How To Fix Apple iPhone 7 Plus Screen Rotation Not Working

Similar to a computer file in document format, smartphone displays can also be set into two screen orientations namely — the portrait and landscape modes. Portrait mode is depicted by an upward view while landscape mode in horizontal view. By default, Apple’s new iPhone 7 Plus home screen is set to portrait. But given its bigger screen size, users can change or modify this display setting and set it to enable landscape view as they would prefer.

Screen Rotation Not Working

To configure the display orientation on your iPhone 7 Plus, you will need to access the screen rotation option from the Settings menu. Several iPhone apps can be viewed in either portrait or landscape mode, while others in portrait only. This means that not all apps support landscape modes. So no matter how hard you tried to adjust the way you hold your iPhone, the display stays in portrait view or upward position. But then again, this only applies to some apps. In this case, you’ve got no choice but to get acclimatize with the way it works when using the app.

Changing between these screen orientations is the main task carried out by the accelerometer or gyroscope. For as long the gyroscope and accelerometer are functioning properly, the iPhone screen orientation should work as intended each time you change the way you hold your device. But if the screen gets stuck in a single view like it gets stuck on portrait or landscape mode despite the fact that the app supports both display modes, it denotes something is wrong. Sometimes this can be triggered by minor software glitches or it could be due to a faulty gyroscope or damaged accelerometer on the iPhone.

This post is aimed to address pertinent issues with the iPhone 7 Plus screen rotation including those that are depicted with the symptoms such as screen stuck on portrait or landscape mode and dysfunctional gyroscope or accelerometer. If you happen to bump into this page while searching for pertinent information, then this content is for you.

Why does the iPhone 7 Plus screen rotation not working?

Problems affecting the iPhone’s display functions like screen orientation can be inflicted by software glitches or hardware damage. Software-related issues can be fixed by end-users themselves. Thus a technician’s aid is no longer needed. On the other hand, display errors and issues that are triggered by hardware damage would already require service. Consider yourself lucky if the screen rotation problem on your iPhone is caused by software glitches. That way, you can try all applicable workarounds and generic solutions in an attempt to fix the problem on your end without having to pay for a technician’s service fee.

Screen rotation or orientation problems that are software-related are usually triggered by any of the subsequent factors:

Bugs or software glitches

Software glitches can happen to any apps at any time. Bugs and corrupted files typically caused app to glitch or become inoperable. Often times, minor bugs or software glitches can be dealt with by a restart on the app or soft reset on the device. That being said, the app gets back to its normal operation and works as intended after the restart or soft reset.

However, this is not always the case. Other bugs are not only assaulting certain apps but also infiltrate the iPhone’s system structure or iOS. As a result, the problem is no longer isolated to an application but affecting the iPhone’s overall system functions. Cases like this would already require a more advanced troubleshooting procedure so as to get fixed. A system restore might already be needed to save your iPhone from becoming completely useless.

Improper configuration of display settings

This is a common issue when it comes to getting certain features or functions to work in mobile devices like the iPhone 7 Plus. Generally, users would implement changes or modify some settings according to their preferences. Changing the default settings should not be an issue for as long as you know what you’re doing. You can change or configure anything you wish to change. But then again mistakes are inevitable. There are times that we might have selected wrong options, or configured some settings incorrectly. As a result, adverse symptoms begin to surface depending on which settings were modified. That being said, you may consider this factor as the underlying cause if the screen rotation problem instigates after making changes to your iPhone settings.

Faulty software updates

Software updates are offered as a way to keep the operating system optimized and updated. Aside from enhanced functions, updates also bring new features and bug fixes. But software updates can also contain some bugs, inflicting various types of post-update issues in mobile devices. For example, if your iPhone 7 Plus screen rotation suddenly stopped working after installing an update either to an app or iOS, then the update is likely to blame. Either is a software bug or iOS implementation error. The latter means that something has gone wrong while attempting to install the update or the system has failed to complete the update implementation due to some interruptions.

