7 Easy Ways to Fix Continuous Horizontal Printing Instead of Vertical on Windows 11

When starting a print job, we usually specify print options such as paper size, type, color mode, margins, or orientation. The final printed product should reflect your desired settings. However, in rare cases, you may not get the final product you want. Some users have encountered print orientation issues, where the printer is set to portrait mode but prints in landscape.

If you are experiencing a similar problem, then the troubleshooting guide in this article is for you. We will guide you through the best solutions to fix the continuous landscape printing issue on Windows 11. But please note, in most cases, these are configuration-related issues.

Change the default print orientation

Windows 11 comes with the comprehensive Settings app. This app allows you to adjust specific settings for various apps and devices. For example, you can modify options and properties such as the default orientation for all printers connected to your computer through the Settings app.

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

Step 2: In the displayed Settings window, click on the Bluetooth & devices option in the left pane, then select Printers & scanners in the right pane.

Step 3: From the list of printers and scanners connected to your computer, select the printer name you want to change the settings for.

Step 4: Click on the Printing preferences option in the new window.

Step 5: Choose the Portrait option from the drop-down list of options in the Orientation section. Then click on the Apply > OK button to apply the changes.

Change the orientation in page setup

You can make specific changes right from the application or document you want to print. For example, if you are printing a document from the Microsoft Word application, you can change the page orientation even before printing, and it will reflect the result when you print your document. The steps will vary depending on the application, but below is an example in Microsoft Word.

Step 1: Launch the Word application and open the document you want to print.

Step 2: Access the Layout tab on the ribbon toolbar, then click on the Orientation button in the Page Setup feature group, and select Portrait from the dropdown menu.

Step 3: Proceed to print your document with the selected printer.

Change the layout in print settings

If you cannot change the page orientation from the Word application like in the word processor, you can switch to portrait mode in the print settings before printing the official document, as shown below.

Step 1: In the application window you want to print, press the Control + P shortcut keys to start the printing process. This will open the print settings page before printing.

Step 2: Now pay attention to the Layout item in the print settings window, choose the Portrait option, then modify other settings as needed, and click the Print button.

Check and fix mismatched page sizes

One reason your printer may print in landscape instead of portrait is an improper page setup. This means the printer may require letter-sized paper even when you have loaded A4 paper into the paper tray. The solution is to ensure the page size in the print properties matches the paper size you intend to print.

Step 1: In the application window you want to print, press the Control + P shortcut keys to start the printing process. This will open the print settings page before printing.

Step 2: From the print settings window, click on the More Settings option at the bottom, then select the appropriate paper size to the right of the Paper size section, and click the Print button.

Confirm network printer settings don’t override local settings

This solution applies if you are connected to a network printer. If the network printer has a different print setting than what you want, you may need to contact your administrator to address the issue. Alternatively, you can switch to a local printer to perform the print command.

Delete and re-add the printer in Windows 11

You can fix this issue by removing the printer from your computer and then re-adding it. This is a valid troubleshooting step because when the printer is re-added to the computer, it will come with a default configuration, and any erroneous configurations causing the issue will be removed.

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

Step 2: In the displayed Settings window, click on the Bluetooth & devices option in the left pane, then select Printers & scanners in the right pane.

Step 3: From the list of printers and scanners connected to your computer, select the printer name with the issue, and click the Remove button in the new window.

Step 4: Restart your computer and relaunch the Settings app.

Step 5: In the displayed Settings window, click on the Bluetooth & devices option in the left pane, then select Printers & scanners in the right pane.

Step 6: Click on the Add device button and follow the prompts to complete the process of adding a new printer to your computer.

Restore factory settings on the printer

If your printer continues to print in landscape instead of portrait the way you want, even after implementing the above troubleshooting steps, then resetting the printer to factory settings may resolve the issue. Restoring the printer’s factory settings will reset all configuration settings back to default.

The process for performing a factory reset on your printer will vary depending on the type of printer you are using. To learn how to perform a factory reset on your printer, refer to the accompanying user manual or visit the manufacturer’s website and follow the instructions.

Conclusion

Above, you have explored 7 ways to fix the continuous landscape printing issue on Windows 11. Most of the troubleshooting solutions are relatively concise and straightforward. However, remember that when the printer is misaligned in print orientation, the primary cause is the configuration on your end, so the provided steps and solutions will ensure you no longer experience incorrect print orientations in the future.