Auto-rotate screen on Android: why doesn't it work?

Mobile devices have long become a replacement for a computer: having a smartphone or tablet allows you to communicate in instant messengers, watch videos, and surf the Internet. For the convenience of users, manufacturers are constantly improving the quality of displays, increasing screen sizes, and expanding functionality. One of the basic functions on absolutely any device is automatic orientation change.

Thanks to it, it becomes possible to display content in a convenient format, making it easier to type text, watch movies, videos, and perform many other processes. Some people cannot imagine working without this function, while others, on the contrary, find it annoying. But from time to time situations arise when the phone spontaneously refuses to switch from one mode to another. Be that as it may, you should figure out why auto-rotate the screen does not work on Android, and what methods exist to fix this problem.

Auto-rotate on Android: option overview

By default, the picture on your phone is in portrait orientation. When the device is rotated from a vertical to a horizontal position, it adapts to the direction of the gadget. Such actions are controlled by a special sensor - an accelerometer, which tracks the position of the device in space.

The auto-rotate function is often used when watching movies and YouTube videos, as the image format increases. It is useful when creating text notes - the gadget can be placed on the table and typed text as on a computer. Auto-rotation is also indispensable in games: when the gadget is in a horizontal position, controlling characters or equipment is much easier. However, there are many games and applications that do not support auto-rotate screen. In this case, third-party utilities help correct the situation.

Like any function, auto-rotate screen on Android has certain advantages and disadvantages.

Resetting your mobile phone

Most software problems on users' mobile devices can be resolved by returning the settings to factory settings.

. This way we can eliminate harmful software errors, junk, etc. Settings can be reset in different ways. But the device needs to be prepared for this process. Take care of your personal information. Make a backup copy to quickly restore them. Since the memory of a phone whose screen does not rotate will be completely erased.

Reset Android settings

But the most important thing is your Google account. You must know your profile login and password in order to quickly log in to the new system. If you do not remember the password or any other data from your Google account, you will not be able to log into the phone after the reset. In this case, you need to delete your account from the device. And after the reset, create a new one in order to log into the Android system.

When everything is ready, let's start fixing the problem when auto-rotate display does not work in Android:

1. Turn off your phone;
2. When the device is completely turned off, press and hold the Volume Down and Power keys until a characteristic sign (vibration or menu appears). You can find the buttons to enter the Recovery menu for your device in the instructions that were included in the kit;
3. Touch input does not work in a special menu. You can navigate through the menu using the volume keys. And the choice can be made with the power button;
4. Find the line “Wipe Data/Factory Reset” and select it;

   Click on “Wipe data/factory reset”

5. In the next window, several options will appear with the name “No” and one with “Yes”. We need to choose him;

   Click on “Yes”

6. Confirm your choice if necessary.

The device will now begin the data recovery process. It won't take much time. You will need to sign in to your Google account and do some device settings. Now enable and then test auto-rotate on your Android phone or tablet.

Why auto-rotate doesn't work on Android

There may be several reasons why auto-rotate on an Android device stops functioning, ranging from software errors to malfunctions in the device itself. Don't despair and rush to the store to buy a new gadget. The breakdown is not critical, and in most cases it is possible to solve the problem on your own.

Option disabled

If the screen orientation does not change when you rotate your device, you should make sure that position lock is disabled. This can be done through the standard smartphone settings:

• open the system menu using the gear icon;
• go to the “Screen” or “Display” section;
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• Find the “Auto-rotate screen” item and activate the function by moving the slider to the right.

You can also disable screen locking via the Android notification shade. To access it, you need to swipe your finger across the screen from top to bottom. When the quick access panel to the main tools opens, find the “Auto-rotate” button with the image of a lock. With one touch of the icon, you can quickly deactivate the screen orientation lock without going into settings.

Calibration problems

If the screen does not change its orientation when you change the position of the smartphone, this may be caused by a malfunction of the equipment responsible for auto-rotation. You can determine that it is the gyroscopic sensor that has failed by the following signs:

• the system does not respond to changes in the position of the mobile device;
• the screen on the phone spontaneously changes orientation;
• The problem is intermittent, which complicates the use of the gadget.

