Portrait or Landscape Mode? Be Print-ready with Your PDFs

Printing a PDF with the right orientation isn’t just about appearances but also about making your document work for you. To print a PDF in landscape mode, open your print dialog (Ctrl/Cmd+P), select “Landscape” under orientation settings, and verify in the preview before printing.

Maybe you’re trying to fit everything neatly by switching from portrait to landscape or trying to save paper by printing two pages on one sheet. You might even be tackling trickier setups like landscape PDFs printed in portrait mode. 

Whatever your goal, there’s a quick solution.

Need to rotate pages before printing? Use the Rotate PDF tool below to upload or drag-and-drop your file and rotate pages before printing.

Sometimes your PDF pages are sideways or upside down. Before wrestling with print settings, you might just need to rotate the pages themselves.

Got a PDF with pages flipped the wrong way? Here’s how to fix it in no time:

Ready to print that wide spreadsheet or presentation? Here’s how to print any PDF in landscape orientation across different platforms.

Pro tip: Always check the print preview—it shows exactly how your document will look on paper.

Google Chrome

In Chrome, press Ctrl+P (or Command+P on a Mac) to open the print dialog box. Select “Landscape” under orientation, check the preview, and print. If the PDF doesn’t look right, you may need to rotate it first using our Rotate PDF tool.

Mac Preview

Open your PDF in Preview, then press Command+P. In the print dialog, click “Show Details” if needed, then select “Landscape” from the orientation options. Preview will show you exactly how it’ll print.

Windows 10 and 11 (Edge or System Viewer)

Open your PDF file and press Ctrl + P.

In the print window, find “Layout” or “Orientation,” choose “Landscape,” and check the preview.

If the file still appears sideways, rotate the pages first with Smallpdf Rotate PDF and try again.

iPhone or iPad (iOS Print Dialog)

Open the PDF in Files or Safari, tap “Share,” “Print,” then choose “Landscape” under layout options.

Pinch out the preview to confirm orientation and tap Print when ready.

Android Devices

Open your PDF in Chrome or your default viewer, tap the three-dot menu, then “Print.”

Under “More Options” choose “Layout,” then select “Landscape,” preview, and tap “Print” to finish.

Your printer might try to be helpful by automatically rotating pages, but sometimes you’ll want full control. Here’s how they differ.

Auto-Rotate

• Best for mixed orientations

• The printer decides how to fit each page

• May crop content if the layout varies

Manual Setup

• Best for keeping a consistent layout across pages

• You control the orientation and scaling

• Ensures margins and content stay aligned

When to Use Auto-Rotate and Center

Auto-rotate works great when:

• Your PDF has mixed portrait and landscape pages

• You want the printer to figure out the best fit

• You’re printing documents with standard layouts

Manual Orientation Settings

Go manual when:

• Auto-rotate is cutting off content

• You need consistent margins across all pages

• You’re printing specialized layouts like posters or charts

To disable auto-rotate, look for “Auto-Rotate and Center” in your print settings and uncheck it.

Content cut off? Try these fixes:

• Select “Fit to Printable Area” or “Shrink to Fit.”

• Adjust margins in your print settings.

• Check your paper size matches your printer.

• Printing sideways when you don’t want it?

• Disable “Auto-Rotate” in print settings.

• Manually select “Portrait” orientation.

• Use “Actual Size” instead of “Fit to Page.”

With the right settings and Smallpdf’s tools, you can switch from portrait to landscape PDF or even print landscape PDFs in portrait without breaking a sweat. Whether you need to rotate pages permanently or just adjust your print settings, you’ve got options that work for any situation.

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