Hardware damage

Hardware-related problems on the iPhone 7 Plus screen rotation function can be due to a defective or damaged accelerometer or gyroscope. The accelerometer and gyroscope work together to render proper display orientation when the device is held in either position (upward or sideways). The accelerometer is used to determine speed of movement while gyroscope determines the coordinate. Thus these components allow your device to automatically switch the display orientation each time you hold it in a different position given that iPhone’s screen rotation option is enabled or activated. If the iPhone screen suddenly stops to rotate after incidents of hard fall, accidental drops or exposure to liquid, then there is a higher chance that the gyroscope or accelerometer was damaged and therefore stops working.

Solutions and workarounds to deal with screen rotation problems on the iPhone 7 Plus

You may opt to try any of the following methods to troubleshoot the problem for as long as you’re certain that it is software-related. Otherwise, you can save time and effort from unnecessary troubleshooting by taking your iPhone to an authorized service center for hardware assessment. Consider this option especially if there were previous instances of accidental dropping (hard fall) or liquid exposure that might have inflicted physical or liquid damage on the gyroscope or accelerometer and thereby causing the screen rotation to stop working as intended.

Also ensure that the app you’re having issue with screen rotation supports both portrait and landscape modes. Again, there are just some apps that only supports a single display orientation thus they can only be viewed in either portrait or landscape view regardless of how the iPhone is held (sideways or upward).

For example, iPhone apps like Settings, Music and Activity only support a single screen orientation that is portrait mode. Several third-party apps are also designed to work the same way in terms of rendering display orientation.

Test the app or iPhone after completing each troubleshooting method so as to determine whether the screen rotation problem has already been fixed. If not, try the next applicable solutions.

Method 1: Restart the app.

For first onsets of screen rotation problems, a restart on the faulty application will likely get them fixed. This is especially true for minor apps glitches that occur temporarily on the iPhone 7 Plus.

To do so, simply close the app and then open it again. Alternatively, you can do the following steps:

  1. Firmly press the left side of the screen on your iPhone 7 Plus. Doing so will open the fast app switcher.
  2. Navigate and locate the app screen you want to quit.
  3. Swipe up on the app preview you want to quit or close by flicking it up and off the screen.

Performing these steps will quit the application from running in the background. To see if that has fixed the problem, try to open the app again and see if screen rotation is already working as intended.

Method 2: Perform a soft reset or reboot on your iPhone 7 Plus.

A soft reset or simply reboot in mobile devices is considered the simplest yet most effective workaround that is used to fix various issues that are software-related. Random apps glitches including those that are associated with memory issues are most likely rectified by a soft reset. Screen orientation that is triggered by software bugs or corrupt files are might as well be resolved by doing so.

Here’s how to perform a soft reset on your iPhone 7 Plus:

  1. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake (Power) button until the red slider appears.
  2. Drag the slider to power off your iPhone completely.
  3. Wait for at least 30 seconds then press and hold the Power button again until the Apple logo appears.

Wait for your iPhone to complete the reboot and then try to see if screen rotation is already working.

If the screen rotation problem is isolated to an application or only occurs to certain app, it is a possible indication of random glitch occurring on the app. A soft reset can likely get problems like this fixed.

Method 3: Force restart (optional).

Now if the standard restart is not possible because the app or iPhone display is frozen, then you would need to perform a force restart. This procedure works similar to a soft reset but it’s using the keys. It is an alternative reboot process for mobile devices that are not responding due to software-related problems.

  • To perform a force restart on your iPhone 7 Plus, press and hold the Sleep/Wake (Power) button and the Volume Down button for at least 10 seconds and then release both buttons when the Apple logo appears.

Your iPhone will then reboot. Once the reboot is complete, try to launch the desired app and see if screen rotation is already working as intended.

Method 4: Calibrate gyroscope on your iPhone 7 Plus

Just like batteries, gyroscope also needs to be re-calibrated from time to time. Doing so will help keep the gyroscope system optimized or maintain proper functionality. Some users were able to deal with screen rotation problems without having to go into further troubleshooting. What they did was calibrated the gyroscope on their iPhone and after doing so, everything went well on the display orientation. That being said, you might as well consider giving this method a try on your end and see what happens afterwards.

