How to Fix iPhone Screen Rotation Problem

Are you frustrated with your iPhone’s screen getting stuck in portrait or landscape orientation? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through various troubleshooting steps to fix the screen rotation problem on your iPhone. Whether you’re using an iPhone or an iPad, we have solutions for both. So, let’s dive in and get your screen rotating again!

The Portrait Orientation Lock

Before we dive into the troubleshooting steps, let’s first understand what causes the screen rotation issue on iPhones and iPads. The culprit behind this problem is the Portrait Orientation Lock. When enabled, it prevents your device’s screen from auto-rotating, regardless of how you hold it. This lock can be helpful in certain situations, but it can also be the reason why your screen won’t rotate when you want it to.

Fixing Screen Rotation on iPhone

Turn Off Orientation Lock on iPhone

The first step in troubleshooting the screen rotation issue on your iPhone is to check if the Portrait Orientation Lock is enabled. To do this, you need to access the Control Center.

1. On iPhone X or newer models, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen to open the Control Center. If you’re using an iPhone 8 or earlier model, swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
2. Look for the lock icon with a circle around it. If it’s highlighted or has a white background, it means the Portrait Orientation Lock is enabled.
3. Tap on the lock icon to disable the orientation lock. You should see a message at the top of the Control Center stating “Portrait Orientation Lock: Off.”

With the orientation lock turned off, try rotating your iPhone to see if the screen rotates as expected. If the issue persists, move on to the next troubleshooting step.

Restart the App

If disabling the orientation lock didn’t fix the screen rotation issue, the problem might be specific to the app you’re using. It’s possible that the app has encountered a glitch or crash that is preventing the screen from rotating. To resolve this, you can try restarting the app.

1. Double-click the home button (for iPhones with a physical home button) or swipe up from the bottom of the screen (for iPhones without a home button) to access the App Switcher.
2. Locate the app that is experiencing the screen rotation issue.
3. Swipe up on the app’s preview to close it completely.
4. Launch the app again and check if the screen rotation is working properly.

Restart the iPhone

If the screen rotation issue persists across multiple apps or if you’re unable to access the Control Center, restarting your iPhone can often resolve software-related problems.

1. Press and hold the power button (located on the side or top of your iPhone) and either the volume up or volume down button simultaneously.
2. When the power-off slider appears, drag it to turn off your iPhone.
3. Wait for a few seconds, then press and hold the power button again until the Apple logo appears.
4. Release the buttons and let your iPhone restart.
5. Once your iPhone has restarted, test the screen rotation to see if the issue has been resolved.

Reset All Settings

If none of the previous troubleshooting steps worked, you can try resetting all settings on your iPhone. This will not erase your data, but it will revert all settings to their default values, including your Wi-Fi networks and passwords.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on “General” and then select “Reset.”
3. Choose the option “Reset All Settings.”
4. Enter your passcode if prompted.
5. Confirm the reset by tapping on “Reset All Settings” again.
6. Your iPhone will restart, and the settings will be reset to their default values.
7. After the restart, check if the screen rotation issue has been resolved.

Fixing Screen Rotation on iPad

Turn Off Rotation Lock on iPad

Like the iPhone, the iPad also has a rotation lock feature that can prevent the screen from rotating. To disable the rotation lock on your iPad, follow these steps:

1. Depending on the iOS version you have, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen (iOS 12, iPadOS 13, or newer) or double-click the home button to reveal the App Switcher and the Control Center area on the right (iOS 11).
2. Look for the lock icon with a circle around it in the Control Center. If it’s highlighted or has a white background, it means the Rotation Lock is enabled.
3. Tap on the lock icon to toggle the rotation lock off. You should see a message stating “Rotation Lock: Off.”

After disabling the rotation lock, try rotating your iPad to see if the screen rotates as expected. If the issue persists, proceed to the next troubleshooting step.

Restart the App

If the screen rotation issue is specific to a particular app on your iPad, it’s worth restarting the app to see if it resolves the problem. Here’s how to do it:

1. Double-click the home button (for iPads with a physical home button) or swipe up from the bottom of the screen (for iPads without a home button) to access the App Switcher.
2. Locate the app that is experiencing the screen rotation issue.
3. Swipe up on the app’s preview to close it completely.
4. Launch the app again and check if the screen rotation is now working correctly.

Restart the iPad

If restarting the app didn’t resolve the screen rotation problem on your iPad, you can try restarting the device itself. Here’s how:

1. Press and hold the power button (located on the top or side of your iPad) until the power-off slider appears.
2. Drag the power-off slider to turn off your iPad.
3. Wait for a few seconds, then press and hold the power button again until the Apple logo appears.
4. Release the button and let your iPad restart.
5. Once your iPad has restarted, test the screen rotation to see if the issue has been resolved.

Reset All Settings

If none of the previous troubleshooting steps worked, you can try resetting all settings on your iPad. This will revert all settings to their default values, but it won’t erase your data.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
2. Tap on “General” and then select “Reset.”
3. Choose the option “Reset All Settings.”
4. Enter your passcode if prompted.
5. Confirm the reset by tapping on “Reset All Settings” again.
6. Your iPad will restart, and the settings will be reset to their default values.
7. After the restart, check if the screen rotation issue has been resolved.

Common FAQs

How do I rotate a photo on an iPhone?

To rotate a photo on your iPhone, follow these steps:

1. Open the Photos app and select the photo you want to rotate.
2. Tap on the “Edit” button.
3. Look for the crop/rotate icon at the bottom of the screen (it looks like a square with a counterclockwise arrow arcing over it).
4. Tap on the icon to rotate the photo 90 degrees counterclockwise. You can also slide left or right on the slider at the bottom to rotate the photo up to 45 degrees in either direction.
5. Once you’re satisfied with the rotation, tap on “Done” to save the changes.

How do I turn off auto-rotate on an iPhone?

To turn off auto-rotate on your iPhone, follow these steps:

1. Access the Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen (iPhone X or newer) or swiping up from the bottom of the screen (iPhone 8 or earlier).
2. Look for the lock icon with a circle around it. If it’s highlighted or has a white background, it means the Portrait Orientation Lock is enabled.
3. Tap on the lock icon to disable the orientation lock. You should see a message at the top of the Control Center stating “Portrait Orientation Lock: Off.”

Conclusion

We hope this comprehensive guide has helped you resolve the screen rotation issue on your iPhone or iPad. By following the troubleshooting steps outlined in this article, you should now be able to enjoy a seamless screen rotation experience. Remember, if the problem persists or if you have any other tech-related questions, feel free to reach out to us for further assistance. Happy rotating!

Experiencing difficulties with your Device, check out our “How To” page on how to resolve some of these issues.