Top 7 Fixes When Printer on Windows 11 Keeps Printing Landscape Instead of Portrait

When starting a print job, we specify preferences like paper size, type, color mode, margins, or orientation. The final product normally matches these preferences. However, there have been cases where users have had issues with orientation. For example, the printer being set to portrait but printing landscape.

If you belong to this category, this guide is for you. We will walk you through the best solution when your printer on Windows 11 keeps printing landscape instead of portrait. You should note that, in most cases, this is a problem associated with specific settings. Let’s get to it.

1. Change the Default Orientation on the Printer Properties

Windows 11 has a comprehensive Settings application that lets you customize specific configurations for different apps and devices. You can modify preferences and properties, such as the default orientation for connected printers, through this app.

To launch the Settings app, press the Windows + I keyboard shortcut.

Then, on the left pane, click ‘Bluetooth & devices,’ and on the right, click ‘Printers & scanners.’

Step 3: Click your printer.

Step 4: Click Printing preferences.

Step 5: Select Portrait from the Orientation drop-down, then click Apply and OK.

2. Change Orientation in Page Setup

You can make changes to the document you want to print right from the application. For example, in Microsoft Word, you can change the page orientation before printing. Here’s an example of how to do it:

Step 1: Open the document in Word.

Step 2: Click Layout, expand Orientation, and select Portrait.

Step 3: Print the document.

3. Change Layout in Print Setup

If you cannot change the orientation in the app, switch to Portrait on the print setup page before printing. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Press Control + P to start the print process. This will open the print setup page. Step 2: Under Layout, choose Portrait, then click Print.

4. Check for and Correct Page Size Mismatch

Your printer may print landscape instead of portrait due to a page mismatch. This occurs when the printer expects A4 paper but you have loaded A5 sheets. To solve this issue, make sure the print properties’ page size corresponds to the loaded sheets.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Press Control + P to open the print setup page.

2. Expand More Settings, choose the appropriate paper size under Paper size, and click Print.

5. Confirm Network Printer Settings Are Not Overriding Local Settings

If you are connected to a network printer with different print preferences, contact the administrator for resolution. Alternatively, switch to a local printer to perform the print job.

6. Re-Add the Printer to Windows 11

You can fix this problem by removing the printer from your computer and re-adding it. This is a valid fix because when the computer is re-added, it comes with a default set of configurations, and any misconfiguration that caused the problem would be removed.

Step 1: Press Windows + I keyboard shortcut to launch the Settings app.

Step 2: On the left pane, click ‘Bluetooth & devices,’ and on the right, click ‘Printers & scanners.’

Step 3: Select the problematic printer and click Remove.

Restart the computer and relaunch Settings. On the left pane, click ‘Bluetooth & devices,’ and on the right, click ‘Printers & scanners.’

Step 6: Click Add Device and follow the wizard to complete the process.

7. Factory Reset on the Printer

If your printer prints sideways or landscape, resetting it to factory settings can fix the issue. This will reset all printer settings to their defaults. The steps for performing a factory reset differ by printer brand. Consult your user manual for instructions on how to do this correctly.

No More Mismatched Printing Orientations

This guide covers the steps and solutions to fix the issue of incorrect orientation when printing. The problem is usually caused by incorrect settings, but following these steps will ensure that you no longer encounter this problem. Please share any additional concerns or questions in the comments section below.