All Apple iPhones and iPads include accelerometers that enable them to detect which way they are being held and automatically adjust the screen orientation to fit.

iphone landscape macrumors
The feature is particularly handy for viewing certain types of content that benefit from the wider landscape orientation, like media or web pages for example.

If your iPhone or iPad screen doesn't rotate into landscape mode when you hold it lengthways, then you've likely got the Portrait Orientation Lock turned on. Here's how you can disable it.

  1. Holding your iOS device in portrait orientation, launch Control Center: To open Control Center on an ‌iPad‌ with a Home button, double-tap the Home button; on ‌iPhone‌ 8 or earlier, swipe up from the bottom of the screen; and on a 2018 iPad Pro or ‌iPhone‌ X/XR/XS/XS Max, swipe down from the upper right corner of the screen.
  2. Tap the whitened Orientation Lock button to disable it.
  3. Tap on a blank area of the screen to hide Control Center.
    iphone orientation lock

If the screen still won't rotate, try a different app, like Safari or Notes – some apps and screens only support portrait or landscape mode. If that doesn't work, try restarting your device. If you still have no joy, it's time to contact Apple Support.

If you want your iOS device to remain in Portrait orientation – if you're using it while lying in bed, say – simply tap the Orientation Lock button in Control Center again to enable it.

Popular Stories

Apple AirTag Linked to Increasing Number of Car Thefts, Canadian Police Report

Apple's AirTags are being used in an increasing number of targeted car thefts in Canada, according to local police. Outlined in a news release from York Regional Police, investigators have identified a new method being used by thieves to track down and steal high-end vehicles that takes advantage of the AirTag's location tracking capabilities. While the method of stealing the cars is largely ...

Apple Planning Five New Macs for 2022, Including Entry-Level MacBook Pro Refresh

Apple is working on five new Macs for launch in 2022, including a new version of the entry-level MacBook Pro, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that he expects Apple to launch five new Macs in 2022, including: A high-end iMac with Apple silicon to sit above the 24-inch iMac in the lineup A significant MacBook Air...

2022 MacBook Air Getting Major Display Upgrade With One Drawback

Apple's next-generation MacBook Air is reportedly set to bring over many of the new MacBook Pro's features, with one noticeable omission, according to recent reports. The latest MacBook Pro models feature a mini-LED "Liquid Retina XDR" display with deep blacks and support for up to 1,600 nits peak brightness. The display also features Apple's "ProMotion" technology, which is capable of...

2022 Apple Watch Lineup Rumored to Include New Apple Watch SE and 'Rugged' Model for Sports

Sunday December 5, 2021 8:22 am PST by Sami Fathi

Apple is planning an entire revamp of its Apple Watch lineup for 2022, including an update to the Apple Watch SE and a new Apple Watch with a rugged design aimed at sports athletes, according to respected Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman. Writing in the latest installment of his Power On newsletter, Gurman said that for 2022, alongside the Apple Watch Series 8, Apple is planning an update to ...