Option 1: Malfunctioning software
Due to the high reliability of all Apple devices, including the iPhones of different model lines, most problems with the screen auto-rotation are solved by software. At the same time, we note right away that not all iOS applications fully support the horizontal mode, and therefore we recommend that you perform an initial check, as well as all subsequent ones, exclusively using standard applications, among which the best options are Messages, Calculator, "Notes" and "Photo".
Method 1: Lock-Screen Orientation
When looking at the problem of screen rotation on the iPhone, the first step is to pay attention to and, if necessary, disable a separate feature designed to forcefully block portrait orientation. To do this, open the control center, depending on the device model, by swiping down from the upper right corner or up from the bottom of the display.
Here you need to touch the checked option with the image of the padlock, but only if the button itself is highlighted in white with a red icon. As a result, if everything was done correctly, a notification about the deactivation of the portrait orientation lock will appear on top, while you can check the performance of the gyroscope responsible for determining the position of the smartphone in any standard or some third-party applications.
Method 2: Turn off Zoom
Some iPhone models may experience problems with auto-rotation when the device is tilted if zoomed in on screen items were previously enabled in Settings. The method can be completely skipped if you initially use the standard mode or one of the basic devices in any model range.
- Touch the "Settings" icon on the smartphone's home screen, scroll down the page, and open the "Display and brightness" section. Here you need to similarly get to the lowest block "Scale" and select "View", where the current mode is also indicated.
- Once on the specified screen, check the box next to the item "Standard" and, on the right side of the top panel, use the button "Install". This action must be confirmed through a pop-up window using the only available option and subsequently wait for the new settings to be applied.
Upon successful rescaling, the elements on the device screen will become noticeably smaller, and the portrait orientation lock, if this was indeed the cause of the problem, will be immediately removed. For the purpose of verification, it is best to visit, as before, standard applications like "Calculator" or "Notes", the interface of which is guaranteed and changes greatly in a horizontal position.
Method 3: Perform a factory reset and restore
One of the most annoying, time-consuming, but sometimes quite effective solutions is to reset the smartphone to the factory state using the corresponding item in the "Basic" settings. Before doing this, it is best to back up important information and pass the troubleshooting test presented in the next section of the manual.
Read More: Ways to Reset and Restore an iPhone
You should use the "Reset All Settings" option when opening the "Reset" menu on the screen "Transfer or Reset iPhone", as in this case, all user files will be saved. Alternatively, a similar reset can be performed via a computer, while a complete erasure would be an unnecessary measure.
Option 2: Hardware Failure
If none of the previous solutions had any effect on the iPhone auto-rotate performance, the problem is most likely due to physical damage to important sensors, especially if the device has previously been subjected to shocks and other adverse effects. In this case, there are not many solutions, and ultimately, it all comes down to visiting one of the service centers.
Device Diagnostics
And although each method from the previous section of the instructions can be considered a partial diagnostic, it will not be superfluous to additionally check the device using one of the special applications. Such software, whose capabilities cover checking the gyroscope and accelerometer, is not very common, and therefore the options are very limited.
Download Phone Doctor Plus from the App Store.
- Download the app from the link above and open it with the corresponding icon on the home screen. On the "Interaction" tab, immediately after launch, you can start a full test of all device functions, which we recommend doing, or use the "List" menu.
- To make sure that the screen rotation function works, after pressing the "List" button, scroll down the page below and touch the marked option "Accelerometer." As part of this test, in 10 seconds, by physically moving the device, you need to move the central ball along all three empty circles, while in case of failure, an error will be displayed.
- Similarly, from the list of functions, select the nearby "Gyroscope" and shake the phone several times when the timer appears. Upon successful completion of the test, you will return to the main screen, while in the case of failure, an additional notification will appear.
If one or, more likely for the iPhone, both sensors fail, unfortunately, this almost certainly indicates real physical damage. In this case, you should not do anything yourself. You need to either contact the service center or use a software replacement.
Contacting a service center
To check and repair sensors using special equipment, you can manually find any service center with fairly good reviews and contact them, describing the situation in detail. Of course, it is better to contact Apple certified workshops, if any are available in your locality, so that original spare parts are installed in the smartphone.
Download Apple Support from the App Store.
In addition, you can contact the company's technical support through a special application available for download at the link above. It will need to expand the section "Other questions", touch the item "Turn" and choose to use the text feedback form or order a call from a specialist to a specific number at a convenient time.
Alternative 3: Workaround
To solve the problem with a complete malfunction of the gyroscope or simply forcing screen rotation, you can use the touch menu available on any iPhone model. At the same time, we will consider only the main way to activate and use the desired function, since, if desired, the solution can be easily combined with "Commands" and other features.
Open the standard "Settings" using the appropriate icon, scroll down the main page below, and go to the "Accessibility" category. Within the section "Musculoskeletal System", expand the subsection "Touch" and select "Assistive Touch" at the very beginning of the list.
In general, it will be enough to simply turn on the only available function "Assistive Touch" using the slider, so that the touch menu button appears on the screen. However, for convenience, we recommend that you immediately expand the category "Top-Level Menu," click "+," and add as an additional option "Rotate screen."
If, for some reason, pressing the floating button does not display the previously configured menu on the screen, go back to the Assistive Touch section, expand One Touch in the Action Settings category, and select Open Menu. After that, you need to press the touch icon (it is not displayed in the screenshots), select "Screen Rotation" and specify the side, not forgetting about all the previously indicated restrictions.
To quickly deactivate or hide the touch menu, you can use another option called "Quick Command" from the same "Universal Access". In this case, it will be enough to check the box next to "Assistive Touch" and then use the triple press of the "HOME" button or the power button on frameless models.
It should be borne in mind that "Quick Command" as part of "Universal Access" is presented as one of the functions for "Control Center", which can also be used to call up the menu. This will be enough to force a change in orientation, and you can familiarize yourself with the rest and customize it for yourself.