iPad screen rotation

When using some apps, they lock the screen rotation so that you have to use it in portrait mode with the charging port at the bottom. This is very awkward if you want to use the app at the same time as charging it. The iPad sits in your lap with the charging cable scrunched up between iPad and body. Not good for cable life!


Any attempt to unlock rotation in settings is futile. The app has well and truly locked rotation.


Is there some method of unlocking rotation that I have missed? Or maybe an app that will override the app’s lock on rotation?


I have iPad gen9 os16.6 but this has been the same with earlier models.

iPad (9th generation)

Posted on Sep 3, 2023 4:16 PM

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2 replies

Sep 4, 2023 8:44 AM in response to PeeJay1935


To switch between Portrait and Landscape view, you generally only need to rotate the iPad to the desired screen orientation.


For newer models of iPad without a side-switch, you may need to disable your Screen Rotation Lock. To do so, you need to access the Control Centre; swipe downwards from the top-right corner of the screen - then tap the Screen Rotation lock icon:




If screen rotation proves to be problem with some Apps - and not others - you need to be aware that not all Apps are coded to operate in both Portrait and Landscape screen modes. Apps that have a fixed screen orientation will always* appear in the orientation determined by the App Developer.


(*) For compatible Apps that are intended for iPhone, iPadOS15/16 will now automatically rotate the App to display in Landscape screen orientation. There is no manual configuration or setting to enable this feature.


However, Apps designed for iPad that are expressly coded to force Portrait screen orientation, iPadOS15/16 will honour the intended Portrait mode - and will not override the App coding.


For iPadOS16, there is another workaround. If your iPad model supports Stage Manager, portrait Apps can be displayed in Landscape orientation.


  • iPad Air (5th generation)
  • iPad Pro 11-inch (all generations)
  • iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later)


Settings > Home Screen & Multitasking > Stage Manager > Use Stage Manager on iPad - set to ON

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iPad screen rotation

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