Calibrating the accelerometer will help resolve the problem. This can be done in two ways : through the engineering menu or using special utilities.

1. To enter the engineering menu, you need to activate developer mode , and then enter the service code in the dialing application: *#*#3646633#*#*. If everything is done correctly, a list of options will appear on the screen that open up options for customizing your Android device. Here you will need to find the “Sensor” item, place the phone on a flat surface, and then press the “Gyro Selftest” button. The gyro sensor will be calibrated and ready for use.
2. To use third-party utilities, you need to visit the Play Store and use the search to find the “Touchscreen Calibrate” program. The interface, as well as the functionality, is presented in one window. To calibrate, you need to perform a few simple manipulations: double tap, swipe, reduce/enlarge the image, etc. After each action, the “Accurace” accuracy will be displayed on the screen and calibration will be performed. If the problem cannot be resolved, it means that it is not technical, but hardware. It is unlikely that you will be able to deal with it without the help of a service center specialist.

Operating system failure

A gyroscopic sensor is responsible for automatic screen rotation, which continuously monitors the current position of the mobile device. Violation of its normal operation can be caused by several reasons.

1. A crash in the Android system due to internal problems with signal recognition. A simple reboot of the smartphone will help eliminate it. To do this, press the power key, select the “Restart” option in the menu that appears and confirm the action. If the device is equipped with a removable battery, after turning off the gadget you will need to remove it for 2-5 minutes, then return it to its original place and turn on the gadget;
2. The performance of the accelerometer may be negatively affected by programs running in the background. To exclude their involvement in this failure, you will need to pause or remove recently installed applications. To do this, you need to go to the settings, go to the “Applications” section, and selecting one program at a time, go to their pages. Here, click sequentially “ Clear cache ” → “Clear data” → “Delete”. To temporarily stop background processes on the application page, you need to tap the “Disable” button.
3. Another reason for accelerometer failure may be the next Android update. In this situation, you can try to roll back the device to the previous version or wait for the release of the next official firmware version.
4. To resolve the problem with a non-functioning gyro sensor, returning to factory settings will help. The method is considered radical, so it is recommended to use it as a last resort. It can be implemented using standard means, having previously created a backup copy of user data. You will need to go to “Settings” → “General settings” → “Backup and reset”. Scroll to the very bottom of the page to find the “Reset settings” item and click. When a system warning appears, confirm your intention by selecting the “Erase everything” option.

Problems with Android firmware

Sometimes the accelerometer may malfunction due to custom firmware . To fix the problem, you need to return to the official version of the operating system or reflash Android. There is no unique algorithm for performing this operation, so it is advisable to study in detail the information on forums dedicated to a specific device model. If the software update is performed via a computer, you will need to find the firmware file on the Internet and download it to the PC. If third-party software is used for this, you will need to download the “CWM Recovery” program to your smartphone.

There is no accelerometer in the phone

Despite the popularity and demand for mobile devices, you can still find devices that do not have an accelerometer. As a rule, these include “ultra-budget” devices from little-known brands from the Middle Kingdom. If a problem with display rotation arose immediately after purchase, you should find out whether there was a gyro sensor originally?

To check for the presence of an accelerometer, you will need to use a hardware diagnostics application on your Android device, for example, Sensor Kinetics. It displays information about the operation of the sensors and, if an accelerometer is not installed on this device, it will display a warning “Not available on this device.” In this case, you can only force the screen to rotate using third-party programs.

G-sensor is broken

The screen rotation sensor on Android is a complex functional element that requires careful operation. However, serious falls of the device can lead to its breakdown, and then it is impossible to avoid replacing the failed sensor and spending money on repairing the device. And since you won’t be able to deal with the breakdown on your own, you should take your smartphone to a service center or workshop, since the cost of the accelerometer is insignificant.

Ways to solve the problem

The simplest thing is to turn the option on and off. Sometimes, due to the heavy load on the processor and small RAM, the natural processes of the phone freeze. To get it out of this mode, just reboot the option.

