iPad 7th generation does not rotate

We have the same issues, I have an iPad 7th Gen (2019).

I noticed that this bug appears everytime I restart the device.

Here are the things that I did to make the device rotation work again:

1. Make sure the Rotation Lock on the Control Panel is turned off.
2. Enable Assistive Touch in Settings. Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch
3. A floating white button will show on screen. Press that and go to Device > Rotate Screen. Just click any orientation shown and the screen will now rotate. This will also fix the device rotation issue.

I regret upgrading it from 18.1 to 18.2. This made opening apps load slower than before. Hope this will get fixed in the next update.

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+ 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+ 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)
• iPad Air M2
• iPad Pro M4

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

I've flipped the screen rotation lock at least a dozen times, it does nothing. It has been in unlock all the time. When I go into Home Screen & Multitasking, I do not see anything about Stage Manager. I did find out that my level app and compass app do not work also. Any other things you think I should try.

As outlined above, the iPad7 doesn't support Stage Manager; this information was included to fully explain how Apps are coded to operate - and for iPad's that support them, the additional features that can provide a workaround for Apps that are intended to operate in a fixed orientation.

Returning to your problem, if your iPad is not operating as expected, try a forced-restart - as this will often clear an isolated software issue:

Force restart iPad (models with the Home button)

Press and hold the top button and the Home button at the same time. When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.

If the problem persists after performing the restart, it may be necessary to reset your iPad settings. While this reset will not cause any loss of data, as a precaution, it is always wise to ensure that you have a current iCloud or iTunes backup before performing the reset:

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

When you are happy to proceed, you can perform the reset from iPad settings:

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset All Settings

If the problem still doesn’t clear, the next step is to reset the iPad to factory settings:

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support

Otherwise, you would be best advised to seek assistance directly from Apple Support. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page. Alternatively and perhaps easier, you can initiate and manage your support cases using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed on your iPad, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044

You might also visit the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) - where the technicians will be able to help with troubleshooting:

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Thank you very much. Now my wife can use her iPad in landscape mode. I know it did not correct the real problem but it made it much more enjoyable to use. I still think it is a hardware problem because I have the level and compass apps installed and both have stopped working also. This rotation problem has been going on for 6 months or more. It's been rebooted weekly, I've performed the (reset to factory setting) and nothing changed.