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newanalog Author

Level 1

0 points

Broken accelerometer - Ipad 2 will not rotate - Stuck in portrait mode

There are a couple other posts about this, but one of them was fixed by rebooting and the other was where someone had the side switch set to lock orientation.

I have tried every combination of switch setting (mute/orientation lock) and rebooting but nothing works. It appears to be a problem with the accelerometer. I downloaded the labyrinth game to test it out and the ball just sits in the corner. No amount of shaking will move it.

Anybody else seeing this problem?

iPad 2, iOS 4, iPad 2, rotation, orientation, portrait mode, accelerometer

Posted on Mar 18, 2011 12:25 PM

42 replies

Apr 4, 2011 3:46 PM in response to newanalog

Yup mine just got stuck in portrait mode. I tried everything that you did. I switched my mute button to the screen lock button. I reset the ipad by pushing the power and home button, I restored the ipad 2… Then I installed a level app and it showed no change when I rotated my ipad, the level seemed stuck in a 45 degree angle. My call to Apple concluded with "would you like to buy Apple care so that we can send you a replacement? Other wise you can mail us your ipad 2 and we will repair it and send it back." I bought my ipad 2 at best buy and today is my 14th day (last day to exchange) they were out of my ipad model and they agreed to allow me to exchange it when they received more. I just have a defective gyroscope… Im lucky that Best Buy was so good to me.

Dah•veed

Level 9

64,729 points

Apr 4, 2011 4:08 PM in response to Catherine Burke

My call to Apple concluded with "would you like to buy Apple care so that we can send you a replacement? Other wise you can mail us your ipad 2 and we will repair it and send it back."

If you have any qualms about getting a replacement from Best Buy call Apple Care again and immediately ask to have your call escalated to Apple Customer Relations. You should not have to purchase the extended warranty on a 14 day old purchase to get service with the Apple one year warranty coverage. Unless you live in the boondocks they should make arrangements to repair or replace this iPad at the closest Apple Authorized Service Provider.

Be firm, but polite. Always get the name and position of the persons to whom you speak.

ljyashi

Level 1

0 points

Apr 9, 2011 6:27 PM in response to newanalog

Got both mine and my wife's ipad2 3 days ago. Had a screen rotation stuck on mine, rebooted it and got it fixed. But had consistent problem with safari on the following site:

http://www.macworld.com/article/158568/2011/03/ipad2_accessoriescompatibility.html

Screen gets stuck after rotation, safari stop responding. Recreated the same problem on my wife's iPad2. Any suggestions or should I wait for ios 4.3.2?

Apr 20, 2011 10:15 AM in response to Philly_Phan

Many thanks. The reset trick worked for me.

Apr 24, 2011 12:43 AM in response to newanalog

I used this person's reco... It was a setting on the pad after the OS upgrade. Where even though you may have changed what the slide bar controls - it still locks orientation until you follow these steps. Good luck.

Hope it helps.

http://www.tothepc.com/archives/ipad-slide-switch-lock-screen-mute-ios-4-3/

Apr 24, 2011 12:44 AM in response to minkie123

BTW If anyone from Apple is reading this - Clearly NOT an Intuitive UX experience.

Apr 27, 2011 11:53 AM in response to newanalog

Ok guys and girls,

Try this... go to Garage Band, play with it, rotate it... wow it rotates but only flips landscape... but hey now my rotation is back and working.

So I think that maybe garage band put it in a strange stuck mode. Would have to test it more.

But I was stuck and now I am released!

Sounds biblical.

Michael from Fremont

JSW.COM

May 2, 2011 8:43 AM in response to newanalog

Same issue, stuck in portrait mode. I have tried every single recommendation listed here (and other resources)and none of them worked. Bought the iPad 2 when it first came out, got it about 2 weeks later and presented it to my in-laws as a gift on their two day visit. Had to send them home with it stuck in portrait mode. There are inumerable posts on this on the intranet and while many have resolved through the switch being mis-positioned, resets etc., none of them worked for me.

I've requested a call via phone in the support section for tonight. Hope this is resolvable through a software update...it appears there are many who have gone through all the suggested steps to no avail.

Jun 10, 2011 9:29 PM in response to newanalog

Yes, I had same issue after syncing to iTunes and installed apps transferred from iPhone purchase. This is my fix to the problem.

After Resetting via hard boot (Holding Power and home buttons simutaneously for about 10 seconds-ignoring "Slide to Power off")

1. click on "settings"

2. scroll down to "Use slide switch to:"

3. Click on "Lock Rotation"

4. Then actually side switch off and on

5. Then click on "Mute" again under "Use slide switch to:"

¡Voila!

My accelerometer began working again.

Jun 16, 2011 12:45 PM in response to newanalog

Double click the home screen button, scroll through the icons from left to right, the very first icon on the left side of the screen you should see a circular arrow and lock in the center, touch it to unlock. Hopefully this works for you.

h r

Level 1

0 points

Jun 25, 2011 10:41 AM in response to newanalog

i have the ipad2. it took a knock. nothing dented or broken but screen would not rotate. i fixed it this is how. go into settings and choose General > Reset > Reset all Settings.

Jun 28, 2011 2:18 PM in response to newanalog

My iPad2 rotation got stuck after I was reading in iBook for several days with Rotation locked via the lock switch on the right side of the iPad2. Setting the switch to the unlocked position didn't bring back auto rotation.

Just starting GarageBand solved the problem!

Would be interesting to know why GarageBand can do this.

Jul 13, 2011 7:26 PM in response to Chrisjnovak

I had the same problem today. Holding the home and power buttons until the apple logo appeared worked for me also. Ignore the red sliding bar.

yorgoh

Level 1

0 points

Sep 23, 2011 2:09 PM in response to Ricco aka Vet Boi™

It worked for me also! Thanks!!

Oct 7, 2011 3:03 AM in response to newanalog

I had the same problem, got really frustrated. Happened after switching the mute/lock button for the first time. Unlocking did not work, and the mute was also permanently activated.

Holding the home and power buttons until the apple logo appeared worked for me. Ignore the red sliding bar. (it takes some time to restarts, don't get worried).

Broken accelerometer - Ipad 2 will not rotate - Stuck in portrait mode