If the system freezes, then you need to look deeper for the root - clear the cache and third-party files. Due to the lack of free space on the built-in media, the operating system does not have enough power to perform some function, even if it is something simple.

Problems with the G-sensor in this classification are the most serious. This is the module that is responsible for determining the position of the phone. If it fails or shows incorrect information, the smartphone will not recognize what position it is in. Accordingly, screen rotation will not turn on, or is activated incorrectly.

Where is the trash can in an Android Samsung phone?

There is another option why the phone does not rotate the image - older models do not have auto-rotate. If your phone model is outdated:

• go to the “Settings” section;
• select “About phone”;
• click on the “Update” sign.

This way the OS will be updated to a newer version, and almost all modern phones have the necessary tool.

Malicious components downloaded from the Internet will also harm the operation of the device. If Android has picked up a virus component, it will require cleaning and installing an antivirus.

Programs for auto-rotate on Android

If a breakdown of the gyro sensor on a smartphone is not considered critical, but the need to use the screen rotation function may still arise, you should pay attention to additional software that will allow you to adjust the screen of your device manually. The need to use third-party utilities may also arise in cases where games and applications installed on the smartphone do not support auto-rotate the screen. The following are considered the most popular programs of this class.

Rotation – Orientation Manager

Download link - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pranavpandey.rotation&hl=ru&gl=US

The auto-rotate screen manager is designed to force the rotation of the desired applications or games with the ability to enable or disable them in portrait or landscape mode. The main advantages are:

• intuitive interface;
• ease of operation;
• small program size;
• availability of Russian version;
• lack of payment;
• autostart when the device is turned on;
• ability to bypass standard settings;
• prohibiting applications from changing the interface;
• tips for working with the utility;
• support for various design themes.

The program is popular because it has practically no drawbacks except one - a slight delay when turning a game or application immediately after launch. It works constantly, in the background, but consumes almost no RAM.

Rotation Control

Download link - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.crape.rotationcontrol

The program allows you to change the orientation in applications where this feature is not provided by the developer, as well as fix a specific position (portrait or landscape).

The main advantages of the utility are:

• simple attractive design;
• clear and easy to use interface;
• easy control of screen orientation using the control panel;
• the ability to customize rotation modes for each application;
• identification of connection of charger or headphones;
• the ability to rotate the screen right, left, 180°;
• lack of advertising content in the paid version of the program.

The disadvantage is: a short free period of use - 7 days.

Screen Rotation Controller

Download link - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dp.applockorientation

An excellent program in its segment and easy to use, it provides a more detailed approach to setting the screen orientation. It allows you to lock the screen in a certain position to avoid unwanted rotations when watching movies, videos, and also adapt the display to non-standard applications and running games.

"Screen Rotation Controller" notifies you when an application tries to change the orientation, and also independently decides whether to allow or prohibit it from performing this action. The program starts automatically when you turn on or restart your smartphone, works constantly in the background, but practically does not consume RAM.

Disabling auto-rotate

After testing both methods of automatic rotation, disabling it is not difficult. Also, owners of phones and tablets will have the opportunity to adjust the functioning of the application using the following points. Read.

If you have any questions or complaints, please let us know.

Notification panel

To disable the option on Honor and Huawei smartphones, follow the steps already outlined earlier in our material.

1. Lower the notification shade.
2. Click on the icon with the desired signature.
3. Make sure the button stops lighting - this means the function is disabled.

After this, the icon will be displayed like this and its color will turn gray.

Basic Phone Settings

The second approach is also not much different from the above.

1. In the “Settings” of your mobile device, open the “Display” section.
2. Find the component you need and drag the slider back.

Make sure that changing image orientation is disabled. The slider will change color to gray. The display will not rotate when changing the angle of the smartphone

When optimizing Energy Saving Mode

The third option requires changing the energy saving settings. Proceed as follows.

1. Click on "gear".
2. Go to the Battery page.
3. Click "Power Saving Mode".
4. Select from the available options the line that is directly related to auto-rotation and click “Optimize”.
5. The line “Auto Rotate Off” will be displayed.

