Navigating your iPhone with a vertically oriented screen is generally comfortable, but there are instances when you may need to rotate it to landscape mode. Whether you're watching a video, playing a game, or using an app that is best experienced horizontally, knowing how to rotate your iPhone's screen is essential.
The ability to rotate the screen is a built-in feature of iPhones that allows you to switch between portrait and landscape orientation. It is controlled by a setting called "Rotation Lock," which can be toggled on or off. When Rotation Lock is turned off, your iPhone's screen will automatically rotate when you change the orientation of the device.
Now that you understand how screen rotation works on your iPhone, let's delve into the steps on how to rotate the screen and the settings related to screen orientation.
How to Rotate Screen on iPhone
Follow these simple steps to rotate your iPhone's screen:
- Unlock iPhone
- Open Control Center
- Tap Rotation Lock
- Rotate iPhone
- Screen Rotates
- Lock Rotation (optional)
- Settings App
- Display & Brightness
To lock the rotation again, simply tap the Rotation Lock icon in the Control Center or go to Settings > Display & Brightness and turn on Rotation Lock.
Unlock iPhone
Before you can rotate your iPhone's screen, you need to make sure that it is unlocked. This means that you have entered your passcode, Touch ID, or Face ID to access the home screen.
- Passcode
If you have set a passcode for your iPhone, you will need to enter it each time you turn on the device or wake it from sleep. Once you have entered your passcode, your iPhone will be unlocked and you will be able to access the home screen.
- Touch ID
If your iPhone has Touch ID, you can unlock it by placing your finger on the Touch ID sensor. The Touch ID sensor is located on the home button of older iPhone models and on the power button of newer iPhone models.
- Face ID
If your iPhone has Face ID, you can unlock it by looking at the TrueDepth camera. The TrueDepth camera is located at the top of the display on newer iPhone models.
- No Lock
If you have not set a passcode, Touch ID, or Face ID on your iPhone, it will be unlocked automatically when you turn it on or wake it from sleep.
Once your iPhone is unlocked, you can proceed to the next step of rotating the screen.
Open Control Center
Once your iPhone is unlocked, you can open the Control Center to access the Rotation Lock button. The Control Center is a menu that provides quick access to commonly used settings and features.
- iPhone X and Later
To open the Control Center on an iPhone X or later, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen.
- iPhone 8 and Earlier
To open the Control Center on an iPhone 8 or earlier, swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
- AssistiveTouch
If you have difficulty using the gestures to open the Control Center, you can enable AssistiveTouch. AssistiveTouch is a virtual button that you can place anywhere on the screen. To open the Control Center using AssistiveTouch, tap the AssistiveTouch button, then tap the "Device" button and select "Rotation Lock."
- Reachability
If you have an iPhone with a large display, you can use Reachability to bring the top of the screen within reach of your thumb. To open the Control Center using Reachability, touch and hold the bottom edge of the screen and swipe down.
Once you have opened the Control Center, you can proceed to the next step of tapping the Rotation Lock button.
Tap Rotation Lock
Once you have opened the Control Center, you will see a row of icons. The Rotation Lock icon is a lock with a curved arrow around it. It is located in the top-left corner of the Control Center on most iPhone models. On some older iPhone models, the Rotation Lock icon may be located in the bottom-left corner of the Control Center.
To rotate your iPhone's screen, simply tap the Rotation Lock icon. The icon will turn white and a message will appear at the top of the screen saying "Portrait Orientation Lock: Off." This means that your iPhone's screen will now rotate automatically when you change the orientation of the device.
If you want to lock the rotation again, simply tap the Rotation Lock icon again. The icon will turn black and the message "Portrait Orientation Lock: On" will appear at the top of the screen. This means that your iPhone's screen will remain in portrait orientation, even if you change the orientation of the device.
You can also lock or unlock the rotation of your iPhone's screen in the Settings app. To do this, open the Settings app and tap "Display & Brightness." Under the "Display Zoom" section, you will see a toggle switch for "Portrait Orientation Lock." Tap the switch to turn it on or off.
Now that you know how to rotate your iPhone's screen, you can enjoy your favorite apps and games in the orientation that best suits your needs.
Rotate iPhone
Once you have tapped the Rotation Lock button in the Control Center, you can rotate your iPhone to change the orientation of the screen. Here are some tips for rotating your iPhone:
- Hold iPhone Correctly
To rotate your iPhone's screen, hold it in one hand with the screen facing you. The top of the screen should be pointing up and the bottom of the screen should be pointing down.
- Rotate iPhone
To rotate the screen to landscape orientation, turn your iPhone sideways so that the top of the screen is on the left and the bottom of the screen is on the right. To rotate the screen back to portrait orientation, turn your iPhone upright so that the top of the screen is pointing up and the bottom of the screen is pointing down.
