# Rotate a pdf: the best tools available for free The PDF format is the first choice for sending and sharing documents because the saved file will be displayed as intended, regardless of which operating system or device a recipient uses. That’s why it is recommended to convert other formats such as .docx or .odt to PDF before sharing. PDFs are also the most common file type when scanning a document. But what if a file is not **displayed correctly or individual pages are misaligned**? We’ll show you free options for rotating and saving a PDF. ## In what scenarios is the ‘rotate PDF’ function helpful? You may be familiar with the following situation: You’ve **scanned** a document but upon checking the final file, you notice that the page has been rotated by 180° – the **document is now upside down**. Should you repeat the scan? No! Instead, you can simply rotate the PDF file and save it. This saves time and you don’t need to scan the same pages again. Flyers, brochures, or vouchers typically vary in their **alignment**. For example, an imprint or customer reply slip is often aligned to the rest of the content. Varying alignment is also a feature of printouts that are to be folded. If parts of a document are upside down, it can be difficult to **check a file’s contents**. With a ‘rotate PDF page’ function you can rotate the different sections so they’re easily readable on a computer. ## How to rotate a PDF page with Adobe Acrobat Reader **Adobe Acrobat Reader DC**, which is pre-installed on many computers, can be used to view PDF files. However, the application can do much more than that and also lets you rotate a PDF document. Using Acrobat Reader, you’ve usually got two options. ### Option 1: Rotate the view of a PDF page The first option is available in the **free version** of Adobe Acrobat Reader and lets you rotate the view of a PDF. The feature is somewhat limited because **view rotation is only temporary**. After you close and reopen the document, it will be orientated as it was originally. The print orientation also remains unchanged. Rotating the view of a PDF file is useful when only **certain sections of a file are cross aligned**. Temporary rotation keeps the document unchanged. This makes it easier to read and check all its content. To rotate the view of a PDF document, select ‘Rotate View’ from the View menu. Then you can click ‘**Clockwise**’ or ‘**Counterclockwise**’. This will automatically rotate the entire document 90 degrees in the corresponding direction. [![Image: Adobe Acrobat Reader: Rotate View](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/d/6/csm_Adobe-Acrobat-Reader-Rotate-View_d11f291b01.webp "Adobe Acrobat Reader: Rotate View")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2021/Adobe-Acrobat-Reader-Rotate-View.jpg) The free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader enables view rotation of a PDF. --- ### Tip Use the **Shift + Ctrl + 0 or 1 shortcuts** to rotate the document 90 degrees in the desired direction. --- ### Option 2: Rotate and save PDF file To rotate and save a PDF, the **paid version of Adobe Acrobat Reader** is required. Go to the ‘Tools’ in the ‘View’ menu. Then select the ‘Organize Pages’ and ‘Open’ options to open the corresponding view. [![Image: Adobe Acrobat Reader: Tools > Organize Pages](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/b/9/csm_Adobe-Acrobat-Reader-Tools-Organize-Pages_8e7a247cb8.webp "Adobe Acrobat Reader: Tools > Organize Pages") In the Tools section of Adobe Acrobat Reader Pro, select “Organize Pages”. ](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2021/Adobe-Acrobat-Reader-Tools-Organize-Pages.jpg) A new display window will open. First, enter the misaligned page numbers in the **secondary toolbar** in the page area. You can also select individual pages using the left mouse button. To select multiple pages, hold down the Ctrl or Shift key at the same time. When you have made your selection, click on the **rotation icon**. This is located right next to the page range indicator. To rotate only a single page of the PDF file, move the mouse over the page preview. Two rotation icons will appear. Select the appropriate icon to rotate the page 90 degrees clockwise or anti-clockwise. ## Free online tools to rotate a PDF Don't have access to the paid Adobe Acrobat Reader? You can also rotate and save a PDF file using **free online tools**. Below, we’ll introduce some common examples. Most of these tools offer **plenty of additional functions** for [editing a PDF](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/online-marketing/online-sales/edit-pdf-files/ "Edit PDF Files"). That’s why it’s worth taking a closer look at them, especially if you regularly work with the PDF format. Frequently used functions include [shrinking a PDF](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/online-marketing/online-sales/reducing-pdf-size/ "Reducing PDF size") or [merging multiple PDF files](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/online-marketing/online-sales/merging-pdfs/ "Merging PDFs"). ### SmallPDF: Rotate and save individual pages or entire PDF files The versatile [online tool SmallPDF](https://smallpdf.com/ "Smallpdf Rotate PDF") can be used to rotate and save PDF files. The cloud application ensures safe handling of files by **permanently deleting** them an hour after editing. With SmallPDF, you can rotate the entire document or individual pages in just a few clicks. Afterwards, the modified PDF file can be downloaded and **saved locally**. [![Image: SmallPDF: Rotate and save PDF](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/e/a/csm_SmallPDF-Rotate-and-save-PDF_f4110022e7.webp "SmallPDF: Rotate and save PDF")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2021/SmallPDF-Rotate-and-save-PDF.jpg) Rotate and save PDFs in just a few clicks with the SmallPDF online tool. / Source: https://smallpdf.com/ --- ### Tip SmallPDF also lets you merge and rotate **multiple PDF files** in a single step. --- ### PDF24: The most popular tool for PDF editing PDF24 is available as a **free online as well as offline application**. The [web solution PDF24 Tools](https://tools.pdf24.org/en/ "PDF24 Tools Rotate PDF") offers a wide range of editing options and is a good alternative to the comprehensive SmallPDF tool. PDF24 deletes user data from the servers after a short time making it a secure web application. You can rotate and save the entire PDF in one click using the online tool. If required, you can also rotate individual pages. However, PDF24 has a slight weakness here because the tool is limited to **one direction when rotating individual** **pages**. Rotating several pages by 90 degrees anti-clockwise requires a number of clicks. Apart from that, the web app is a powerful and free-to-use tool. [![Image: PDF24 Tools: Rotate and save PDF](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/f/5/csm_PDF24_Tools-Rotate-and-save-PDF_b3e2fcdbad.webp "PDF24 Tools: Rotate and save PDF")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2021/PDF24_Tools-Rotate-and-save-PDF.jpg) PDF24 Tools is the most popular free PDF editing application. / Source: https://tools.pdf24.org/en/ ### Other free online tools There are many free tools to rotate a PDF document available online. [PDF2Go](https://www.pdf2go.com/ "Rotate PDF - pdf2go.com") or [Online2PDF.com](https://online2pdf.com/ "Rotate PDF Pages - online2pdf.com") are just two alternative options that offer comprehensive functions. However, not all of them are quite as complex. Some providers limit functionality to **rotating and saving the entire PDF** file. If this scope is sufficient for your purposes, then a tool like [RotatePDF](https://www.rotatepdf.net/ "RotatePDF") is recommended. ## Free offline tools to rotate a PDF If you need the ‘rotate and save PDF’ function regularly, it’s best to **install a free offline tool**. These usually offer an extended range of functions that are available permanently and don’t require an Internet connection. Another advantage of offline applications is the direct access to locally stored files. ### PDF24: The most popular offline application One of the most popular and most comprehensive offline applications is [PDF24 Creator](https://tools.pdf24.org/en/creator "PDF24 Creator"). As with its online equivalent, the tool can be used to merge PDFs, delete individual pages, or adjust their order. With just one click, you can **rotate individual or all pages clockwise or anti-clockwise 90 degrees**. The software download package also boasts many different languages to select and activate in the settings. [![Image: PDF24 Creator: Rotate and save PDF](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/f/e/csm_PDF24_Creator-Rotate-and-save-PDF_51b8f62571.webp "PDF24 Creator: Rotate and save PDF")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2021/PDF24_Creator-Rotate-and-save-PDF.jpg) The PDF24 Creator is the free offline application of the PDF24 Tools. ### Other free offline tools The **[PDF Multitool](https://bytescout.com/products/pdfmultitool/index.html "PDF Multitool")** offers similarly extensive functions as the PDF24 Creator. In addition, the program supports other output formats such as HTML, PNG, or TIFF. The Multitool only supports English. --- ### Tip Find out more about PDF XChange and [Adobe Acrobat alternatives](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/websites/web-design/adobe-acrobat-alternatives/ "Alternatives to Adobe Acrobat") and their advantages and disadvantages in our dedicated guide on the topic. --- The [PDF Rotator](https://www.pdfrotator.com/ "PDF Rotator") is – as the name suggests – specialised for rotating PDFs. The offline tool is a powerful option for realigning PDF files. With **batch mode**, the desktop application allows you to **rotate up to 1,000 files** at once. [![Image: PDF Rotator: Rotate and save PDF file](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/0/d/csm_PDF-Rotator-Rotate-and-save-PDF-file_3528ba0778.webp "PDF Rotator: Rotate and save PDF file")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2021/PDF-Rotator-Rotate-and-save-PDF-file.jpg) PDF Rotator offers a convenient batch mode for multiple PDF files. --- ### Tip The PDF format is a top choice for sharing your files. Its main advantages are that file sizes are small, and content is displayed consistently on all devices. But the file format offers **plenty more functions** that often go unused. One practical example of this is the [creation of a fillable PDF form](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/online-marketing/online-sales/create-fillable-pdf-forms/ "Create fillable PDF forms"). --- This is a markdown version of: [https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/online-marketing/online-sales/rotate-pdf/](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/online-marketing/online-sales/rotate-pdf/) for AI/LLM consumption.