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How to Fix Word Printing in Landscape Instead of Portrait
Question details
The user needs to resolve an issue where Microsoft Word documents print in landscape mode despite portrait orientation being selected in both document and printer settings.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Printing a document with portrait orientation.
- Observed behavior
- The document prints in landscape mode unexpectedly, often caused by conflicting print dialog settings or a corrupted Normal.dotm default template.
Before making changes to Word templates, verify that your printer drivers are up to date and try printing a test page from another application to confirm the issue is isolated to Microsoft Word.
Verify Word Print Settings
Check the specific orientation settings within the Word print dialog before sending the document to the printer.
Press Ctrl+P to open the Print dialog in Microsoft Word.
Look under the Settings section and confirm that 'Portrait Orientation' is selected rather than 'Landscape Orientation'.
Reset the Default Word Template (Normal.dotm)
If the issue persists across multiple documents, resetting the corrupted default template can resolve persistent printing orientation problems.
Print Documents Flawlessly with WPS Writer
Avoid template corruption and persistent printing bugs by using WPS Writer to format and print your documents. WPS Office offers a stable, easy-to-use printing experience that is fully compatible with Microsoft Word formats.
- 1. Open Document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Writer and open the document you wish to print.
- 2. Access Page Layout: Go to the Page Layout tab on the top ribbon and ensure Orientation is set to Portrait.
- 3. Open Print Settings: Click the Menu icon and select Print, or simply press the Ctrl+P keyboard shortcut.
- 4. Confirm and Print: Verify the layout in the Print Preview window and click Print to get your document in the correct orientation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my printer keep printing in landscape mode?
This usually occurs due to a mismatch between software settings and printer driver settings, or because the default document template (such as Normal.dotm in Word) has saved incorrect page setup data.
Will renaming Normal.dotm delete my saved documents?
No, renaming or deleting the Normal.dotm template will not affect your saved documents. It only resets default formatting, macros, and styles applied to newly created blank documents.
How do I force my printer to default to portrait mode?
You can force portrait mode by accessing your printer's system properties. Go to Windows Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, select your printer, click Manage, choose Printer Properties, and set the default orientation to Portrait.
