How To Fix Android Screen Won’t Rotate Issue?

Have you ever been in a situation where your android screen got stuck? Most users complain that when they try to view an image or a document in landscape mode, their screen does not rotate. This guide will find how to fix it when the Android screen doesn’t rotate.

There are various reasons behind causing the screen won’t rotate, issues such as hardware failure, incorrect screen settings, malfunctioning sensors, or software glitches. Whatever the cause is, you can fix it by following the simple solutions we will mention in the article. Let’s dive in.

1. Restart Your Smartphone

Restarting your smartphone helps resolve such issues because it erases system memory, which helps solve various weird behaviors. Software-related problems also can be determined by simply restoring your device.

Restarting the smartphone helps refresh the system, close the background running app, and fix bugs. Reboot your phone following these steps:

  • Press and hold the power key to show the power menu for a while. Tap on reboot to restart your device.
  • Holding the power key for 8 seconds will force a restart in some android smartphones.

Restart Your Smartphone

2. Check Your Device’s Rotation Settings

If we see from the start of Android 9 pie, we remember that Google introduced rotated suggestions: a better way of rotating your device’s screen. Sometimes features disable rotation suggestions or settings by default. This feature allows you to rotate your screen when the phone is leaning sideways.

Here’s how you do it:

  • You’ll see a circular key at the bottom left corner of the screen while rotating your phone sideways. Tap on it, and your android screen will turn.

This feature is included to avoid unnecessary rotations because it causes more issues. However, if you don’t want to use these features, then you can follow these steps on your phone:

  • Search and turn on the auto-rotate option in the setting panel.
  • You can also do this by going to Settings > Display > auto-rotate screen. After doing so, your Android screen should rotate. If it is still stuck, there is some issue with the sensors. You can also try it from top bar.

How to turn screen rotation on and off for a mobile device

3. Check Rotation Settings In The App

A few applications don’t allow the screen to rotate automatically until you enable the option. Apps include launchers, video players, and others that don’t auto-rotate, although you’ve enabled screen auto-rotation on your device. These applications do so to avoid unwanted rotation and also to limit distraction. Most of the applications include the option of rotation; you can utilize it whenever you want. Such as most of the time, video player apps have a rotation option on the interface. You can turn it on.

For other apps, you need to check the settings for the rotation option. It’s also worth mentioning that some of them don’t allow rotation. So you can only use those apps in portrait mode.

4. Update System Software

Glitches and bugs in the software can cause problems like the screen won’t rotate on Android devices. If you are facing a similar issue, the reason might be a software anomaly. If you’ve already tried solutions like restoring your phone with no positive outcome, it would be better to try upgrading your phone system. In a new update, the manufacturer may have fixed this bug.

To do so, follow these instructions:

  • Launch a new software update on your device.
  • Check for new or pending updates.
  • Connect to the WiFi network to download the latest update and install it.
  • You’ll find the Software update app:
  • Go to Settings > System > System Updates.

Update System Software

5. Enter Safe Mode To Check Apps

If you realized that your Android screen stopped rotating automatically after the app you’ve recently installed, the app might be causing the issue or clashing with the device system. Immediately uninstall that app to fix such bugs. Before uninstalling, boot your device into safe mode. It’ll tell you if that was causing the issue or not.

Safe mode is manufactured to get an idea about software-related issues. It also disables all third-party apps and only leaves the one you need. To enter into a safe mode, follow these steps:

  • Hold and long-press the Power key to show the power menu.
  • Tap and hold the Power-off option until you see a pop-up.
  • On the Restore or Reboot to safe mode window, hit on OK and wait until your device restarts.

Now when you’re in safe mode, check whether your device screen is rotating or not. If it’s rotating, it’d be better to disable the app you installed recently. Meanwhile, if the screen is not rotating, it is a software-related issue.

Enter Safe Mode To Check Apps

6. Avoid Touching Your Phone Screen

When you are trying to rotate your phone’s screen, it’s better to avoid touching the device’s screen. If you touch the screen, then it won’t allow the screen to rotate. Moreover, there is also a possibility of touching screen edges while putting the phone sideways, and this also causes your phone screen won’t rotate. Keep an accurate gap between your fingers and the screen, and then put the phone sideways.

7. Recalibrate Your Device’s Sensors

You might know that each Android device has built-in sensors to sense the phone rotation, which also helps screen rotation. If there is a phone sensor bug, the screen won’t rotate. You can recalibrate your phone’s sensor to resolve such issues. On some devices, there is a built-in recalibration option; if not, you can also use a third-party app. You can find various third-party apps online. Choose the best one, and you’ll solve the problem easily.

Also Check: 10 Methods To Fix Android Boot Loop

Final Thoughts

Whether it’s hardware failure, incorrect screen settings, sensor malfunction, or software glitches, there are several reasons why your Android screen might not rotate. Thankfully, you can also try several solutions to fix the issue.

With a little trial and error, you should be able to find a solution that works for you. Remember that some of these solutions may require you to restart your device, so be sure to save any unsaved work before proceeding.

Did any of these solutions work for you? Let us know in the comments below!

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