Forcing Safari to display all website information in portrait mode on iPad

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Level 1

69 points

Forcing Safari to display all website information in portrait mode on iPad

Ive always been a portrait mode user of iPad. Just what i'm use to and have been doing since the beginning. However, now it seems that a lot of websites and even apps display less information , options for clicking on, etc., when viewing now in portrait mode vs landscape mode. From the apple mail app , to various websites, its a little confusing to me and sometimes very frustrating when I see some options not displayed in portrait mode to then have to rotate into landscape to get the full view and all options. There was even one instance when a site had specific instructions on the steps to take when logging into their new site - only problem was that they did not specify that the user had to be using landscape mode in order to see the appropriate fields in order to enter the defined credentials - user ID & password.... Here a few examples of portrait vs landscape & info not shown vs shown in landscape.

Apple notes in portrait:

Apple notes landscape:

Apple mail portrait :

Apple mail landscape:

website portrait mode:

website landscape mode:

Is there a way to force safari to be able to see all the info available when in portrait mode? Seems like poor design to have to rotate device in order to see everything. Why is this happening now? Or , have I been missing it all these years? Seems like there are a lot of sites I now go to am am missing something on the screen because I dont use landscape view mode.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: is there a way to force safari / iOS to show all website information / options when viewing websites in portrait mode vs landscape mode?

iPad Pro

Posted on Jan 3, 2026 1:30 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Mac Jim ID

Level 9

61,532 points

Jan 3, 2026 2:04 PM in response to mrchntmarine

Developers including Apple adjust the user interface depending on how much space is available and that is determined by whether you are viewing in Portrait or Landscape. For example in the screenshot of the Notes app there is not enough room to display the entire Search box in portrait, so you just have the Search Icon that when tapped will bring up the box to search. There is also the "More" arrows to show the content that will not fit in the menu bar. You don't have any control over the layout as that is determined by the developer.

A website does the same thing, but you do have the additional option to toggle between a Desktop or Mobile view of the webpage by tapping the icon to the left of the Address Bar.

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Answer 2

mrchntmarine Author

Level 1

69 points

Jan 3, 2026 7:21 PM in response to Mac Jim ID

I get where it may be more of a design issue with apps - but - even then i dont remember this issue being so omnipresent before Tahoe. Even the mail app you cant display all the options w/o having the rotate the ipad. Switching between desktop & mobile views has no effect on this issue.

Another example, im on an ipad pro 11”. Just go to stamps( dot ) org. You dont even have to log in. View in portrait mode then rotate to landscape. You get a whole different view and set of options. Weird they develop sites like that.

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Answer 3

mrchntmarine Author

Level 1

69 points

Jan 3, 2026 1:35 PM in response to mrchntmarine

seems as if some of the images disappear after posting and " ? " is shown instead. I edited and inserted a second time , but then show and disappear again - so not all images may be showing. sorry!

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