Fix Adobe Acrobat XI Printing in Landscape Instead of Portrait
Question details
The user needs to print a PDF document in portrait orientation, but Adobe Acrobat XI incorrectly outputs it in landscape format.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat XI
- Device & OS
- Windows (Sony VAIO)
- Scenario
- Printing a PDF document requiring portrait orientation to a physical printer.
- Observed behavior
- The document prints in landscape mode despite the user selecting portrait orientation and Auto portrait/landscape settings in the print dialog.
Check if the issue occurs with all PDF files or just a specific document, and verify if other applications on the same computer print in the correct orientation.
Adjust Printer Properties and Page Setup in Acrobat
Use this solution to ensure that the printer driver's layout settings are not overriding Adobe Acrobat's print dialog settings.
Sometimes the application's orientation settings conflict with the system's printer driver properties. Adjusting settings at both levels ensures the document orientation is passed correctly to the printer.
Open your document in Adobe Acrobat XI, click on the 'File' menu, and select 'Print'.
Click the 'Page Setup' button at the bottom left of the print dialog box. Ensure the orientation is set to 'Portrait' and click 'OK'.
Click the 'Properties' button next to your selected printer at the top of the dialog. Navigate to the 'Layout' or 'Finishing' tab and explicitly set the orientation to 'Portrait'.
Under the 'Page Sizing & Handling' section of the main print dialog, try unchecking 'Auto portrait/landscape' and explicitly force the layout.
Run Adobe Acrobat XI in Compatibility Mode
Apply this fix if you are running modern versions of Windows, as Adobe Acrobat XI is outdated and may have print spooler compatibility issues.
Update or Reinstall Your Printer Drivers
Perform this step if the printer receives incorrect instructions across multiple PDF applications, pointing to a driver fault.
Print PDFs Accurately with WPS Office
Since Adobe Acrobat XI is an outdated software that lacks support on modern Windows systems, you can avoid orientation and compatibility bugs by using WPS Office to reliably manage, edit, and print your PDF files.
- 1. Open Your PDF: Launch WPS Office and open the target PDF file you wish to print.
- 2. Access Print Settings: Click the 'Menu' button in the top-left corner and select 'Print', or simply use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + P.
- 3. Set Portrait Orientation: In the print settings panel, verify the page preview and ensure the orientation is strictly set to 'Portrait'.
- 4. Print the Document: Select your printer and click the 'Print' button to output the document correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my PDF print in landscape even though it looks correct on screen?
This usually happens due to a mismatch between your PDF reader's internal page setup settings and your actual printer driver preferences. The printer driver might be overriding the application's layout instructions.
Can outdated PDF software cause printing orientation issues?
Yes, legacy software like Adobe Acrobat XI is no longer supported and may suffer from compatibility problems with modern Windows 10/11 print spoolers, leading to anomalies like incorrect orientations or margins.
How do I force a PDF to print in portrait mode?
You can force portrait mode by accessing your printer's system properties through the Print dialog, explicitly setting the layout to 'Portrait', and unchecking any 'Auto-rotate and center' options within the PDF reader.
Does converting a PDF to another format fix printing issues?
In some cases, if the PDF has corrupted orientation metadata, converting it to Microsoft Word and printing it, or exporting it back to a fresh PDF, can strip the faulty data and allow it to print correctly.
