Printing Problems

Fix Word Track Changes Printing Portrait and Landscape

Khadija Khan Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where a document prints with alternating page orientations when Track Changes is active.

How to Fix Word Printing Pages in Both Portrait and Landscape with Track Changes

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Printing a document that contains tracked formatting changes or section breaks.
Observed behavior: The printed document outputs pages in a mix of portrait and landscape orientations unexpectedly.

Before you start

Before making structural adjustments to your document, ensure you have saved a backup copy to prevent accidental loss of important tracked edits or text.

Solution 1Recommended

Review Section Breaks and Tracked Formatting

Identify hidden section breaks and accept or reject formatting changes that may be altering page orientation.

Track Changes records every modification, including adjustments to page layouts and section breaks. If a section break was inserted or an orientation change was tracked, Word attempts to print the document exactly as those changes dictate, causing mixed orientations.

Reveal hidden formatting marks

Navigate to the 'Home' tab and click the 'Show/Hide ¶' button in the Paragraph group to display all hidden section breaks in your document.

Manage tracked changes

Go to the 'Review' tab and temporarily toggle 'Track Changes' off. Look for any tracked formatting changes related to page setup and choose to 'Accept' or 'Reject' them.

Remove conflicting section breaks

Highlight any unnecessary 'Section Break (Next Page)' or 'Section Break (Continuous)' markers that separate the portrait and landscape sections, and press Delete.

Verify orientation and print

Go to 'File' > 'Print' to open the print preview. Check the preview to ensure all pages now display a consistent orientation before printing.

Review Section Breaks and Tracked Formatting

Tip: If you need specific pages to remain in landscape (like for large tables), ensure the section breaks are intentionally placed and the orientation is correctly set in the Page Layout tab for that specific section only.

Solution 2

Copy Content to a Clean Document

Transferring the text into a fresh document can strip away corrupted background formatting and stubborn section breaks.

Seamless Document Printing

Print Documents Flawlessly with WPS Office

Avoid formatting glitches and print your documents exactly as they appear on screen. WPS Writer handles Track Changes and page orientations intuitively, ensuring a hassle-free printing experience.

1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open your problematic Word document.
2. Manage track changes: Navigate to the 'Review' tab to easily view, accept, or reject tracked formatting changes that affect page layouts.
3. Adjust page layout: Go to the 'Page Layout' tab to quickly verify and standardize page orientation across all sections.
4. Print accurately: Click on 'Menu' > 'Print' to check the reliable print preview and print without unexpected orientation shifts.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsIntuitive interface for managing Track Changes and section breaksFree and lightweight alternative for seamless document editingAccurate print preview to guarantee perfect layouts

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Track Changes affect my page orientation?

Track Changes records every edit, including formatting modifications like section breaks and page setups. If a user tracked an orientation change, the word processor attempts to output those changes exactly as tracked, resulting in mixed portrait and landscape pages.

How can I find hidden section breaks in my document?

You can view hidden section breaks by going to the Home tab and clicking the 'Show/Hide ¶' (paragraph marks) button. This reveals all non-printing formatting symbols, allowing you to easily locate and delete unwanted section breaks.

Can I print a document with Track Changes showing but keep one orientation?

Yes. You must ensure that all sections of the document are set to the same orientation in the Page Layout settings. Accept or reject any tracked changes specifically related to 'Page Setup' to unify the layout before printing the tracked markups.

Will copying the text to a new document retain my tracked changes?

If you copy and paste text with Track Changes turned off in the source document, the text will paste as it appears. If you want to strip corrupted formatting but keep the final text, it is best to accept all changes first, or use the 'Keep Text Only' paste option in the new document.

Document & File Issues