How to Change the Orientation of Text in Microsoft Word

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Learn how to flip or rotate text in Word
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Do you want to type vertically in Word? You can create vertical, inverted, or upside-down text by creating a textbox and adjusting its settings to set the position. You can change the text's direction, rotate it, and mirror it. You can also change the document's orientation from portrait to landscape mode to quickly swap between horizontal and vertical. This wikiHow will show you how to change the orientation of text in Microsoft Word using a Windows or Mac computer.

Best Way to Change Text Orientation in Word

To change the position of text in Microsoft Word, select the text box and click the Shape Format tab. Click the Text Direction drop-down menu and select Rotate all text 90° or Rotate all text 270°. To change it back to normal, select Horizontal.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Rotating Text Vertically

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  1. Step 1 Create a textbox.
    To do this, click the Insert tab in the top toolbar, then click the Text Box icon in the Text section. You can select Simple Text Box from the presets.
  2. Step 2 Insert your text.
    Input the text you want to edit. You can copy and paste from another program into Microsoft Word.
    • Make sure the textbox is still selected.
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  3. Step 3 Click Shape Format.
    You can find this at the top toolbar, next to Help. Alternatively, double-click the edge of the textbox to be quickly redirected.
    • You can also right-click (or control-click on Mac) the edge of the text box and select Format Shape. Then, click the Layout & Properties icon.
  4. Step 4 Click Text Direction.
    This will be in the Text section.
    • A drop-down menu will open.
  5. Step 5 Select Rotate all text 90°.
    You can also select Rotate all text 270° if you want the top of the words to face the left side.
    • Your text will be rotated.
    • You can continue to edit your text in the textbox. The words will type in the direction set.
    • If you want to change the words back to horizontal, select Horizontal instead.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Making Text Stacked

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  1. Step 1 Create a textbox.
    To do this, click the Insert tab in the top toolbar, then click the Text Box icon in the Text section. You can select Simple Text Box from the presets.
  2. Step 2 Insert your text.
    Input the text you want to edit. You can copy and paste from another program into Microsoft Word.
    • Make sure the textbox is still selected.
  3. Step 3 Click and drag the center circle on the right towards the left.
    With the textbox selected, you'll see four circles at each point of the textbox and one circle between each corner. Use the middle circle on the left side.
    • As you drag the text box towards the left, it will become smaller. The text inside will adjust to fit the size of the box in vertical format.
    • If this doesn't work, you may need to edit your options. Do the following:
      • Right-click (or control-click on Mac) the edge of the text box.
      • Click Format Shape.
      • Click the Layout & Properties icon.
      • Check the box for Resize shape to fit text.
      • Try dragging again.
  4. Step 4 Remove the textbox lines (optional).
    If you want to remove the lines around the text, double-click the textbox to return to the Shape Format tab.
    • Click Shape Outline, then select No Outline from the drop-down menu.
    • The textbox lines will be hidden. Be sure to save your document if you need to return to it later.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Mirroring Text

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  1. Step 1 Create a text box in your document.
    To do this, click the Insert tab in the top toolbar, then click the Text Box icon in the Text section. You can select Simple Text Box from the presets.[2]
  2. Step 2 Insert your text.
    Input the text you want to edit. You can copy and paste from another program into Microsoft Word.[3]
    • Make sure the textbox is still selected.
  3. Step 3 Right-click the textbox.
    On Mac, use a control-click. A drop-down menu will open.
  4. Step 4 Click Format Shape….
    This will be at the very bottom of the menu.[4]
    • A panel will open on the right side.
    • If you don't see this option, make sure the textbox is selected, not the text.
  5. Step 5 Click the "Effects" icon.
    This looks like a pentagon, next to the paint bucket icon.[5]
  6. Step 6 Click 3-D Rotation.
    This will expand the menu.
    • If it's already expanded, skip this step.
  7. Step 7 Enter 180 in the X or Y field.
    If you want your text to be mirrored left-right, enter 180 into the X Rotation field. If you want your text to be mirrored up-down, enter 180 into the Y Rotation field.
    • The changes will take effect immediately.
    • If this doesn't work, create a new text box. Copy and paste the text from the old text box to the new one. Delete the old text box. Then, try the mirroring steps again.
  8. Step 8 Remove the textbox lines (optional).
    If you want to remove the lines around the text, double-click the textbox to return to the Shape Format tab.
    • Click Shape Outline, then select No Outline from the drop-down menu.
    • The textbox lines will be hidden. You can print your document if needed.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Changing Paper Orientation

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  1. Step 1 Click the Layout tab.
    This will be in the top toolbar, between Design and References.
    • Use this method if you want to change your paper orientation from portrait (tall) to landscape (wide). You can enter text normally, and it will follow the paper orientation.
  2. Step 2 Click Orientation.
    You can find this at the top, next to Margins.[6]
    • A drop-down menu will open.
  3. Step 3 Click Landscape.
    Your Microsoft Word document will change to landscape orientation.[7]
    • If you change back to portrait mode after inputting text, the text will follow the portrait mode orientation. It will not save in its landscape position.
    • When you print in landscape mode, the text will be printed as it appears in the document. This will be sideways if you view the paper regularly (portrait).
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References

  1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/rotate-text-in-word-66d0ea6d-a26d-40bf-8b3c-3ff8a9f60dc9
  2. ↑ https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch002291.htm
  3. ↑ https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch002291.htm
  4. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/set-text-direction-and-position-in-a-shape-or-text-box-in-word-71406c17-add2-407e-a74a-10e2096136ec
  5. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/set-text-direction-and-position-in-a-shape-or-text-box-in-word-71406c17-add2-407e-a74a-10e2096136ec
  6. ↑ https://www.uws.ac.uk/media/3699/tips-to-make-you-better-at-microsoft-word.pdf
  7. ↑ https://www.uws.ac.uk/media/3699/tips-to-make-you-better-at-microsoft-word.pdf

About This Article

Rain Kengly
Written by:
Rain Kengly
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Rain Kengly. Rain is a tech writer and editor for wikiHow with over 5 years of professional writing experience. In the past, Rain has worked with other creative writers as a Writing Tutor at San Francisco State University and has published gaming features, guides, and news articles for a variety of media outlets. Rain shares a lifelong passion for writing and gaming and is eager to grow alongside new tech inventions. This article has been viewed 1,435,797 times.
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Co-authors: 28
Updated: June 3, 2025
Views: 1,435,797
Categories: Microsoft Word
Article SummaryX

1. Click Insert.
2. Click Text.
3. Click Text Box.
4. Click Draw Text Box.
5. Click and drag a text box.
6. Type text into the box.
7. Hover the mouse over the box outline.
8. Click the rotation icon and drag in any direction.

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