Changing a Word document from horizontal to vertical usually means switching the page from landscape (wide) to portrait (tall). Word can change the whole document, a single page, or just one section, so you can mix both in one file. This guide covers each option, plus Word for Mac and the web, printing, and how to make the text itself run vertically if that’s what you’re after.
Quick Answer
Go to Layout > Orientation and click Portrait. To change only some pages, select them first, open Layout > Margins > Custom Margins, choose Portrait, set Apply to to Selected text, and click OK.
Change the Whole Document
- Click the Layout tab (called Page Layout in Word 2013 and earlier).
- Click Orientation.
- Choose Portrait for vertical pages, or Landscape for horizontal.
If the document has several sections, this changes only the section where your cursor is. Press Ctrl + A first to change every section.
Change One Page or a Few Pages
- Select all the content on the page or pages you want to change.
- Go to Layout and click the small arrow at the bottom right of Page Setup (or Margins > Custom Margins).
- On the Margins tab, choose Portrait or Landscape.
- Set Apply to to Selected text and click OK.
Word adds section breaks before and after the selection automatically. Turn on Home > Show/Hide ¶ to see them.
Use Section Breaks for More Control
- Click at the start of where the new orientation should begin.
- Go to Layout > Breaks > Next Page.
- Click at the end of that part and insert another Next Page break.
- Click inside the middle section and choose Layout > Orientation.
Headers and footers are linked between sections by default. If they look wrong, double-click the header and adjust Link to Previous.
Word for Mac and Word for the Web
- Mac: Layout > Orientation > Portrait. For mixed orientations, use Format > Document > Page Setup with Apply to: Selected text or section breaks.
- Web: Layout > Orientation changes the whole document. Mixed orientations created in the desktop app display, but setting them up needs the desktop app.
Printing
Word tells the printer each page’s orientation. If pages print sideways, check File > Print > Printer Properties for an orientation override, and make sure the printer isn’t forcing portrait or landscape.
Want Vertical Text Instead?
If you want letters or lines to run up and down rather than change the page, use a text box or table cell with Text Direction. See how to make text vertical in Word, and how to change vertical text back to horizontal.
Other Things That Look “Horizontal”
- Side-by-side pages on screen: that’s View > Multiple Pages or Side to Side. Choose View > Vertical or One Page to scroll normally.
- Columns: text split into columns can be reset with Layout > Columns > One.
- A rotated picture or table: rotate pictures with the rotation handle; tables can’t rotate, but you can use a landscape section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the whole document change when I wanted one page?
You used the Orientation button without selecting text or adding section breaks. Undo, then use Apply to: Selected text.
Can I set portrait as the default?
Portrait is Word’s default. If new documents open in landscape, open Page Setup, choose Portrait, and click Set As Default.
Summary
- Layout > Orientation > Portrait for vertical pages.
- Use Page Setup with Apply to: Selected text for specific pages.
- Use Next Page section breaks for more control.
- Use Text Direction if you want vertical text, not vertical pages.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.