How to Rotate a PDF Document
Knowing how to rotate a PDF is an important skill that can save you time and effort when organizing or creating documents. Changing the orientation of PDFs is advantageous when passing documents around since it makes sure that all included can look at it correctly.
With the help of PDF editing software, it's easy and straightforward to quickly turn any PDFs in a matter of moments. Read on to find out how to rotate PDF pages using 4 reliable PDF rotators.
Criteria for Selecting PDF Rotators
In order to provide you with really effective methods and instructions for PDF pages rotation, we have tested four freely available PDF programs. All of them can be easily found on the Internet. We checked:
- OS compatibility;
- Page rotation;
- Set of additional functions (editing text in PDF, annotation, etc.);
- System requirements.
Based on this comparison, we have created a summary table. Here you can see all the details of each PDF editor.
| Program | OS | Editing ability | System requirements | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icecream PDF Editor |
Windows
|
Yes
|
2GB of RAM, 2.33Ghz, 1024x768, 200MB of disk space
|
5.0 |
| Adobe Acrobat |
Windows
MacOS
|
Yes
|
2GB of RAM, 1.5GHz, 1024x768, 4.5GB of disk space
|
4.0 |
| Preview |
MacOS
|
Limited
|
Preinstalled on all Mac devices
|
3.0 |
| PDF Candy |
Web
|
Limited
|
Internet connection
|
4.5 |
Below is a detailed description of these PDF editors that will allow you to rotate your PDF files with ease.
According to a study conducted by Smallpdf, rotating PDF files is a common task performed by users. The study revealed that approximately 14% of users who upload PDF files to their platform choose to rotate them before downloading the modified file.
Rotate PDF with Icecream PDF Editor
Icecream PDF Editor is a great tool for viewing and editing PDF documents that also offers the feature of rotating the PDF's pages (single, multiple, or all) and specifying the rotation angle. Here is a step-by-step tutorial that shows you how to rotate pages in a PDF file using Icecream PDF Editor:
- Download free PDF editor to rotate PDF on your PC.
- Launch the software to proceed to rotate the pages of the PDF.
- Click the "Open..." button to browse PDF files using Windows Explorer. Another way to open the document is the "Open..." option of the "File" menu's drop-down list. You can use the drag-and-drop mechanism to open the PDFs within the program.
- Select which pages to flip in PDF.
- Find the page you want to rotate (scroll through the file). Or select the page in the navigation's right-hand panel in "Thumbnails".
- To choose detached pages of a PDF to rotate, you will need to utilize the "Thumbnails" panel on the right-hand side. Hit the page's thumbnail from the list to select it.
- Hold "Ctrl" and press the other pages' thumbnails. Add the pages to the selection one by one. Keep "Shift" and click another PDF page to pick a sequence of pages.
- Right-click within the "Thumbnails" panel. Click the "Select all" feature from the menu to pick all the pages of the document. Alternatively, use the Ctrl+A hotkey combination.
- Rotate PDF pages and save the updated version of the file.
PDF rotation options:
As soon as the required pages are selected, the last thing to do is to rotate them. There are two ways of turning PDF:
- Click the "Pages" button in the top menu of the window of the free PDF editor and select "Rotate clockwise" or "Rotate counter-clockwise". There are hotkeys available for each of these operations: Ctrl+= and Ctrl+Shift+= respectively.
- Right-click a page's thumbnail or press within the "Thumbnails" area and select the rotation direction from the drop-down list. The above-listed hotkeys are also applicable.
Once you have finished using the rotate PDF tool and the task is complete, you can save the changes in a document from the "File" menu of the software. The "Save" button will apply the PDF rotation. Alternatively, you can use the hotkey combo Ctrl+S.
Icecream PDF Editor can be used as a regular PDF reader or as an application for adding notes, stamps, and managing PDF pages. It works on Windows 11 and 10 and earlier versions and does not require high performance from your computer.
Correctly rotating a PDF file enhances its accessibility and usability, making it easier to read and understand. This is particularly important for documents containing text, images, or diagrams.
Rotate PDF with Adobe Acrobat
Adobe is one of the most popular PDF software for viewing, creating, and editing PDF documents. One is able to be used to rotate a PDF file in just a few simple steps. Here's how:
- Open the PDF you want to rotate in Acrobat.
