How do I fix missing photo orientation tools on iPad?

It’s definitely a bug.

Here’s what I discovered:

1. The tools are still there, it’s just the UI messing up. If you swipe the Straighten icon left, the Vertical/Horizontal perspective tools can be selected. (In other words, they’re showing up in a left-right slider group rather than a vertical one like they’re supposed to on iPad.)
2. From the crop screen, if you switch to another app, and then switch back to Photos, the perspective tools show up as they’re supposed to.

Antonio Tejada wrote:

It’s definitely a bug.

Here’s what I discovered:

The tools are still there, it’s just the UI messing up. If you swipe the Straighten icon left1. , the Vertical/Horizontal perspective tools can be selected. (In other words, they’re showing up in a left-right slider group rather than a vertical one like they’re supposed to on iPad.)

2. From the crop screen, if you switch to another app, and then switch back to Photos, the perspective tools show up as they’re supposed to.

If you encounter a consistent and repeatable bug, you (and others that encounter the issue) should submit a Bug Report to Apple via its Product Feedback portal. For iPad and iPadOS:

Feedback - iPad - Apple

Every report counts - as until Apple receive a sufficient number or reports, it is perhaps unlikely that resources will be assigned to investigate and resolve the issue.

When submitting a report, ensure that you include as much detail as possible within the body of the report - including your iPad model and installed version of iPadOS; don’t rely upon the pick-list, as this rarely includes the full range of device models or most recent versions of iOS/iPadOS.

lodsworth wrote:

Every time I install the three signs in crop by swiping a different app the problem still occurs with the next photo I want to edit. How do I make the three symbols stay when selecting crop?

For iPadOS 26, this is currently the method by which the perspective tools are accessed/selected. Put another way, this appears to be an intentional change by Apple. As such, there isn't a "fix" to change this modified behaviour.

Apple invite submission of constructive feedback and comments via its Product Feedback portal. If you would like to request that Apple change the current tool selection method in a future version of iPadOS, this would be the most appropriate channel through which to ask:

Feedback - iPad - Apple

n j cross wrote:

Looking at the instructions under “Straighten a photo or video and adjust its perspective” and part 4. “swipe under photo” , I don’t find that this has any effect, but swiping under the control icon does. However, if I swipe between apps and return to the photo app, the full set of perspective options are there, which is still not swiping under the photo. I find the instructions confusing.

To reiterate an earlier reply within this thread, if you encounter a consistent and repeatable bug - or an issue with Apple's documentation - you should submit a Bug Report or other commentary to Apple via its Product Feedback portal. For iPad and iPadOS:

Feedback - iPad - Apple

Every report counts - as until Apple receive a sufficient number or reports, it is perhaps unlikely that resources will be assigned to investigate and resolve the issue.

When submitting a report, ensure that you include as much detail as possible within the body of the report - including your iPad model and installed version of iPadOS; don’t rely upon the pick-list, as this rarely includes the full range of device models or most recent versions of iOS/iPadOS.

The iPad User Guide describes how to access and use the Perspective adjustment tools within the Photos App:

Crop, rotate, flip, or straighten photos and videos on iPad - Apple Support

This post may also be of interest:

iPad apps not working after iOS 26.2 upda… - Apple Community

mbriordan wrote:

Your suggestion seemed so weirdly random that I was sure it wouldn’t work. It did. Thank you!

You are very welcome. I'm delighted that your problem was identified and successfully resolved.

Your suggestion seemed so weirdly random that I was sure it wouldn’t work. It did. Thank you!

Although your suggestion “fixes” the problem, I now have to do it every time I edit a photo. It’s been a while since the last OS update, but this problem just started today.

Every time I install the three signs in crop by swiping a different app the problem still occurs with the next photo I want to edit. How do I make the three symbols stay when selecting crop?