Rotate PDF's in OneNote

How to make PDFs that are landscape-oriented display straight/properly in OneNote without downloading any software:

1. Open up any PDF file viewer (e.g. Adobe Acrobat Reader DC); even works with Internet Explorer

2. Open the Print window (ctrl + P)

3. Under 'pages per sheet', select 'Custom...' --> 1 by 2

4. Orientation: select 'Portrait' 

5. Microsoft 'Print to PDF' --> Save file with this 1 by 2 print layout

6. Use 'Insert' --> 'File Printout' option in OneNote

7. Zoom in

Works especially well with lecture slides: 

1. Open the PDF in Adobe.
2. Select print

The print dialogue box will display. 

• select "send To OneNote" as the printer
• uncheck the box "Auto-Rotate and Center"
• select "Properties" and then select "Landscape" from the "Layout" tab. Then select "ok"
• Then select "ok" in the "Print" dialogue box.

Tested it twice and this solved the issue

 

Yep, this works just fine.    One note of caution, the actual file is not copied to OneNote.   You have to drag and drop the file after you complete the steps Chandler so graciously provided.    Thanks.

One suggestion I can give is, instead of using Insert > File Printout, open the file first and then use Print command in the application (e.g. Adobe) and choose your orientation there. This will do the same insertion, but with the correct orientation.

I had this same problem.  Adobe (and other pdf software for that matter) would display my documents on the screen properly in landscape mode, but they would display the documents sideways when printing to OneNote.

I would only further clarify the advice above that says to choose the orientation (landscape) while printing.  Do this by selecting "print" from within your pdf software, selecting "OneNote as your print destination, BUT ALSO click PROPERTIES and check "landscape."  For me it would then print properly to OneNote in landscape orientation.  Just elaborating a bit on the excellent solution above

I noticed that OneNote always displays PDF's sideways after inserting them using the File Printout command.  I read some discussions where MS tried to say it had something to do with the printer driver in Adobe, etc., etc.  I don't understand why I have to install a 3rd party program (Onetastic) which does plenty of good things, but I really only use it for the rotate PDF menu that it provides.  Did the MS engineers just get too tired to include this very basic, totally necessary feature?

Theres no need to download an third party app. I wasn't going to do this but after almost 8000 views  I can see this a problem. To simply get a portrait view, rather than landscape. When inserting choose file attachment, once that pdf file inserts or upload completely, OneNote will give you two options. One to attach file, or insert printout. CHOOSE INSERT PRINTOUT!!!! THIS WILL INSERT THE PDF AS PORTRAIT VIEW, AND THATS IT. THAT SIMPLE. I REPEAT, CHOOSE FILE ATTACHMENT, THIS IS THE ONLY WAY YOU'LL GET PORTRAIT VIEW. WHEN YOU CHOOSE FILE PRINTOUT THATS ALL ITS GONNA DO PRINT IT OUT AS A PRINTER WOULD BY DEFAULT.  SO INSERT, FILE ATTACHMENT, ONCE DONE UPLOADING OR (INSERTING), TWO OPTIONS GIVEN, PICK INSERT PRINTOUT.

Theres no need to download an third party app. I wasn't going to do this but after almost 8000 views  I can see this a problem. To simply get a portrait view, rather than landscape. When inserting choose file attachment, once that pdf file inserts or upload completely, OneNote will give you two options. One to attach file, or insert printout. CHOOSE INSERT PRINTOUT!!!! THIS WILL INSERT THE PDF AS PORTRAIT VIEW, AND THATS IT. THAT SIMPLE. I REPEAT, CHOOSE FILE ATTACHMENT, THIS IS THE ONLY WAY YOU'LL GET PORTRAIT VIEW. WHEN YOU CHOOSE FILE PRINTOUT THATS ALL ITS GONNA DO PRINT IT OUT AS A PRINTER WOULD BY DEFAULT.  SO INSERT, FILE ATTACHMENT, ONCE DONE UPLOADING OR (INSERTING), TWO OPTIONS GIVEN, PICK INSERT PRINTOUT.