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This wikiHow teaches you how to unlock your Android's screen orientation so that you can switch from Portrait (vertical) mode to Landscape (horizontal) mode simply by rotating your Android. On most versions of Android, it is not possible to change the orientation of your home screen.
Changing Android Screen Modes at a Glance
Swipe down from the top of your screen to enable "Auto-Rotate," then turn your phone to the side to switch to landscape mode. Turn your phone upright to switch back to portrait mode.
Steps
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Swipe down from the top of the screen. This displays the Quick Settings icons at the top as well as your notifications. -
Swipe down from the Quick Settings icons again. This expands the Quick Settings menu so that it covers the entire screen.Advertisement -
Tap the Auto Rotate, Portrait, or Landscape icon. If Auto Rotate is on, it resembles a blue icon with a tilted phone with curved arrows on each side. Tapping this icon will turn Auto Rotate off and lock your phone in whichever orientation it is currently in. If your phone is already locked to Portrait or Landscape orientation, this icon will be grey and resemble a phone in portrait or landscape orientation with a lock over it. Tapping this icon will enable Auto Rotate mode.
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Rotate your phone to change the screen orientation (if Auto Rotate is enabled). If Auto Rotate is enabled, your phone's screen will automatically flip to portrait mode when you are holding it upright. When you are holding it horizontally, it will automatically switch to Landscape mode.- On most versions of Android, it is not possible to change the direction of your home screen. Try opening an app, such as your phone's browser, and then rotating your screen.
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Rotate your phone and tap the manual Rotate button (if Auto Rotate is disabled). If your phone is locked to Portrait or Landscape mode, an icon that resembles a phone rotating will appear in the navigation bar when you rotate your phone. On some phone models, it resembles a rectangle icon with two arrows. It's in the lower-right corner or lower-left corner. Tap this icon to rotate your phone manually.- If you are using a Samsung Galaxy and you do not see the manual rotate button, you need to enable it.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow can I get to landscape mode on my tablet?Community AnswerTurn your tablet in landscape mode. Open settings, tap display and tap "auto-rotate".This will disable it. This is for Android tablets like LG G Pad 8.3.
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QuestionHow do I change cropping settings from landscape to portrait?Community AnswerYou need to use the square near the top of the page, and click "change from landscape" to "portrait."
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QuestionHow do I keep my Android phone on landscape mode?Community AnswerHold down a blant park of screen till the settings open up, then the auto rotation will really rotate screen.
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Tips
- If you use the Google Now launcher, you can enable home screen rotation by long-pressing the home screen, tapping the grey "Allow rotation" switch, and rotating your Android. [1] X Research sourceThanks
- On some Androids, you'll find the Auto-rotate screen option in the Display section of Settings.Thanks
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About This Article
Article Summary
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1. Swipe down from the top of the screen.
2. Swipe down again from the Quick Settings menu.
3. Tap the Auto Rotate/Portrait/Landscape
icon.
4. Rotate your phone (if Auto Rotate is enabled).
5. Rotate your phone and tap the manual rotate button (if Auto Rotate is disabled).
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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 610,015 times.
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