Is your phone screen stuck in portrait mode and refusing to rotate no matter what you do? Don’t worry — this is one of the most common Android display problems, and the good news is that it’s usually very easy to fix. In this guide, you’ll learn exactly why auto-rotate stops working and the most effective solutions to get your screen rotating normally again.
Why Auto-Rotate Stops Working
Auto-rotate relies on internal motion sensors called accelerometers and gyroscopes. When something goes wrong with software settings, apps, or these sensors, your phone can no longer detect orientation changes. Common causes include:
- Auto-rotate accidentally turned off
- Rotation control forced by an app
- Screen rotation locked in Quick Settings
- G-sensor or accelerometer malfunction
- Outdated software or system glitches
- Temporary app bugs
- Using apps that don’t support rotation
- Hardware-level sensor damage (rare)
Fix 1: Make Sure Auto-Rotate Is Turned On
Before anything else, confirm that auto-rotate is actually enabled. It’s easy to turn it off accidentally.
Steps:
- Swipe down from the top of the screen
- Find the Auto-rotate toggle
- If it says Portrait, tap it to enable auto-rotate
Try rotating your phone again. If it still doesn’t rotate, move to the next fix.
Fix 2: Restart Your Phone
A simple restart clears temporary system bugs and resets the phone’s motion sensors.
How to restart:
- Hold the power button
- Tap Restart
After rebooting, open an app like YouTube or Photos and test rotation.
Fix 3: Check if an App Is Forcing Portrait Mode
Some apps override system rotation settings and lock your phone in portrait mode.
Check these apps:
- Launchers
- Navigation apps
- Security apps
- Screen-orientation controller apps
If you recently installed a new app before the problem started, uninstall it and test again.
Fix 4: Test Rotation in Safe Mode
Booting into Safe Mode disables third-party apps. If auto-rotate works in Safe Mode, then an app you installed is the cause.
How to enter Safe Mode:
- Hold the power button
- Tap and hold Power Off
- Tap Reboot to Safe Mode
Test screen rotation. If it works, uninstall suspicious apps one by one until you find the culprit.
Fix 5: Calibrate the Accelerometer (G-sensor)
Your phone uses sensors to detect rotation. If they become uncalibrated, rotation stops working.
Try this:
- Open the phone dialer
- Type *#0*# (works on Samsung and some others)
- Tap Sensor
- Follow the on-screen tests
If your phone doesn’t support this, search the Play Store for:
- Accelerometer Calibration
- G-Sensor Test
After calibration, restart the phone and test rotation again.
Fix 6: Update Your Phone Software
Software updates often include fixes for sensor issues, UI bugs, and rotation glitches.
Steps:
- Go to Settings
- Tap Software Update
- Select Download and Install
After updating, reboot the device and test again.
Fix 7: Clear System UI and Sensor Cache
Sometimes cached data used by the System UI or sensors becomes corrupted, causing rotation issues.
Try this:
- Go to Settings → Apps
- Tap Show System Apps
- Find System UI
- Tap Storage
- Tap Clear Cache
Repeat the same for:
- Sensor Service
- Device Health Services
Then restart and test rotation.
Fix 8: Check if Rotation Works in Other Apps
Not all apps support landscape mode — for example, Instagram Home Screen doesn’t rotate. Test rotation in:
- YouTube
- Gallery / Photos
- Chrome
- Notes app
If rotation works in some apps but not others, it is an app limitation, not a phone problem.
Fix 9: Reset All Settings (No Data Loss)
This resets all system configurations without deleting personal files. It’s a powerful fix for stubborn rotation problems.
Steps:
- Open Settings
- Tap General Management
- Select Reset
- Choose Reset All Settings
Your data stays safe — this only resets preferences like Wi-Fi and display settings.
Fix 10: Factory Reset (Last Resort)
If nothing works and you’re sure it’s not a hardware issue, a factory reset can fix deep system bugs.
Warning: Back up everything first — this deletes all data.
Steps:
- Go to Settings
- Tap General Management
- Select Reset
- Tap Factory Data Reset
When Auto-Rotate Still Doesn’t Work
If rotation still doesn’t work after all software fixes, the issue may be hardware-related:
- Damaged accelerometer
- G-sensor failure
- Motherboard issues
- Physical shock/dropping the phone
In this case, visit a repair shop or authorized service center to run a hardware test.
Conclusion
Auto-rotate problems are extremely common, but most causes are simple to fix. From checking quick settings and disabling conflicting apps to recalibrating sensors and updating the system, these solutions will restore normal screen rotation for most users. If the issue continues after all fixes, hardware damage may be the cause — but software solutions fix 90% of rotation problems.
For more display-related fixes, explore our Screen & Display Issues category.