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Correct answer Karl Heinz Kremer

The free Reader does not allow you to modify PDF files. There is no way around that. Rotating a page permanently would require you to save the modified data back to the PDF file, and therefore does not work in Reader. Changing the view is something that happens only in your viewer, and nothing gets written back to the PDF document on our disk, and that's why this works in Reader as well. As was explained before this was never possible in Reader, so I don't understand why you claim that

"I guess Adobe wants you to pay for those features now"

You always had to pay for this feature, this is nothing new.

8 replies

Participant
October 27, 2021

Here's the workaround I found:

 

View > Rotate View > select Clockwise or Counterclockwise to rotate the document whichever way you want

 

File > Print > select Microsoft Print to PDF from the Printer pulldown menu and uncheck Choose paper source by PDF page size under the Page Sizing & Handling section > Print

 

When the Save Print Output As screen appears rename the file and click Save

 

 

 

 

Participant
October 27, 2021

Correction: masure to check (not uncheck) the box labeled Choose paper source by PDF page size.

JR Boulay
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 31, 2021

MOVED TO THE ACROBAT READER FORUM

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
Participant
October 22, 2020

I just had a glitch where my document flipped itself while I was using it. Obviously this would indicate a glitch, and lead someone to think that Adobe, "Wants you to pay for those features..."

I don't get why your sarcastic tone over text was utilised. Obviously this person had a reason to believe their premise

try67
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 31, 2021

It was probably just the way the document is viewed. Close it and then re-open and it should appear correctly once more. You can also change it back via the View menu bar.

Participant
April 4, 2020

There is a simple way around it: Go to Preferences, Documents, checkmark 'Restore last view settings when reopening documents'.

Participant
August 31, 2021

This works but not if you save the file after rotating it. With the "Restore last view" checked the file will reopen with the rotation last viewed when you just close the file.

December 11, 2017

You can right-mouse-click anywhere on the page and the "rotate clockwise" command will appear.  Click on that and the entire document will rotate.  But alas... like other posters have stated, it is temporary and you can't save or print the file in that configuration which is a bit infuriating.  I guess Adobe wants you to pay for those features now.

Karl Heinz  Kremer
Community Expert
Karl Heinz KremerCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
December 11, 2017

The free Reader does not allow you to modify PDF files. There is no way around that. Rotating a page permanently would require you to save the modified data back to the PDF file, and therefore does not work in Reader. Changing the view is something that happens only in your viewer, and nothing gets written back to the PDF document on our disk, and that's why this works in Reader as well. As was explained before this was never possible in Reader, so I don't understand why you claim that

"I guess Adobe wants you to pay for those features now"

You always had to pay for this feature, this is nothing new.

Participant
August 31, 2021

There is a simple way to permanenetly save a rotated Adobe Reader file. After rotating the view, save the file with a different file name. Then you can delete the original unrotated file and if you want, you can rename the new rotated file with the same name as th original unrotated file. Did it in less than a minute.

June 8, 2016

The old version was easy to rotate pages when they had been scanned sideways.  There is no such command on the DC version just these choices

Inspiring
June 8, 2016

You can modify the tool bar to include the page rotate as part of the page display tools in Reader DC.

Inspiring
January 22, 2017

I don't understand where you are finding that drop down menu.  I can't find that.

Also, I just clicked on the Tools in AARDC and what a disorganized mess!  I can't read all those icons.  I doubt I'll even go back there ever again.

I have been using Mac since 1984. Why all these constant upgrades. I am about to toss it out the window, enough already!!


Open the pages navigation panel and click on the pages icon. Select one or more pages to rotate and use the right mouse click to bring up the context menu:

Select the "Rotate Papges..." to open the pop-up window with your rotation options:

Select the action to take and click the OK button.

With Acrobat X on the Tools panel has an Organize pages tool that includes the rotation tools and you can rotate individual pages or groups of pages but only 90 degrees right or left.

try67
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 2, 2016

You can only rotate the (temporary) view of the pages in Reader, you can't rotate them permanently. For that you would need to purchase Acrobat.

Participant
January 12, 2022

That's interesting...My DC (free) version does not allow even temporary rotation (without saving). So Im expected to have a paid subscription to perform the most basic function?? This comes up every time I tap the rotate icon: 

 

try67
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 12, 2022

You can do it via the View menu. Actually rotating the pages requires having the paid-for Acrobat, or the Edit PDF online service (also paid-for).

joandwilder
Participant
April 2, 2016

how do I rotate pages in adobe reader DC?

June 8, 2016

Just noticed this view window above the primary choices on top of the pdf file- just click on View to rotate

Participant
January 22, 2017

there is no rotate option under the View in the menu bar of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC