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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 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 or merging multiple PDF files.

There are many free tools to rotate a PDF document available online. PDF2Go or 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 is recommended.

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.

The 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.