AndroidAnswers

Why won't my Android screen rotate?

By the AndroidAnswers Editorial Team · Updated

About 4 minutes · Basics & setup

Steps written for Android 16 and 17, including Samsung One UI 8 and 9, Google Pixel, and Motorola. Menu names can vary a little by model and carrier.

Illustration of a phone showing two curved rotation arrows, with a padlock on one side and a widescreen video frame on the other

Most often, Auto-rotate is turned off. Swipe down from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings and tap Auto-rotate so it is on. On Samsung, the tile says Portrait when rotation is locked, so tap it until it says Auto rotate. Also, some apps and Home screens only stay upright, even when rotation is on.

Steps to check

Show steps for:

  1. Turn on Auto-rotate in Quick Settings

    Swipe down from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings. You may need to swipe down a second time, or swipe sideways, to see every tile. Find the Auto-rotate tile and tap it so it is on (it is highlighted when on). Now turn the phone on its side in an app like Photos or YouTube. The screen should turn with it.

    • Samsung Swipe down with two fingers. When rotation is locked, the tile is gray and says Portrait (or Landscape). Tap it and it changes to a blue Auto rotate tile.
    • Pixel Quick Settings → Auto-rotate. Or Settings → Display & touch → Auto-rotate screen.
    • Motorola Quick Settings → Auto-rotate. Or Settings → Display → Auto-rotate screen.

  2. If the tile is missing, add it back

    The tile may have been moved or removed by accident. Swipe down twice to open the full Quick Settings, tap Edit (a pencil icon), find Auto-rotate in the list of tiles you can add, and add it back. Then tap it to turn rotation on.

    • Samsung In the Quick panel, tap the three dots or the pencil icon, choose Edit buttons, then drag the Auto rotate button into the panel and tap Done.

  3. Check whether the app can rotate at all

    Some apps only work one way. Many phone dialers, some games, and some banking apps stay upright, and some video players stay sideways. Samsung notes that if an app only supports one orientation, it will not rotate when you turn the phone. Try Photos or a web page. If those rotate, the phone is fine and it is just that app.

  4. Let the Home screen rotate too (optional)

    On many phones the Home screen stays upright on purpose, even when apps rotate. If you want it to turn as well, there is a separate switch for it.

    • Samsung Settings → Home screen → Rotate to landscape mode. Samsung notes this option is not on every device.
    • Motorola Touch and hold a blank space on the Home screen, tap Home settings, then turn on Allow Home screen rotation.

  5. Hold the phone without touching the screen

    On Samsung phones, keeping a finger on the screen while you turn the phone holds the screen where it is. That is handy when reading in bed, but it can look like rotation is broken. Let go of the screen, then turn the phone.

  6. Use the rotate button when Auto-rotate is off

    If you like keeping Auto-rotate off, you can still turn the screen when you need to. On Pixel and Motorola phones, turn the phone the way you want, then tap the small rotate button that appears in the corner of the screen. It turns just the app you are in.

  7. Restart and update, then check for damage

    If rotation is on and nothing turns in any app, restart the phone, then check for a system update. The phone uses a motion sensor to know which way it is held, so a hard drop can affect it. If it still will not rotate after a restart and update, contact the phone maker or your carrier. Samsung lists a factory reset as a last step, so back up your phone first if you go that far.

Normal vs. not

Usually normal

The Home screen, the phone dialer, or one particular app stays upright while other apps rotate. Many are built to stay one way.

Worth a closer look

Nothing rotates in any app with Auto-rotate on, even after a restart, especially after a drop. That is worth a check by the phone maker.

What people are saying

Common questions

How do I stop my screen from rotating?
Turn Auto-rotate off in Quick Settings. The screen then stays upright. On Samsung, tap the Auto rotate tile and it changes to Portrait.
Why does my screen rotate when I lie down?
The phone thinks you turned it sideways. Turn Auto-rotate off while reading in bed, or on Samsung keep a finger on the screen as you lie down.
Why do videos turn sideways but my Home screen does not?
Home screens often stay upright unless you turn on a separate setting. On Samsung it is Rotate to landscape mode; on Motorola it is Allow Home screen rotation.

Sources we checked

Menu names can differ by phone brand and Android version. See our editorial policy for how we check steps.