But remember how you deactivated this parameter, so that in the future you won’t have any difficulties as to why it stopped working.

How to enable auto-rotate on Android

Most owners of Android devices try to use the display in a vertical position, but when watching movies and videos, they prefer to change the orientation to horizontal. You can activate automatic rotation through the smartphone settings or using the operational panel for quick access to control tools. The speed of the function will depend on the accuracy of the installed accelerometer.

Via the menu

• open “Settings”;
• go to the “Screen” or “Display” section;
• Find the “Auto-rotate screen” item and activate the function by moving the slider to the right.

Via control panel

• slide your finger across the screen from top to bottom, pulling the curtain all the way;
• Find the icon with the image of a small castle and the inscription “Auto-rotate”;
• touch it to activate it.

Problems with the auto-rotate function may occur periodically on every smartphone. Most often, the reason lies in Android software errors, although in rare cases they appear due to malfunctions in the device itself. If in the first case you can fix the problem yourself, in the second you need the help of a specialist. However, now you will know why auto-rotate the screen on Android does not work, and how to fix such problems.

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How does auto-rotate work on Android phones?

This function has a simple operating principle:

• the user activates the mode in the settings of his gadget. You can also enable auto-rotate from the status bar;
• When watching videos, the image is automatically flipped when a person changes the angle or location of the smartphone. Thus, the display adapts to changes in the position of the phone;
• The display rotation time depends on the technical characteristics of the device. On devices equipped with weaker processors, auto-rotation takes a few seconds. On powerful gadgets, this process is performed many times faster.

Auto-rotate display on Android may stop working at one point

Flashing an Android smartphone

If you purchased a device, but later noticed that it does not automatically change the screen orientation, you can return it under warranty. In other cases, you can reflash the phone and install the firmware in which the rotation will work. All relevant applications, drivers and programs can be found on this site.

Select your model from the list and find the appropriate firmware. Usually, in the same topic you can find the tools that are necessary for this process.

Reasons related to software

In cases where the previously working auto-rotate screen failed for no apparent reason, the hardware may also be to blame. For example, due to a manufacturing defect or aging of the device (the sensitivity of the gyro sensor decreases over time). However, 90-95% of such situations are related to software.

For example:

• with disabling the auto-rotate function in the device settings;
• with a system error;
• with a conflict or incorrect operation of applications;
• with the influence of malware.

Most common reason

The most common and easily fixable cause of failure is accidentally disabling auto-rotate in the settings.

Most mobile devices based on bare Android or proprietary shells have an auto-rotate control button in the notification panel and quick access (curtain). True, the name of this button does not always accurately convey its purpose. So, on MIUI 11 and 10 it is called “Orientation”, which confuses owners of Xiaomi Redmi 4, 5 and newer:

In early versions of MIUI, this button was simply called “Rotate” or “Auto-rotate”, as, however, it is now called on many other devices, for example, on Samsung, Honor, Meizu, Asus Zen, etc.

When the auto-rotate function is disabled, the name of the button often changes to “Vertical (horizontal) orientation” or “Portrait (landscape) screen,” which also sometimes confuses users:

To restore automatic rotation disabled by this button, just touch it again.

In addition to the Quick Access Toolbar, there are controls for auto-rotating the display in the system settings. One of the options is in the "Screen" section. It allows you to choose what action to take when rotating the device - rotate the image or keep the default orientation.

The other one is hidden in “Special Features”. It, like the “behind the curtain” button, simply activates or deactivates auto-rotate.

Some device models allow you to turn auto-rotate on or off separately on the Home screen and on the Voice Calls screen. This function is controlled through the quick access panel.

System errors, viruses, incorrect operation of applications

System errors can be temporary or permanent. The first are those that are associated with the current execution of processes and services of the operating system and “live” no longer than one session. The second are related to changes in system files and settings.

Errors of the first group can be easily eliminated by restarting the device, while the second can only be eliminated by eliminating the cause that caused the failure.

Temporary errors occur spontaneously on any device, often for no apparent reason. Permanent - most often the result of any obvious events, for example, operations with system files on smartphones and tablets with root, installation of updates, etc.

