Google Docs is a fantastic tool you can use absolutely anywhere to create and edit documents. It comes with many useful features, many of which you’re probably familiar with. However, you might not know how to change page orientation in Google Docs.
Don’t let that throw you off, because that’s not something most users ever need to think about. But the good news is that it’s something you can change quickly.
Within a Google Docs document, changing from portrait orientation to landscape orientation and vice versa can be done in a few quick steps.
In this article, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about page setup features in Google Docs. This includes the layout, page orientation, background color, and even page margins because it’s all part of the same feature. We’re all so going to answer some commonly asked questions about Google Docs and page setup.
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Table of Contents
What is a Page Orientation?
Since you’ve undoubtedly created or at least opened a Google Docs document or Word document before, you know that by default, it’s in portrait mode. It’s meant to mimic a piece of rectangularly shaped paper.
But the origin of page orientation actually stems from art. When a painter paints a person, that’s called a portrait, and it stands vertically. When painters paint a landscape, it stands horizontally.
We use the same orientation with our smartphones and tablets too. In Google Docs, you change your page orientation depending on how you want to type text or add images.
Why Change Page Orientation in Google Docs?
There can be many reasons why a Google Docs user may want to change the page orientation. As mentioned, it’s going to be in portrait orientation when you first open the document.
You might find this a little constraining. Perhaps you feel that the text or images are going to be better represented in landscape mode.
For example, if you’re planning on printing that page later, the landscape orientation might seem better suited for the occasion.
Additionally, services like Vantazo Free Receipt Maker allow you to choose the page orientation before generating the receipt, eliminating the need to adjust it in Google Docs later.
Also, if an image you want to add just won’t fit as you want it to in portrait orientation, switching to the landscape could solve your problem.
How to Change Page Orientation in Google Docs: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough
If you’re sure that you need to change page orientation in Google Docs, but you’re not sure how to go about it, you’re about to find out.
In the following section, we’re going to list all the steps you need to take to ensure you know how to go from one page orientation to another.
Step 1
Open a Google Doc file or create a new document. Navigate to the main toolbar and click on ‘File.’ From the drop-down menu, click on ‘Page setup’ option.
Step 2
A new page setup window will appear, and that’s where you’ll be changing the settings. Under ‘Orientation,’ you’ll see ‘Portrait’ and ‘Landscape’ as options. ‘Portrait’ is likely the current setting.
Step 3
Click on the page orientation of your choosing. And then click on ‘OK.’ The page will automatically go from vertical to a horizontal position in Google Docs. If you choose to change it back, follow the same steps.
Step 4
If you’re sure you’re going to be spending a lot of time working on specific page orientation, you can choose to set it up as default. Go back to the ‘Page setup’ and click on ‘Set as default’ at the bottom of the window. Now you don’t have to spend time changing the page orientation manually.
Step 5
If you’re using Google Docs on your Google Docs app on your mobile device, you still have the option to change page orientation. What you need to do is create a new document and click on the main menu.
Then scroll to the ‘Page setup’ and click on ‘Orientation.’ Choose landscape or portrait orientation and click on the little arrow to return to the document.
Conclusion
Learning how to change page orientation in Google Docs is quite straightforward. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to do it several times, it will turn into an automated action. The trick is mastering the ‘Page setup’ feature and understanding everything that it has to offer.
That includes orientation, page size, layout, page margins, and finally, background color. All of these options will have your Google Docs document customized and perfected in no time. Just remember that if you want different page orientations in the same document, you’ll need to export your document first.
