a printer, you can use a flatbed scanner or automatic document feeder (ADF). Here are the steps for each method for making copies.

1. Photocopy on Printer with Flatbed Scanner

Here are the steps to photocopy on a printer, using the flatbed scanner.

1. Open the scanner bed and place your document face down.
2. Position your document in the corner with the arrow. Close the lid.
3. Configure copy settings. For most copies, the default settings are correct. This can include quantity, color, copy ratio, single/double-sided, paper source, and document type (text or photo).
4. Press Start/Copy.

Don’t forget to remove your original document.

The flatbed scanner also serves to make digital scans of your document. Here’s how to scan on a printer.

Next, we’ll cover how to make copies using a printer with an automatic document feeder for the photocopy function.

Here’s what an automatic document feeder looks like on my Canon printer. While the appearance varies on other brands, they will look quite similar.

2. Photocopy on Printer with Automatic Document Feeder

Here are the steps to photocopy on a printer with an automatic document feeder.

1. Place your document(s) in the document feeder. Be sure to take note of which side should face up. On my Canon printer, the text side will face up, as indicated in the embossed icon. See the above photo.
2. When the documents are correctly inserted, the display will note that there is a document in the feeder.
3. Configure copy settings. For most copies, the default settings are correct. This can include quantity, color, copy ratio, single/double-sided, paper source, and document type (text or photo).
4. Press Start/Copy.

Don’t forget to remove your original document.

Setting for Making Copies on a Printer

Here’s how the interface looks on my Canon printer.

As you can see, copy settings can include quantity, color, copy ratio, single/double-sided, paper source, and document type (text or photo).

Some allow the copying of 2 or 4 pages to a single sheet. I like this for reference documents – I can see multiple pages at once.

And the Copy Ratio feature is also useful – you can scale up or down the text or photo as needed.

Here’s a guide to settings on HP printers.

Troubleshooting Photocopying Problems

When making copies, there are a few details to remember.

1. Flatbed scanner: Remove dust from the glass surface. While it might look clean, it can easily collect dust or fuzz. To check if it’s clean, you can make a copy without a document in the scanner. The copy will show any imperfections. To protect the glass, treat it like you’re cleaning a camera lens.
2. Automatic document feeder: Be sure to remove all staples and paper clips. Because the document is being fed through rollers and over an image scanner, any metal can damage the delicate parts.
3. Automatic document feeder: Don’t put wet, crinkled, or partially rolled documents into the document feeder.
4. Automatic document feeder: Don’t try to copy passports, driver’s licenses, or credit cards in the automatic document feeder. Use the flatbed scanner instead.

What Printers Can Photocopy?

All multifunction printers that have scanners can also make photocopies.

• Any printer with a flatbed scanner on top can serve as a photocopier. A photocopier requires two things: the ability to scan the original document and then print it out.
• And any printer with an automatic document feeder (ADF) can also make copies.

Here’s a simple tutorial for making a copy with a Canon Pixma TS3150 printer, using the flatbed scanner.

Now that you’re copying with your printer, let’s move on to the next skill. Here’s how to fax from your printer.

Your Turn

How did it go for you? Let me know if I missed anything. We’re constantly improving the quality of our guides.