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How to Fix Excel and Word Printing in Portrait Instead of Landscape
Question details
The user needs to print Microsoft Word and Excel documents in landscape format, but the application forces the printout into portrait mode.
- Product
- Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to print documents after explicitly configuring both the document layout and printer properties to landscape orientation.
- Observed behavior
- The printer outputs the documents in portrait orientation, ignoring the landscape settings configured in the desktop Office applications.
Verify that your printer is turned on, connected properly, and that landscape orientation is explicitly selected in both your document's page layout tab and the specific printer properties dialogue.
Test with Office for the Web and Update Printer Drivers
Isolate the issue by testing web versions of Office; if they print correctly, the bug is a conflict between your desktop app and printer driver.
Often, orientation issues are caused by a breakdown in communication between the desktop Office software and the printer's driver.
Testing through a web browser bypasses the desktop application's print spooling process.
Upload and open your document in Word for the web or Excel for the web.
Go to File > Print, ensure the orientation is set to landscape, and print the document. If it prints correctly, proceed to the next step.
Open Device Manager on your computer, locate your printer under 'Print queues', right-click it, and select 'Update driver'. Alternatively, download the newest driver directly from the printer manufacturer's support website.
Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and install any pending system updates to ensure full compatibility.
Repair the Microsoft Office Desktop Installation
Run the built-in Office repair tool to fix corrupted application files that may be forcing incorrect print commands.
Print Flawlessly with WPS Office
If Microsoft Office desktop applications continue to ignore your landscape printing settings, switch to WPS Office. It is a highly compatible alternative that processes print layouts accurately without common driver conflicts.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office for free from the official website.
- 2. Open Your Document: Right-click your Word or Excel document and choose 'Open with WPS Office'.
- 3. Print in Landscape: Click 'Print', verify the landscape setting in the print preview, and print perfectly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Excel printing portrait when set to landscape?
This usually occurs due to a communication glitch or driver conflict between the Microsoft Excel desktop application and your printer driver, causing the app to fail to send the correct orientation command.
How do I force my printer to print in landscape?
You can open your printer's properties dialogue directly from the Print menu (usually labeled 'Printer Properties' or 'Preferences') and manually set the hardware orientation to Landscape, bypassing the document's internal layout settings.
Will reinstalling my printer fix the orientation issue in Word?
Yes, completely removing the printer from your system settings and reinstalling it with the latest drivers from the manufacturer's website often clears up deep-seated orientation conflicts with desktop Office apps.