- Select "Rotate Pages" from the "View" menu.
- Choose whether you need to rotate all pages in PDF or just a selection of them.
- Select the direction - clockwise or counterclockwise.
- Close the window. The next time you open the file, all changes will be saved.
Adobe Acrobat is a widely used and powerful PDF editor to rotate PDFs. It offers a range of options for users, giving them flexibility and control over the process.
However, a subscription to Adobe Acrobat can be costly, especially if you only use the tool occasionally. And it can take a while to turn large PDFs with Adobe due to its robust features and tools.
There are scenarios where PDF files may need to be rotated by 90 or 180 degrees. For example, if a scanned document is saved in landscape orientation but needs to be viewed in portrait orientation, or if an image within a PDF is upside down and requires adjustment.
Rotate PDF with Preview
Preview is a free PDF editor and viewer for Mac. It allows users to rotate and edit PDF documents quickly and easily. Here's the process of rotating the PDF in Preview:
- Open the PDF file in Preview.
- Select "Rotate Right" or "Rotate Left" in the toolbar. Or follow "Tools" > "Rotate Left/Right".
- To turn multiple pages at once, hold Shift. To rotate all pages in PDF hit Command + A.
- Finally, keep your changes by clicking on "File" and selecting "Save" from the menu options.
Turning PDF pages with Preview takes no time at all. You can pick the pages for rotation and it will be done in an instant. However, other than rotating pages, Preview doesn't offer much in terms of features for editing PDFs.
Rotate PDF online
PDF Candy is a comprehensive online toolset designed for working with PDF files. It offers a wide range of features to manipulate, convert, and edit PDF documents. Explore how to change PDF orientation online:
- Open the free online PDF rotator in your web browser.
- Upload your file either by clicking "Add File" or by simply dragging and dropping it into the designated area.
- Utilize the green buttons to rotate pages by 90 degrees to the left or right. If necessary, revert any changes made.
- Hit "Rotate" to apply the adjustments. To save the modified PDF, press "Download".
PDF Candy offers the functionality to rotate all pages of a PDF document simultaneously. This feature allows users to efficiently adjust the orientation of the entire document with just one action. Overall, the platform offers a user-friendly interface and a diverse set of tools to meet various PDF-related needs.
FAQ
- How do I rotate a single page in a PDF?
- Use a PDF editor to open the PDF, select the page you wish to rotate, and choose the needed option.
- Can I rotate only part of my PDF document?
- Yes, most PDF editing tools allow you to select and rotate specific pages in PDF or sections of the document.
- How can I stop someone else from making alterations to my tilted PDF?
- You can add protection to the PDF file so that only those with the password can edit it.
- Can I rotate scanned documents?
- Yes, you can use an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) tool to scan documents into a searchable PDF format and then rotate PDF if needed.
- How do I know what orientation my rotated page will be in after rotation?
- You can use the "Preview" option to see how your page will look after rotation before you save the changes.
- Is it possible to save a rotated PDF permanently?
- Yes, most PDF editors allow you to save the rotated document so that the new orientation is preserved when you open the file again.
- Can I rotate a PDF with a password?
- Yes, you can turn an encrypted PDF, but you will need to enter the password before making any changes.
- How can I rotate a PDF in Google Drive?
- Google Drive doesn’t directly offer PDF rotation, but you can open the document with Google Docs or a connected third-party app that allows editing.
How to Rotate a PDF: Conclusion
In conclusion, rotating a PDF is a straightforward process. To turn a PDF, the most important thing is to have the right desktop PDF editor or online tool. Once you have it, the remaining steps are simple and intuitive. Pay attention to the following points:
- Choose the right rotation angle. Verify you have the correct angle of rotation.
- Check the results. Once you've rotated the PDF, double-check it to confirm everything looks as expected.
- Save the changes. Don't forget to save the result after turning PDF.
Heeding these guidelines can ensure that the PDF looks professional and sophisticated. While PDF rotation can seem intimidating at first, this guide has shown that it can be easy if you know what to do. With these tips in hand, you can confidently rotate any PDF!
Editor-in-Chief at Icecream Apps