Infecting a device with malware is also often accompanied by a disruption of system functions, especially those that simplify the detection or removal of malware, such as operations with applications, changing settings, starting the device in safe mode, and the like. The auto-rotate screen feature is unlikely to be the goal of virus creators, but it can be broken along with some of the above.

You can suspect that an Android gadget is infected with malware based on typical signs if they accompany a problem with screen rotation. For example:

• Pop-up advertisements not associated with any program.
• Antivirus alarm messages.
• Spontaneous removal of protective applications.
• The appearance of new applications that you did not install.
• Theft of accounts in instant messengers and social networks, loss of money from electronic wallets that you use on the device, etc.

Other symptoms of the presence of viruses on a mobile device and methods to combat them are described in this article.

When there is a conflict or failure in applications, the problem is most often associated with the installation or launch of a program, including one that does not use a gyro sensor. For example, the correct operation of the auto-rotate button in the quick access panel may be affected by a third-party launcher or application that changes the design of the curtain.

How to restore the auto-rotate screen function in case of system and program failures

If the previous step did not help, move on to the next one.

• Reboot your device. This will eliminate temporary system errors.
• Uninstall applications that you installed shortly before the problem occurred.
• Scan your device for viruses.
• Reset Android to factory settings.

If screen rotation stops working after manipulating system files on rooted devices, reverting to factory settings will not help. If it is not possible to correct what has been changed manually, only flashing will save you.

Program for changing screen orientation in Android

If none of the methods described above solved your auto-rotate problem, you can still use this great feature. After all, there are third-party programs that change orientation even without a built-in accelerometer.

The application should help solve the problem in any case.

The Rotation Control app allows you to do more than just change the screen layout.

The mobile application will not take up much memory space; it is only 1 megabyte. After installation, it will be available from the Quick Access Toolbar. When you call up the program menu, all functions are available at once: portrait orientation, landscape, landscape and others. To activate any of them, you just need to click on the corresponding button.

If this application does not work, download any other application from this category from the Play Market. You will have a huge choice. Enter “screen orientation” in the search bar and find the one that suits you from the list. In special cases, auto-rotate the screen on Android devices may not work even when installing applications. Thus, there is nothing left to do but go to the service. The device in the smartphone that is responsible for turning is broken. And only a specialist can cope with this problem.

What to do if screen auto-rotate stops working

If auto-rotate has stopped working on your device, then first you should check whether the function is activated in the settings. If everything is turned on, but this function still does not work, then you should check the tablet for viruses, and then reboot it. After all, the presence of viruses or certain applications can cause these problems.

If a regular reboot does not lead to positive results, then perform a deep reboot. Turn off the device, remove the battery for at least 15 minutes and turn it on again. Checking the operation of auto-rotate.

The cause of the breakdown may also be a malfunction of the G-sensor, which determines the angle and speed of rotation of the electronic device in space. To fix this, you need to go to the engineering menu and calibrate the gyro sensor. To do this, go to “Settings”, select “Accessibility”, “Acceleration sensor” and run “Accelerometer calibration”. During this procedure, you must agree to all offers, and the device itself must be on a flat surface.

Important! If you use the engineering menu, you first need to study the relevant information for a specific device, since if you do it incorrectly, a software failure may occur.

There are also special applications with which you can test and calibrate this function on the tablet.

If this function does not work, there is a possibility of a software failure in your device. To fix this problem, you need to flash the tablet. To do this, go to “Settings”, select “About tablet” and update the system. After searching, the system will automatically update, unless, of course, there is a newer version.

How does the malfunction manifest itself?

The screen of any Apple tablet model turns upside down when the position of the device changes. If you hold the gadget horizontally, then the display will be in the same position. If you rotate the device the other way, the orientation will become vertical.

The orientation on the tablet is detected using a gyroscope. If it stops working, the picture cannot change position and does not rotate. Such a gadget malfunction can manifest itself gradually:

• The tablet display does not always turn over when changing position
• In order for the picture on the screen to start spinning, you need to tilt the tablet several times
• the device randomly changes the image orientation