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Level 1

10 points

iPhone SE: home screen rotation doesn't work

Hi guys,

I already searched for answers to this problem in the discussions, but I couldn't find anything that solved the issue. Here's the situation:

- brand new iPhone SE: got it yesterday and just imported my contacts, modified some settings and installed a couple of apps...that's all.

- home screen does not rotate into landscape mode (my previous blackberry touch did this by default, so I'm used to do everything on the phone keeping it horizontal, and didn't expect such problem with iPhone); rotation does not happen also in the app store. However, it flawlessly rotates to landscape when using apps (calculator, messages etc.).

- I tried solutions suggested by other users in different threads:

1) checked the lock in the grey screen (it was off); tried to switch it on and then off again to see if rotation was enabled with no success.

2) looked in "settings/display and brightness" to see if "zoom mode" was enabled to switch it off but discovered that the iPhone SE (or its version of iOS) does not have the "zoom mode" option in that panel...no problem, but also no solution :/ .

3) I think that trying a reset should be pointless as the phone is brand new and it behaved like this from the first time I switched it on (am I right?).

4) I read that some versions of the iPhone (e.g. 6) do not have the "rotate home screen" function (which, to me, seems completely absurd) and, supposedly, you can only use the phone in portrait mode, while the 6S for some reason has the option available: the SE specs should be similar to the 6S, does anyone know (for sure) if the home screen rotation is supported on the SE?

Thank you all in advance...I hope that someone will come up with a solution because I know it seems a stupid thing but to me it's terribly annoying.

Posted on May 1, 2016 8:57 AM

Best reply

ChrisH454

Level 1

8 points

Posted on Sep 10, 2017 9:46 AM

I've been interested in all the comments made about rotation on an SE iPhone. I seem to have a different story. When I first purchased the SE in the summer of 2016 the scene did rotate and i used it for maps and a Solitaire game I play. No, I'm not dreaming as I used it on my dashboard for thousands of Km's in Australia. The rotation disappeared after one of the iOS updates during this year. Most frustrating as in portrait mode the SE is not good.

View in context

25 replies

May 1, 2016 11:32 AM in response to NeptuneKing

Go to control panel swipe up from bottom of screen check padlock is off but some apps donot rotate on iPhones .

Cheers

Brian

NeptuneKing Author

Level 1

10 points

May 1, 2016 12:30 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

Hi Lawrence,

thank you for your advice, I really appreciate it. I didn't know that the software allowing that workaround can be installed only after jailbreaking the iPhone...to be honest, I didn't know that "jailbreaking" was still in use.I myself, years ago, jailbroke a couple of iPhones for two friends of mine just because they were the first model and were available only in the US, and thus didn't work with any italian simcard if not jailbroken. I didn't know the operation "reached new levels" to allow the installation of "non certified" softwares on the phone. I'm sorry if I inadvertently broke a rule of the forum, it was not my intention. I do not intend to jailbreak my iPhone (and, anyways, it seems that no jailbreak procedure is available for the version of iOS coming with the SE model), but I think that there should be (in the appstore) an app that allows to change the aspect ratio of the iPhone display...I can do it by simply changing it in the display settings for all my Macs, why shouldn't it be possible to do it on the iPhone?

May 3, 2016 1:13 PM in response to NeptuneKing

Simply because Apple only want to give this option to devices with a larger screen, like the iPhone 6(s) Plus and the iPads. It's their own philosophy considering that small screens are not adequate to use in landscape mode for most apps. Because landscape mode isn't about rotating all the stuff, it's about providing an ergonomic view in that mode. Mails have the account menu on the left, Messages have the contacts menu on the left, Settings are listed as a list on the left, etc. This can't be achieved with small screens.

So... you may or you may not agree with Apple's philosophy, but those are the facts. And yes, I know other devices from other manufacturers offers you landscape mode, but each operative system is developed its own way.

PS - and for the record, Apple doesn't provide or allow apps in the AppStore that changes the way iOS works. And probably never will.

KiltedTim

Level 10

195,831 points

May 3, 2016 1:19 PM in response to NeptuneKing

NeptuneKing wrote:

Hi Lawrence,

why shouldn't it be possible to do it on the iPhone?

Because Apple didn't design it that way. No one here can speak for Apple. Speculation is prohibited by the Apple Support Communities Terms of Use.

Aug 11, 2016 4:22 PM in response to Briansyddall

Exactly what you said. It works on my 5se now. Thanks

TiepfromRidgeland

Sep 11, 2016 10:56 AM in response to NeptuneKing

I To, want to see a fix for this. Love the size of iphone SE, but would like to be able to have auto rotation on the home screen into landscape mode when needed, should be a easy enough fix since the SE is on newer processor,mic it works for 6 and newer SE should be included with a feature like the 6 has with the digital zoom feature.

KiltedTim

Level 10

195,831 points

Sep 11, 2016 12:23 PM in response to Billman248

There is nothing to fix. It's not broken. That's the way it was designed to work. It does NOT do that on the 6. Only on the 6 Plus, 6s Plus, and 7 Plus (and iPads).

Arandel

Level 1

59 points

Apr 1, 2017 9:27 AM in response to NeptuneKing

The Mail, Message, and Google Search apps offer landscape mode keyboards. It's mainly the landscape keyboard that is desirable. I don't see any advantage to a landscape mode home page.

Sep 12, 2017 11:33 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

I C said the blindman - Thanks for solution.

Sep 13, 2017 9:45 AM in response to ChrisH454

ChrisH454 wrote:

I C said the blindman - Thanks for solution.

Glad it helped!

iPhone SE: home screen rotation doesn't work