- Check Screen Rotation
When you rotate your iPhone, the contents of the screen should rotate automatically. If the screen does not rotate, make sure that Rotation Lock is turned off. You can also try restarting your iPhone.
- Some Apps Don't Rotate
Some apps do not support screen rotation. This is usually because the app is designed to be used in a specific orientation. For example, the Calculator app can only be used in portrait orientation.
Now that you know how to rotate your iPhone's screen, you can enjoy your favorite apps and games in the orientation that best suits your needs.
Screen Rotates
When you rotate your iPhone, the contents of the screen should rotate automatically. This is because the iPhone has a built-in accelerometer that detects the orientation of the device. When the accelerometer detects that the iPhone is being rotated, it sends a signal to the operating system to rotate the screen.
- Portrait Orientation
Portrait orientation is the default orientation for the iPhone. In portrait orientation, the screen is taller than it is wide. This is the best orientation for most apps and tasks, such as reading, writing, and browsing the web.
- Landscape Orientation
Landscape orientation is the opposite of portrait orientation. In landscape orientation, the screen is wider than it is tall. This orientation is best for apps and tasks that require more horizontal space, such as watching videos, playing games, and editing photos.
- Automatic Rotation
By default, the iPhone's screen will rotate automatically when you change the orientation of the device. This is the most convenient setting for most users. However, you can turn off automatic rotation if you prefer to keep the screen in one orientation.
- Locked Rotation
If you want to keep the screen in one orientation, you can lock the rotation. To do this, open the Control Center and tap the Rotation Lock button. The Rotation Lock button will turn white and a message will appear at the top of the screen saying "Portrait Orientation Lock: On." This means that the screen will remain in portrait orientation, even if you change the orientation of the device.
Now that you know how to rotate your iPhone's screen and lock the rotation, you can customize your iPhone to work the way you want it to.
Lock Rotation (optional)
Locking the rotation of your iPhone's screen can be useful in certain situations. For example, you may want to lock the rotation when you are watching a video or playing a game that is best experienced in one orientation. You may also want to lock the rotation if you find that the screen is rotating too frequently when you are simply holding the iPhone in your hand.
To lock the rotation of your iPhone's screen, open the Control Center and tap the Rotation Lock button. The Rotation Lock button will turn white and a message will appear at the top of the screen saying "Portrait Orientation Lock: On." This means that the screen will remain in portrait orientation, even if you change the orientation of the device.
You can also lock the rotation of your iPhone's screen in the Settings app. To do this, open the Settings app and tap "Display & Brightness." Under the "Display Zoom" section, you will see a toggle switch for "Portrait Orientation Lock." Tap the switch to turn it on.
When you want to unlock the rotation of your iPhone's screen, simply tap the Rotation Lock button in the Control Center again or turn off the "Portrait Orientation Lock" toggle switch in the Settings app. The Rotation Lock button will turn black and the message "Portrait Orientation Lock: Off" will appear at the top of the screen. This means that the screen will now rotate automatically when you change the orientation of the device.
Locking and unlocking the rotation of your iPhone's screen is a quick and easy way to customize your iPhone to work the way you want it to.
Settings App
You can also lock or unlock the rotation of your iPhone's screen in the Settings app. This is a good option if you want to keep the Rotation Lock setting turned off most of the time, but you want to be able to quickly lock the rotation when needed.
- Open Settings App
To lock or unlock the rotation of your iPhone's screen in the Settings app, open the Settings app and tap "Display & Brightness."
- Find Display Zoom Section
Scroll down to the "Display Zoom" section and you will see a toggle switch for "Portrait Orientation Lock."
- Turn Portrait Orientation Lock On or Off
Tap the toggle switch to turn Portrait Orientation Lock on or off. When Portrait Orientation Lock is turned on, the screen will remain in portrait orientation, even if you change the orientation of the device. When Portrait Orientation Lock is turned off, the screen will rotate automatically when you change the orientation of the device.
- Portrait Orientation Lock Message
When you turn Portrait Orientation Lock on or off, a message will appear at the top of the screen saying "Portrait Orientation Lock: On" or "Portrait Orientation Lock: Off."
Now you know how to lock or unlock the rotation of your iPhone's screen in the Settings app. This is a convenient way to customize your iPhone to work the way you want it to.
Display & Brightness
The Display & Brightness section of the Settings app is where you can find the Portrait Orientation Lock setting. This setting allows you to lock or unlock the rotation of your iPhone's screen.
To open the Display & Brightness section, open the Settings app and tap on "Display & Brightness." You will find the Portrait Orientation Lock setting under the "Display Zoom" section.
