You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

💡 Did you know?

⏺ If you can't accept iCloud Terms and Conditions... Learn more >

⏺ If you don't see your iCloud notes in the Notes app... Learn more >

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

HappyFunJay Author

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

Top-ranking reply

HappyFunJay Author

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.

View in context

Similar questions

33 replies

HappyFunJay Author

Level 1

25 points

Nov 30, 2020 6:19 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

Hi ChrisJ4203,

Yes--the native Messages app.

OK, I tried the forced restart. Still no luck.

Are you using a 12 Mini? I wonder if this has something to do with the smaller screen.

Awphx

Level 1

4 points

Dec 2, 2020 3:23 PM in response to HappyFunJay

Omg thank you so much! This totally helped!!

Awphx

Level 1

4 points

Dec 3, 2020 8:12 AM in response to HappyFunJay

I just made a submission. Thank you for the information! Anything to help! 🙂

Dec 31, 2020 10:27 AM in response to HappyFunJay

Hi there, I have the same issue with my iPhone 12 Max pro, and my view isn’t set on zoom, it’s on standard.

MickyMom

Level 1

4 points

Jan 19, 2021 1:41 PM in response to HappyFunJay

Glad I found your message cause I’ve searched everything trying to find this answer, they need to fix it fast!!

LAK312

Level 1

8 points

Jan 29, 2021 8:41 AM in response to MickyMom

I am with you. I loved my iPhone 8+ as well. Still warming up to this 12 Pro. I am uncertain how you report something. Can you clarify?

MickyMom

Level 1

4 points

Jan 29, 2021 9:58 AM in response to LAK312

I posted on this forum, scroll up to see or select a menu if you can. I just texted a note to them as to report a bug.

LAK312

Level 1

8 points

Jan 29, 2021 1:01 PM in response to HappyFunJay

Perfect. Thanks. I used your link and submitted the feedback. Much appreciated.

MickyMom

Level 1

4 points

Jan 29, 2021 1:43 PM in response to HappyFunJay

Thank you!!!

Feb 17, 2021 7:19 PM in response to HappyFunJay

Still won't rotate for me with zoom turned off.

drffc

Level 1

31 points

Mar 3, 2021 10:06 AM in response to HappyFunJay

Your solution does not work for my

iPhone7-Plus model#: MNR42LL/A

running Software Version 14.4 .

Have you any other thoughts?

LAK312

Level 1

8 points

Mar 3, 2021 11:52 AM in response to HappyFunJay

The issue for some of us is, we can’t turn off zoom due to our visual requirements. This problem was never a problem until a few months ago.

MickyMom

Level 1

4 points

Mar 3, 2021 1:41 PM in response to LAK312

Report it so they will escalate this issue. I need the zoom also.

MickyMom

Level 1

4 points

Mar 23, 2021 9:02 AM in response to Unhappy12pro

This is unacceptable for Apple not to fix this problem. I didn’t want the Max cause it’s so heavy. Makes me unhappy too!!!

Mar 24, 2021 1:10 PM in response to Unhappy12pro

Had no idea or didn’t work on pro either. This week, since the last update, I’m constantly having to close iMessages and reopen to try and get them to work, even in portrait.

really ****** off.

Unable to use Messages app in landscape (horizontal) orientation