iPad app orientation issue after iOS 26 update

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iPad app orientation issue after iOS 26 update

APP DEFAULT orientations not working: after iOS 26 update many of the apps I use are not defaulting to THEIR default orientations, they seem to be forced open in the DEVICE’S current orientation. Example: an APP uses a portrait orientation as the default (and sometimes does NOT support the opposite orientation). If my iPad is sitting in landscape orientation, the “default=portrait” app now will 1) open with a smaller screen in the landscape orientation - with odd white space around OR 2) attempt to do this but fail - using part of the screen, not showing the entire page content, etc Sometimes within a gaming/casino APP, orientations change depending on the individual game chosen… that also is a mess (2 above)

BEFORE iOS update, the APP would open up maximized to its default orientation and I would turn the device to match it. Is there a way to allow the app to open to its default, maximized orientation vs forcing it to try to fit the device’s current orientation? I’m still trying to figure out all the new “resizing” stuff going on since update too, so perhaps it’s related.

iPad Pro, iPadOS 26

Posted on Jan 13, 2026 8:07 PM

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Answer 1

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LotusPilot

Level 10

303,644 points

Jan 14, 2026 2:18 AM in response to Tucky512

Be aware that not all Apps are coded to operate in both Portrait and Landscape screen modes. In prior major versions of iPadOS, Apps designed to operate in full-screen with a fixed screen orientation would usually appear in the orientation determined by the App Developer.

For iPadOS15 through iPadOS 18, compatible Apps intended for iPhone were handled differently; the iPad would display the iPhone's portrait App within its own fixed-size portrait window - but the window would be rotated to display the (vertical) portrait App within an iPad's Landscape screen orientation. However, Apps designed for iPad explicitly coded to force Portrait screen orientation would honour the intended Portrait mode - and would be displayed as such; iPadOS in this circumstance would not override the App coding.

iPadOS 26 differs from earlier versions in that it now supports resizable App windows - but as might be reasonably anticipated, many older iPhone Apps may behave unpredictably with OS-windowing and resizing.

If you are experiencing difficulties with particular Apps, pending possible update by respective Developers to properly operate more predictably under newer versions of iOS/iPadOS, you can simply switch your iPad into its Full-Screen Apps mode. This disables iPadOS windowing and associated behaviours - restoring basic screen orientation handling. In this mode, iPhone Apps will always be displayed in full-screen portrait orientation, with expected behaviours.

You can switch from Windowed Apps mode to Full Screen Apps in iPad settings:

Settings > Multitasking & Gestures >

Additional information about multitasking can be found within the often overlooked iPad User Guide - however, this won't cover some of the more nuanced windowing behaviours. Here is a direct link to the relevant section of the Guide:

Multitask on iPad with iPadOS 26 - Apple Support

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