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User profile for user: HappyFunJay
HappyFunJay Author
User level: Level 1
25 points

Unable to use Messages app in landscape (horizontal) orientation

Hello,


I just got my iPhone 12 Mini. In the Messages app, landscape (horizontal) orientation does not work. In the message list, inside a conversation, when typing a message, etc., I get the same result: Rotating my phone horizontally has no effect in the app. The app stays locked in portrait (vertical) orientation.


This used to work on older iPhones. Why doesn't it work anymore? I type much faster in landscape orientation. This is very disappointing.


I checked orientation lock. It is not turned on.


I tried restarting the phone. That didn't help.


Other apps, such as WhatsApp, Safari, etc. have no problem rotating. And rotation works in the Messages app on my iPad--just not on my iPhone.


Is this a bug in the latest iOS? Any help would be appreciated.

iPhone 12 mini, iOS 14

Posted on Nov 30, 2020 6:06 PM

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User profile for user: HappyFunJay
HappyFunJay Author
User level: Level 1
25 points

Posted on Nov 30, 2020 10:33 PM

OK, I contacted Apple Support. With their help, I discovered that the problem was caused by display zoom (Settings->Display & Brightness->Display Zoom). With display zoom turned on, rotation does not work in the Messages app. With display zoom turned off, rotation works. My eyesight isn't what it used to be, so I had display zoom turned on.


This seems like a bug and not expected behavior. Apple Support tells me the problem is being escalated. I suppose I'll just have to leave display zoom turned off and use a larger text size for the time being.

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User profile for user: HappyFunJay
HappyFunJay Author
User level: Level 1
25 points

Nov 30, 2020 10:33 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

OK, I contacted Apple Support. With their help, I discovered that the problem was caused by display zoom (Settings->Display & Brightness->Display Zoom). With display zoom turned on, rotation does not work in the Messages app. With display zoom turned off, rotation works. My eyesight isn't what it used to be, so I had display zoom turned on.


This seems like a bug and not expected behavior. Apple Support tells me the problem is being escalated. I suppose I'll just have to leave display zoom turned off and use a larger text size for the time being.

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User profile for user: HappyFunJay
HappyFunJay Author
User level: Level 1
25 points

Dec 1, 2020 2:50 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

Either way, it's undesired behavior for me. I would certainly prefer to have access to both landscape orientation in Messages and display zoom. And there's nothing preventing this from a technical standpoint. Back in the very early iPhone days, I was using Messages in landscape orientation, and those screens had a much lower screen resolution than an iPhone 12 Mini with display zoom turned on.


Thanks for your help.

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User profile for user: HappyFunJay
HappyFunJay Author
User level: Level 1
25 points

Jan 29, 2021 12:47 PM in response to MickyMom

Thanks for your messages, everyone. I see that several of you are experiencing the same problem I experienced. There are two things you can do to help:


1) At the top of this thread, click the button that says "I have this question too".

2) Visit the iPhone feedback page and submit a description of the problem.


The more of you who do those things, the more it improves our chances that Apple will produce a solution. Thanks!

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User profile for user: joejohnson
joejohnson
User level: Level 1
4 points

Apr 30, 2021 8:21 AM in response to HappyFunJay

IMO, this is dumb. Landscape mode should work regardless of whether you are using "Zoomed" display mode or not. I am not old, but since the iPhone mini has a smaller screen anyways, I feel like it just makes sense to use "Zoom" to make it easier to read text on the screen.


Apple, please RE-ENABLE the landscape mode feature in messages for us "Zoomed" users ASAP!

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User profile for user: HappyFunJay
HappyFunJay Author
User level: Level 1
25 points

Mar 3, 2021 11:05 AM in response to drffc

Hi guys,


It works for me when I turn off display zoom. I am able to type in the Messages app in landscape orientation.


I don't know why it isn't working for you. I can only think of two things...


1) Make sure orientation lock is turned off.

2) Try forcing the Messages app to close and restarting your phone.


I hope you can get it working.

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User profile for user: LAK312
LAK312
User level: Level 1
8 points

Jan 29, 2021 7:39 AM in response to Neutrinodior

Same thing happening to me on my iPhone 12 pro with 14.4. If I’m watching a video in landscape and an IM comes in and I try to view it, I cannot because it has the keyboard stuck in landscape covering up most of the message itself, which is in portrait. I too have the zoom on but I am not willing to change it for this. Did not encounter this behavior on my iPhone 8 plus which also had the zoom feature on. Let’s hope Apple corrects it soon.

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Unable to use Messages app in landscape (horizontal) orientation

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