Ever hit print expecting a clean, upright document, only to watch your printer spit it out sideways? Yeah, it’s one of those oddly frustrating tech hiccups that feels simple but refuses to cooperate. When your printer insists on printing in “landscape” instead of “portrait”, it’s usually not a hardware failure but a settings mismatch somewhere between your device, software, or printer driver.
Whether you’re printing from Windows, macOS, or even a browser, the problem usually boils down to a few key settings that need correction.
When a printer defaults to “landscape mode”, it usually means something in the printing pipeline is overriding your intended settings. This could be your document settings, your system print dialog, or even the printer’s own driver preferences.
Here’s the tricky part. Even if you change the orientation in one place, another setting might override it. For example, your document might be set to portrait, but the printer driver could still force landscape. Or a browser might auto-adjust orientation based on page layout.
In this guide, we’ll walk through exactly how to fix it step by step so you can get back to printing normally without guesswork.
Fix Printer is Printing Only Landscape, Not Portrait
To fix a printer that is printing only in “landscape” instead of “portrait”, open your print settings and change the orientation to “portrait”. Then check your printer properties, application settings, and driver preferences to ensure no default landscape setting is overriding your choice. Restarting the printer and updating drivers can also resolve the issue.
Let’s walk through this step by step so nothing gets missed.
Step 1: Check Orientation in Your Document
Start where the problem usually begins, inside the document itself.
If you’re using a program like Word, Google Docs, or any PDF reader, look for the “Page Setup” or “Layout” section. Here you’ll find the “orientation” option.
Make sure it is set to “portrait” and not “landscape”. Sometimes documents downloaded from the internet or shared by others come pre-set in landscape, which overrides everything else.
After changing it, save the document and try printing again. If it still prints sideways, don’t worry. We’re just getting started.
Step 2: Verify Print Settings Before Printing
This step is where many people accidentally miss the fix.
When you press Ctrl + P or click print, a print dialog box opens. Inside this window, there’s usually an “orientation” option again.
Make sure it is explicitly set to “portrait”. Even if your document is already in portrait, this setting can override it.
Also, look for options like “fit to page” or “scale”, because sometimes these can force a landscape layout if the content is wide.
Confirm the setting, then proceed to print.
Step 3: Adjust Printer Properties and Preferences
Now we move deeper into the system level.
In the print dialog box, look for a button labeled “Printer Properties”, “Preferences”, or “Advanced Settings”. Click it.
Inside, find the orientation setting and make sure it is set to “portrait”. Some printers store a default orientation here, and if it’s set to landscape, it will override your document every time.
Change it, apply the settings, and save them if possible. This ensures future prints don’t repeat the issue.
Step 4: Check Default Printer Settings in Your System
Sometimes your operating system itself is enforcing landscape mode.
On Windows, go to Control Panel, then Devices and Printers. Right-click your printer and select “Printing Preferences”. Look for the orientation setting and switch it to “portrait”.
On macOS, go to System Settings, then Printers and Scanners. Select your printer and check its default settings.
By fixing it at this level, you ensure every app uses portrait as the default orientation.
Step 5: Reset Application-Specific Print Settings
Here’s a sneaky one that catches a lot of people.
Some applications remember your last print settings. So if you printed something in landscape once, the app might keep using that setting.
Close the application completely and reopen it. Then reload your document and try printing again with portrait selected.
If the issue persists, look for a “reset print settings” option inside the app if available.
Step 6: Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers
If everything looks correct, but your printer still insists on landscape, the problem might be with the driver.
Printer drivers act as translators between your computer and printer. If they’re outdated or corrupted, they can misinterpret orientation commands.
Go to your printer manufacturer’s website, download the latest driver, and install it. If needed, uninstall the current driver first before installing the new one.
Once updated, restart your computer and try printing again.
Step 7: Restart Printer and Clear Print Queue
Sometimes the issue is just a temporary glitch.
Turn off your printer, unplug it for about a minute, then turn it back on. This resets its internal memory.
Also, clear your print queue. On Windows, you can do this from the printer settings. Cancel all pending jobs before sending a new one.
This ensures no old landscape print job is interfering with your new settings.
Step 8: Check for PDF or Browser-Specific Overrides
If you’re printing from a browser or PDF viewer, the orientation might be controlled there.
Browsers like Chrome often auto-adjust orientation based on page width. Look for the “layout” or “orientation” setting in the print preview and force it to “portrait”.
For PDFs, open the print dialog and ensure “auto-rotate” or similar settings are disabled if they are causing issues.
Faqs
Why is my printer ignoring portrait settings?
This usually happens when another setting overrides your choice, such as printer preferences or application-specific settings.
Can a driver issue cause landscape printing problems?
Yes, outdated or corrupted drivers can misinterpret commands and force incorrect orientation.
Why does it only happen with certain documents?
Some documents are created in landscape mode by default, especially spreadsheets or wide layouts.
Does reinstalling the printer help?
Yes, reinstalling resets all configurations and can fix persistent orientation issues.
Is this a hardware problem?
No, in most cases, this is purely a software or settings issue.