How to change the second page to landscape in word: Learn how to set your second page to landscape orientation in Microsoft Word easily.

Changing just the second page to landscape orientation in Microsoft Word can be incredibly useful for design-heavy documents, portfolios, or when you want to present a wide table or image without affecting the rest of your file. Here’s a straightforward, step-by-step guide to do exactly that:

1. Place your cursor at the very beginning of the second page (where you want the landscape orientation to start).
2. Go to the Layout or Page Layout tab (depending on your version of Word).
3. Click on Breaks and choose Next Page under Section Breaks. This creates a new section.
4. Now, place your cursor at the beginning of the third page (right after your landscape page).
5. Repeat: Go to Layout > Breaks > Next Page again. This ensures only the second page becomes landscape.
6. Go back and click anywhere on the second page (the one you want to change to landscape).
7. Under the Layout tab, select Orientation > Landscape.

Only the second page should now be landscape, while the rest remain in portrait mode. It's a frequently used technique in professional layouts, especially when integrating charts, wide tables, or design mockups that don’t fit well into a standard portrait view.

As an interior designer, I often use this trick when preparing project pitches or mood boards in document form. If you’re compiling various types of content—floor plans, renderings, or even design mood boards—sometimes a single page in landscape can make all the difference for clarity and presentation. For example, laying out a comprehensive room overview or a side-by-side comparison of design layouts often benefits from a landscape page. If you’re looking to experiment with ideas before finalizing the document, using a room planner tool helps you generate visuals that suit both orientations seamlessly in Word or other document editors.

Tips 1:

After adjusting page orientation, double-check your headers, footers, and page numbering—they can sometimes get tricky when mixing portrait and landscape pages. Use “Different First Page” or “Different Odd & Even Pages” options under the Header & Footer Tools if you need unique formatting.

FAQ

Q: Will this method affect the formatting of my entire document?

A: No. Section breaks isolate formatting changes, so only the designated section (second page) will switch to landscape.

Q: Can I use this approach for more than one page?

A: Yes—insert section breaks before and after the range you want in landscape, and change that entire section’s orientation.

Q: My headers and footers keep changing—what’s wrong?

A: Headers and footers can be “linked” across sections by default. In the header/footer view, click “Link to Previous” to turn it off and format each section independently.

Q: Will this work in Word Online or only the desktop version?

A: Section breaks and orientation changes are best managed in the desktop version, though some features are available in Word Online with limited functionality.

Q: Is there a shortcut to insert section breaks?

A: Yes! Press Ctrl + Enter to insert a page break and Alt + N + B to open the breaks menu, then choose the correct section break for your needs.