How to Fix a Rotated Screen

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Most operating systems offer a screen rotation option to help you set up an external monitor. This can go badly wrong when a user accidentally enables it on the main display, flipping the screen upside down or rotating it sideways. Learn how to fix the problem using shortcuts or menu options.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Windows

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Rotate your device or monitor if it is equipped with a rotation sensor. If your device is a tablet, 2-in-1 PC, or desktop with a rotatable screen, then you can rotate the monitor to fix the issue. If that does not work, then check that rotation lock is not enabled by opening the action center.
    • If you do not see rotation lock in the action center, then try reconnecting the USB cable (not HDMI or VGA) cable for your monitor. This should fix the rotation sensor.
  2. Some graphics cards assign the hotkey Ctrl + Alt + ↓ to flip the screen upside down. To reverse this, press Ctrl + Alt + ↑ . Use the same key combination with ← or → to reverse a screen flipped right or left.
    • Some graphics cards use ⇧ Shift + Alt + ↑ instead. [1]
    • You may need to use the Alt key to the right of the spacebar, sometimes labeled AltGr . [2]
    Advertisement
  3. Computers running Windows 7 or later have an option to switch between portrait and landscape mode. Fix this as follows: [3]
    • Right-click your Desktop.
    • In the drop-down menu, select Display Settings (Windows 10) or Screen Resolution (Windows 7 or 8).
      (Alternatively, go to Start → Control Panel → Display , then select Display Settings or Screen Resolution .)
    • Click the Orientation drop-down menu and change it to Portrait or Landscape, depending on your monitor setup.
    • Click Apply to rotate your screen back to normal.
  4. If nothing else works, you may need to access your graphics card settings. Depending on which card you have, you may find this under Graphics Options, Graphics Properties, Nvidia Control Panel, Catalyst Control Center, or Intel Control Center. You can either locate this using the search bar, or (usually) right-click your Desktop and select it from the drop-down menu.
  5. There is no standard menu arrangement in graphics card menus, so you may need to search a little. On some graphics cards, the "Rotation" or "Orientation" setting is in the Displays Manager menu.
    • You may need to select "advanced options" to find this setting.
    • If you're not sure why your screen rotated, you may have accidentally pressed a keyboard shortcut. Look for a Hotkeys menu item and disable it.
    6. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Mac

PDF download Download Article
  1. Press and hold ⌘ Command and ⌥ Option . Continue holding these keys down for the rest of this process.
    • If you are using a Windows keyboard with your Mac, hold down Ctrl + Alt instead.
  2. Click the apple symbol in the top left corner of your screen. Select System Preferences from the drop-down menu.
    • If System Preferences was already open, you may need to quit and relaunch it while pressing the keys.
  3. Click Display . Continue to press both keys.
    • If you have multiple displays, select the problem monitor in the list of options before you continue.
  4. Holding down these keys unlocks the rotation options in the Display settings. Select Standard from the Rotation drop-down menu to return to the default display. [4]
    • If no Rotation option appears, your hardware does not support Apple's built-in rotation settings. Check your Applications folder for third-party software that may have rotated your screen.
    5. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How to fix the rotation on my iPhone 6?
    Community Answer
    If there's an icon of a padlock encircled by an arrow on your status bar, Orientation Lock is on. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open Control Center, then tap that same icon to turn it off. The Display Zoom setting can also prevent your home screen from rotating; turn it off at Settings → Display & Brightness → View.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 3 Helpful 6
  • Question
    How do I turn on the flip screen?
    Soul Pindar
    Community Answer
    Minimize all open programs by pressing Windows key + D. Right-click any blank spot on the desktop. In the drop-down menu that appears, click Graphics Options, and then Graphics Properties. In the window that opens, select the Rotation tab. Choose your desired settings, click Apply, and then OK.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 2
  • Question
    How do I rotate the screen on my computer?
    Rudy Toth
    Community Answer
    On the right side of your menu bar, there is an arrow pointing upwards on the Windows 10 version. Clicking on that opens a small dialog box. There should be a blue box in the upper left hand corner that might say "Intel HD Graphics". There you can rotate your screen by using the mouse on a angle.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 0
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Exercise While Sitting at Your Computer
      How to
      Make Any Picture Your Computer or Phone's Wallpaper
      2 Simple Ways to Get Animated Desktop Wallpapers
      How to
      Check Your Screen Resolution on PC, Mac, & Chromebook
      Simple Ways to Set Up Dual Monitors on Your Computer
      Rotating Your Screen on Windows, Chromebook, iOS, & More
      6 Quick Ways to Change the Screen Resolution on a PC
      5 Easy Ways to Fix Your Acer Screen If It's Flickering
      How to
      Change Your Cursor
      How to
      Connect a Gaming Console to a Computer Monitor
      How to
      Rotate a Computer Screen: A Step-by-Step Guide
      Get Rid of that Black Spot on Your Laptop Screen
      How to
      Repair a Scratched or Finger Printed Monitor Screen
      How to
      Fix a Dimmed Screen: 8 Simple Solutions
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/windows/how-rotate-screen-on-laptop-or-pc-summary-3615164/
      2. ↑ http://ccm.net/faq/333-rotated-screen
      3. ↑ http://www.labnol.org/software/rotate-monitor-in-windows-7/8972/
      4. ↑ http://osxdaily.com/2010/12/28/rotate-mac-screen-orientation/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Try pressing the control, alt, and up keys. If that does not work, then proceed on below to identify the setting that needs to be changed to fix rotation.

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 223,293 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement