How to Change the Side Switch Function on an iPad

Many iPad models include a switch on the side of the device. This switch can be set to perform one of two functions; it can either lock the device rotation so that the iPad will remain at the orientation at which it was locked, or it can mute the iPad.

The setting that you elect to use for this switch is entirely a matter of personal preference, and you might even find that you change the setting based on the situation.

Our tutorial below will show you where to find the side switch setting so that you can adjust it as needed.

Adjusting the Side Switch Setting on an iPad

The steps in this article were written using an iPad 2, in iOS 8.3. These same steps will work for other iPad models running iOS 7 or higher.

Note that changing the setting in the manner described below will change the action of a different button in the Control Center as well.

If you set the side switch to Lock Rotation on your iPad, then the option in the Control Center will mute the device.

Conversely, if you set the side switch to the Mute option, then the button in the Control Center will lock the rotation. The button in question is the one shown below.

control center lock rotation

or

control center mute
  • Step 1: Open the Settings menu.
open the settings menu
  • Step 2: Select the General option from the column at the left side of the screen.
select the general option
  • Step 3: Locate the Use Side Switch To section at the right side of the window, then select either the Lock Rotation option if you want the side switch to lock the iPad in portrait orientation, or select the Mute option if you want to use that switch to mute the device.
set the side switch action

Now that you know how to change the side switch function on an iPad, you can have that button perform whichever option is more useful to you.

Have you made a lot of changes to the settings on your iPad, and it is becoming too much of a hassle to get everything back to the default choices? This article will show you how to quickly reset all of the settings on your iPad.

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