How to Change OneDrive PDF Viewing from Scrolling to Page Turning
Question details
The user wants to switch the PDF viewing mode in OneDrive from a continuous vertical scroll to a horizontal page-by-page turning layout.
- Product
- OneDrive / PDF Reader
- Device & OS
- iPad / Kindle Fire (iOS/Android)
- Scenario
- Reading PDF documents directly within the OneDrive app on a tablet device.
- Observed behavior
- The PDFs default to an infinite vertical scrolling view, and the user struggles to find the setting to enable horizontal page-turning.
Ensure your OneDrive application is updated to the latest version on your iPad or Kindle Fire. App updates frequently introduce or alter built-in PDF reading controls.
Adjust Reading Controls within the OneDrive App
Use the native reading settings menu available in certain versions of the OneDrive mobile app to toggle scrolling modes.
The OneDrive app includes basic PDF reading tools on select platforms like iOS. You can switch between vertical and horizontal layouts using the built-in view menu.
Open the PDF document in OneDrive and tap the center of the screen to reveal the top and bottom menu bars.
Look for the 'Aa' icon located in the top menu bar and tap it to open the display settings.
Find the 'Continuous Scrolling' option and turn it off. This will switch your viewing mode from vertical scrolling to horizontal page turning.
Use a Dedicated PDF Reader Application
Bypass OneDrive's built-in viewer limitations by opening the file in a specialized PDF reading app that supports multiple layout modes.
Enjoy Superior PDF Reading with WPS Office
If OneDrive's built-in viewer lacks the specific page-turning features you need, WPS Office provides a powerful, free PDF reader alternative. It gives you full control over reading layouts, including seamless horizontal swiping, continuous vertical scrolling, and night mode.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
- 2. Open PDF via OneDrive: Find your PDF in the OneDrive app, tap 'Open in Another App', and select WPS Office.
- 3. Select Reading Layout: In WPS Office, tap the view settings menu and select 'Page by Page' for horizontal page turning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't the 'Aa' button appear in my OneDrive PDF viewer?
Microsoft frequently updates the OneDrive app, and native PDF viewing features can vary between operating systems (iOS vs. Android). If the 'Aa' button is missing, your specific client version currently lacks support for toggling continuous scrolling.
Can I set a third-party app as the default PDF viewer for OneDrive on iPad?
iPadOS does not allow you to change system-wide default apps for specific file types like PDFs. However, you can bypass the native viewer by using the 'Share' or 'Open In Another App' option within OneDrive to send the document to your preferred reader.
Does Kindle Fire support horizontal page turning for PDFs?
Yes, the native document viewer on Kindle Fire supports page turning. If you are opening a PDF directly from the Android OneDrive app on your Kindle and it forces vertical scrolling, use the 'Open in another app' option to read it in the native Kindle reader or another PDF app.
How do I change PDF scroll settings permanently in OneDrive?
If your version supports the 'Aa' reading menu, changing the 'Continuous Scrolling' toggle usually applies to your current reading session. Check your app's global settings menu for default viewing preferences, though it often resets based on the document type.
