How to change word document from landscape to portrait: A simple guide to adjusting your Word document orientation

Changing a Word document from landscape to portrait orientation is a simple process that ensures your content looks organized and is easy to read. Here’s how you can do it in a few quick steps:

1. Open your Word document.
2. Go to the “Layout” tab at the top of the window (it may appear as "Page Layout" in some versions).
3. Click on “Orientation” in the Page Setup group.
4. Select “Portrait” from the dropdown menu.

Your document should instantly switch to portrait orientation. If you want only a specific page or section to be in portrait, place your cursor at the section, open the “Page Setup” dialog box (click the small arrow at the bottom-right of the Page Setup group), choose “Portrait,” and under "Apply to" select “This section”.

As a designer, toggling between landscape and portrait is something I encounter often, especially when adjusting layouts for visual balance or optimizing content flow. Whether preparing mood boards, drafts, or presentation documents, ensuring your orientation complements your design is crucial for a polished look.

And if you’re rearranging plans or layouts, for example, considering how to present different floor plan visualizations to a client, it’s worth exploring how a 2D floor planner tool can help you maintain design clarity no matter the document orientation.

Tips 1:

If you’re working with a document that has both landscape and portrait pages, use “Section Breaks” (found under the “Layout” > “Breaks” menu) before changing the orientation. This way, you can mix both orientations within a single document—ideal for combining text and wide-format visuals like design blueprints or charts.

FAQ

Q: Can I have both landscape and portrait pages in the same Word document?

A: Yes, by inserting section breaks and setting orientation individually for each section, you can mix both orientations in one document.

Q: Will changing the orientation affect my images and tables?

A: It might; images and tables may need resizing or adjusting to fit the new page layout.

Q: How do I change orientation for just one page?

A: Insert a Section Break, then follow the orientation steps while “Apply to: This section” is selected.

Q: Does the orientation change work the same on Mac and PC?

A: Yes, though menu names and button locations may vary slightly between versions.

Q: Is there a shortcut key for changing orientation?

A: There’s no direct shortcut key, but you can quickly open the Page Setup dialog box with Alt + P + S in Windows Word versions.