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How to Fix a Brother Printer Locked in Landscape Mode After a Windows Update
Question details
The user needs to resolve an issue where a Brother printer continuously prints in landscape mode, ignoring layout settings, typically following a recent Windows update.
- Product
- Brother Printer / Windows OS
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Attempting to print standard portrait documents after a system update or driver modification.
- Observed behavior
- The printer remains locked in landscape orientation and fails to apply portrait print settings sent from the computer.
Before making system changes, verify that the document itself is not formatted in landscape mode within your word processor, and ensure your printer is fully powered on and connected to your PC.
Manually Adjust Printing Preferences in Control Panel
System updates can sometimes override your default printer configurations. Manually resetting these preferences can quickly restore the correct print orientation without needing new software.
This method forces the Windows operating system to recognize your preferred orientation settings directly at the device level, overriding temporary glitches.
Press the Windows key, type 'Control Panel', and press Enter. Navigate to 'Hardware and Sound' and click on 'Devices and Printers'.
Right-click on the icon for your Brother printer and select 'Printing Preferences' from the context menu.
Locate the 'Orientation' setting within the preferences window, change it from Landscape back to 'Portrait', click 'Apply', and then click 'OK'.
Remove the Printer and Reinstall the Latest Brother Drivers
If changing the printing preferences does not persist, a corrupted driver caused by the Windows update is likely the culprit. A clean reinstallation will resolve underlying software conflicts.
Easily Print Documents in the Correct Orientation Using WPS Office
Bypass frustrating Windows formatting glitches by managing your document layout and print settings directly within WPS Office. Enjoy a seamless printing experience with accurate built-in layout previews to ensure your document looks perfect on paper.
- 1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Office and open the document you wish to print.
- 2. Access the Print Menu: Click on 'Menu' in the top-left corner and select 'Print', or simply press Ctrl+P on your keyboard.
- 3. Select Your Printer: In the Print dialog box, choose your Brother printer from the 'Name' drop-down list.
- 4. Verify Orientation Settings: Click on the 'Properties' button to access your printer's specific settings and confirm the orientation is strictly set to Portrait.
- 5. Preview and Print: Review the built-in Print Preview on the right side of the screen. Once satisfied, click the 'Print' button to output your document correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Brother printer only print in landscape mode after an update?
Windows updates can sometimes overwrite or corrupt the existing printer driver registry keys, causing default settings like orientation to freeze or automatically default to landscape regardless of what you choose.
Will restarting my printer fix the orientation lock?
A simple restart might not fix a corrupted driver on the computer side. Completely removing the printer from your Windows 'Printers & scanners' menu and cleanly reinstalling it is generally required to resolve a persistent orientation lock.
How do I check if my document is forcing landscape mode instead of the printer?
Open your document's page layout or page setup menu in your word processor. If the page orientation is set to landscape within the document's formatting itself, it will override the printer's default portrait setting.
