How to Turn Rotation Lock On or Off on iPhone

To turn rotation lock on or off on iPhone, open Control Center and tap the Lock Rotation button (a padlock with a circular arrow). The button is red when the screen is locked in portrait and gray when the screen can rotate.

This guide covers the Control Center steps for every iPhone, how to add the button if it’s missing, faster ways to toggle the lock without opening Control Center, and what to check when the screen won’t rotate. The steps follow Apple’s guide to rotating your iPhone screen. Older versions of iOS call the button Portrait Orientation Lock. For a tablet, see how to fix an iPad screen that will not rotate. The main toggle works on iPhone 12, 14 and 15 as well as other models. The add-control instructions below apply to iOS 18 and later; iOS 17 has the older Control Center layout.

How to Turn Rotation Lock On or Off

1. Open Control Center. On an iPhone with Face ID, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen. On an iPhone with a Home button, swipe up from the bottom edge.
2. Tap the Lock Rotation button.
3. Close Control Center: swipe up from the bottom center on an iPhone with Face ID, or press the Home button on an iPhone with a Home button. Then turn the iPhone sideways in an app that supports landscape, such as Safari, to check the result.

Result: When the lock is on, the button is red and the screen stays in portrait even when you turn the iPhone sideways. Apple notes that a lock icon also appears in the status bar on supported models. Tap the button again to turn the lock off.

If the Lock Rotation button is missing

1. Open Control Center.
2. Tap the Add button (+).
3. Tap Add a Control.
4. Find Lock Rotation and tap it to place it in Control Center.

Result: The button is back in Control Center. Apple’s Control Center guide covers rearranging and removing controls.

Faster Ways to Toggle Rotation Lock

If you switch the lock on and off often, for example to watch videos in landscape and read in portrait, these options save a swipe.

Back Tap

1. Open Settings and tap Accessibility.
2. Under Physical and Motor, tap Touch.
3. Scroll down and tap Back Tap.
4. Choose Double Tap or Triple Tap, then select Lock Rotation if it is available in the action list. If it is absent, use Control Center instead.

Result: Double- or triple-tapping the back of your iPhone toggles the lock. Apple documents Back Tap for iPhone 8 or later with iOS 14 or later. To undo the assignment, return to Double Tap or Triple Tap and select None.

AssistiveTouch

Go to Settings › Accessibility › Touch › AssistiveTouch and turn it on. Then choose Single-Tap, Double-Tap or Long Press and select Lock Rotation if offered. If it is absent, assign Control Center and use the rotation button there. Apple explains these custom actions. Change the assigned action again to undo it, or turn AssistiveTouch off to hide its floating button. The same menu can also take a screenshot or lock an iPhone without the power button.

The Action button

If your iPhone has an Action button, create a shortcut in Shortcuts using Set Orientation Lock with Toggle, if that action is available. Go to Settings › Action Button, choose Shortcut, and select your saved shortcut. Press and hold the Action button to run it, then check the rotation button in Control Center. Apple documents assigning a shortcut to the Action button on supported models. Standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus have a Ring/Silent switch instead. To undo this, assign your previous Action button function again. Our guide on how to set the Action button on iPhone lists every available action.

A Shortcuts automation

Another option is an app automation in Shortcuts: in the Shortcuts app, create a personal automation that runs when a chosen app (such as a video app) opens and uses the Set Orientation Lock action to turn the lock off. A second automation can turn it back on when the app closes. Test both events and check the lock in Control Center: automations depend on the iOS version and their run settings. Disable the automation if it changes the lock at an unwanted time. Apple explains the App trigger: Is Opened also includes switching to the app, and Is Closed includes switching away, rather than only force-closing it.

Why Won’t My iPhone Screen Rotate?

• Rotation lock is on. Open Control Center and make sure the Lock Rotation button is gray, not red.
• The app doesn’t rotate. Apple says some apps don’t support rotation. Test with an app that does, such as Safari or Calculator.
• The Home Screen doesn’t turn. The Home Screen may not rotate on your model, so test inside an app instead.
• The motion sensor seems stuck. Apple suggests opening the Measure app and tapping Level to see whether the iPhone detects orientation changes. If the level is stuck too, restart your iPhone.

Apple’s screen rotation help article recommends a restart if the screen still won’t rotate after these checks. If rotation still fails in supported apps, use the help options on that Apple page. Avoid resetting or erasing the phone as an initial rotation fix.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I lock my iPhone in landscape?

No. The system lock only holds portrait. Apps that are built for landscape, such as many games, still open sideways.

Is rotation lock the same as the lock icon at the top of the screen?

The padlock with a circular arrow in the status bar means rotation lock is on. A plain padlock on the Lock Screen means the iPhone itself is locked.

More iPhone Guides

• How to use Control Center on iPhone
• What the icons at the top of your iPhone mean

Older iPhones showed the scientific calculator when you turned the phone sideways. In current iOS, see how to use parentheses on the iPhone Calculator for the new way to switch modes.