This wikiHow teaches you how to prevent the iPad screen from rotating when you move the device. On most iPads, you need to select the orientation lock option from the control center or “Control Center” which can be accessed by swiping up from the bottom of the screen. However, on older iPads, you can use a physical switch that can be used to lock the screen orientation.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Using the Control Center
Step 1. Make sure you are on the home screen
Press the “Home” button, the circular button at the bottom of the iPad screen to enter the home screen. With this step, you can rotate the iPad screen orientation without experiencing interference from app preferences.
Step 2. Rotate iPad to the desired orientation
You need to make sure that the iPad is physically rotated to the orientation you want it to be in, and that the screen is adjusted to that orientation.
- There are two screen orientations available: Portrait (vertical orientation) and Landscape (horizontal orientation).
- Landscape orientation is better suited for watching videos in full screen or typing in documents, while Portrait orientation is ideal for reading articles or browsing websites.
Step 3. Swipe the screen upwards from the bottom
Place your finger on the bottom corner of the screen, then swipe up. The screen will appear blue and several icons will be displayed.
You may need to try this step a few times before the “Control Center” screen appears
Step 4. Touch the padlock ("Lock") icon
This black and white padlock icon with a circle around it is on the right side of the screen. Once touched, the color of the lock icon will turn red and the area around it will turn white. This change indicates that the screen is now locked in the currently active orientation.
Step 5. Press the “Home” button
After that, the “Control Center” page will close. The iPad screen is now locked in the orientation you selected.
- You can unlock the screen orientation at any time by going back to the “Control Center” page and tapping the red and white “Lock” icon.
- Some apps do not support different orientations. For example, Minecraft PE requires landscape orientation, while apps like Instagram for iPhone can only be displayed in portrait mode.
Method 2 of 2: Using Side Switch
Step 1. Make sure the device has side switch
Some older iPad models have side switches. When holding iPad in an upright or vertical configuration (e.g. the “Home” button at the bottom of the screen), you may see a switch in the upper-left corner of the iPad cover.
If you don't find a switch in this section, your iPad doesn't have a side switch and you need to use the control center or " Control Center"
Step 2. Open the iPad settings menu (“Settings”)
Touch the gray gear icon to open it. Usually, this icon is on the device's home screen.
Step 3. Touch
"General".
This option is on the left side of the settings page (“Settings”). After that, a list of options in the “General” section will be displayed.
Step 4. Touch the Lock Rotation option
It's in the middle of the screen, below the " USE SIDE SWITCH TO " section.
Step 5. Press the “Home” button
After that, the “Settings” application will be closed.
Step 6. Slide the switch upwards
The switch must be in an upright position to unlock the screen orientation.
Step 7. Rotate iPad to the desired orientation
Make sure that the iPad is physically rotated to the orientation you want to use, and that the screen is adjusted to that orientation.
- There are two screen orientations available: Portrait (vertical orientation) and Landscape (horizontal orientation).
- Landscape orientation is better suited for watching videos in full screen or typing in documents, while Portrait orientation is ideal for reading articles or browsing websites.
Step 8. Slide the switch downwards
Once the orientation is displayed the way you want, slide the switch down to lock the orientation. You can see the closed padlock icon displayed briefly on the screen.
- You can change the orientation by sliding the switch back up.
- Some apps do not support different orientations. For example, Minecraft PE requires landscape orientation, while apps like Instagram for iPhone can only be displayed in portrait mode.