The Portrait Orientation Lock setting is a toggle switch. When the switch is turned on, the screen will remain in portrait orientation, even if you change the orientation of the device. When the switch is turned off, the screen will rotate automatically when you change the orientation of the device.
You may also see a message at the top of the screen that says "Portrait Orientation Lock: On" or "Portrait Orientation Lock: Off." This message indicates the current state of the Portrait Orientation Lock setting.
Now you know how to find and use the Portrait Orientation Lock setting in the Display & Brightness section of the Settings app. This setting can be useful for locking the rotation of your iPhone's screen in certain situations, such as when you are watching a video or playing a game.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about how to rotate the screen on your iPhone:
Question 1: Why can't I rotate my iPhone's screen?
Answer 1: The Rotation Lock feature may be turned on. To disable it, open the Control Center and tap the Rotation Lock button.
Question 2: How do I rotate my iPhone's screen using the Control Center?
Answer 2: Open the Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen (iPhone X and later) or up from the bottom of the screen (iPhone 8 and earlier). Then, tap the Rotation Lock button.
Question 3: How do I rotate my iPhone's screen using the Settings app?
Answer 3: Open the Settings app and tap "Display & Brightness." Under the "Display Zoom" section, tap the toggle switch for "Portrait Orientation Lock" to turn it off.
Question 4: What is Portrait Orientation Lock?
Answer 4: Portrait Orientation Lock is a feature that keeps your iPhone's screen in portrait orientation, even when you rotate the device.
Question 5: When should I use Portrait Orientation Lock?
Answer 5: You may want to use Portrait Orientation Lock when you are reading, writing, or browsing the web.
Question 6: When should I turn off Portrait Orientation Lock?
Answer 6: You may want to turn off Portrait Orientation Lock when you are watching a video, playing a game, or taking a photo.
Question 7: Some apps don't rotate, why?
Answer 7: Some apps are designed to be used in a specific orientation and may not support screen rotation.
Closing Paragraph for FAQ
These are some of the most frequently asked questions about how to rotate the screen on your iPhone. If you have any other questions, please consult the user manual for your specific iPhone model.
Now that you know how to rotate your iPhone's screen, here are some tips for using this feature:
Tips
Here are some tips for using the screen rotation feature on your iPhone:
Tip 1: Use Rotation Lock in Specific Situations
The Rotation Lock feature can be useful in certain situations, such as when you are reading a long article or watching a video. To enable Rotation Lock, open the Control Center and tap the Rotation Lock button.
Tip 2: Disable Rotation Lock for Certain Apps
Some apps, such as games and video players, work best in landscape orientation. If you find that Rotation Lock is interfering with an app, you can disable it for that app specifically. To do this, open the Settings app and tap "Display & Brightness." Under the "Display Zoom" section, tap "See All Apps" and then find the app you want to disable Rotation Lock for. Tap the app and then turn off the "Portrait Orientation Lock" toggle switch.
Tip 3: Use AssistiveTouch for Easier Access
If you find it difficult to reach the Rotation Lock button in the Control Center, you can use AssistiveTouch to create a virtual button that you can place anywhere on the screen. To enable AssistiveTouch, open the Settings app and tap "Accessibility." Then, tap "AssistiveTouch" and turn on the "AssistiveTouch" toggle switch. You can then customize the AssistiveTouch menu to include the Rotation Lock button.
Tip 4: Use Reachability for Larger iPhones
If you have an iPhone with a large display, you can use Reachability to bring the top of the screen within reach of your thumb. To enable Reachability, open the Settings app and tap "Accessibility." Then, tap "Reachability" and turn on the "Reachability" toggle switch. You can then use Reachability by touching and holding the bottom edge of the screen and swiping down.
Closing Paragraph for Tips
These are just a few tips for using the screen rotation feature on your iPhone. Experiment with different settings and features to find what works best for you.
Now that you know how to rotate your iPhone's screen and use the Rotation Lock feature, you can enjoy your favorite apps and games in the orientation that best suits your needs.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed how to rotate the screen on your iPhone. We have covered the following main points:
- How to unlock your iPhone
- How to open the Control Center
- How to tap the Rotation Lock button
- How to rotate your iPhone
- How to lock the rotation again (optional)
- How to use the Settings app to lock or unlock the rotation
We have also provided some tips for using the screen rotation feature on your iPhone, such as using Rotation Lock in specific situations, disabling Rotation Lock for certain apps, using AssistiveTouch for easier access, and using Reachability for larger iPhones.
Now that you know how to rotate your iPhone's screen, you can enjoy your favorite apps and games in the orientation that best suits your needs. Whether you prefer to read articles in portrait orientation or watch videos in landscape orientation, you can easily switch between orientations with just a few taps.
We hope this article has been helpful. If you have any other questions, please consult the user manual for your specific iPhone model.