Follow these steps:

  1. Reboot your iPhone by pressing and holding the Sleep/Wake (Power) button until the device powers off completely.
  2. After a few seconds, turn your iPhone back on by pressing and holding the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears.
  3. After the reboot is complete, press the Home button to open the Home screen.
  4. Locate the Compass app and open it. The app is usually located in the Extras folder or Apps screen. Once you have located the Compass app, tap to open it.
  5. You’ll be prompted with the calibrate screen. This is where you can start calibrating the gyroscope on your iPhone 6s Plus. If you don’t see the Calibrate Screen, double-tap on the Home screen and then search Compass. Force-close the Compass app and then restart your iPhone. After the restart, open the Compass again.
  6. On the Calibrate Screen, tilt the screen to roll the red ball around the circle. Continue the process until the calibration is complete.

The Compass app will then open once the gyroscope calibration is finished. When it does, try to go back to the app in which you are having problems with the motion sensors or screen orientation. Test the app and see if screen rotation is already working properly on that application.

Method 5: Verify all relevant (display) settings are properly configured.

Among the relevant settings to check in dealing with screen rotation or orientation issues on your iPhone are lock screen or portrait orientation lock, and display zoom.

The lock screen feature or portrait orientation lock is responsible for keeping your iPhone in a single display mode. You can enable this feature if you don’t want to be bothered by screen view switches every time you change the way you hold your device. When enabled, the screen remains in one orientation like portrait mode.

Follow these steps to access the lock screen settings and configure options if necessary:

  1. From the Home screen, swipe up from the bottom of the screen. Doing so will open the Control Center.
  2. Once you’re in the Control Center, locate the Lock Screen or Portrait Orientation Lock icon. This icon looks like a tiny lock inside a circular arrow that is located next to the battery icon.
  3. Tap that icon to disable lock screen and at the same time, enable screen rotation function on your device.

After disabling the lock screen option, you should now be able to switch between display orientations by holding your iPhone in either direction or position.

If applying the aforesaid settings configuration don’t yield solution, try to configure display zoom and switch to other options.

  • To access display zoom settings, go to Settings-> Display & Brightness-> Display Zoom-> then change the option to Standard.

Selecting Standard will enable both portrait and landscape modes to work while on the Home screen. If you don’t prefer it that way, then you can select Zoomed from the given options instead. Selecting this option will turn off landscape mode and everything on your display appears a bit bigger than normal.

  • To save your recent changes made on the display settings, tap Set on the upper-right side. The new settings will then be implemented.

Reboot your iPhone and then try to see if screen rotation is already working properly after the reboot.

If you’ve made changes to other settings before the onset of the screen rotation problem, then try to revert (restore) those changes or put them back the way before the problem occurs.

Method 6: Update iOS (if applicable).

If you haven’t done this already, then you might as well give it a try. The iPhone 7 Plus originally comes with iOS 10 platform and since then, Apple has released minor updates containing software enhancements as well as bug fixes. Thus, updating to the latest version of iOS is recommended as it could potentially fix the glitch that is causing the iPhone’s screen rotation to become dysfunctional.

  • To check for available software update on your iPhone, go to Settings-> General-> About-> then open the Software Updates menu on your iPhone.

An update notification will show up if an update is available for your device. You may consider backing up your device beforehand so as to ensure that all your recent files or contents are secured.

  • To proceed with iOS update implementation, tap the option to Download and Install.

Follow the rest of the onscreen instructions to complete the iOS update installation. Your iPhone typically reboots after the process.

Method 7: Wipe your iPhone 7 Plus (factory reset).

As the method implies, wiping the iPhone means that everything will be erased in the process. What you’ll get afterwards is an iPhone that is good as new since it will be running in factory default settings. That being said, this method must only be deemed the last resort in troubleshooting device issues like screen rotation errors triggered by more lethal bugs affecting the iPhone system. Here’s how you do a factory reset through the iPhone Settings menu:

  1. Tap Settings.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Select Reset.
  4. If prompted, enter your Apple ID and password to continue.
  5. Tap Reset Device.
  6. Select Delete All.
  7. Tap Delete All again to confirm action.

The master reset should then instigate. Once the reset is complete, the iPhone reboots and comes up running in factory defaults. This denotes that everything including bugs had been erased from the iPhone system.

Seek more help from Apple Support

So you’ve tried every possible solution or workaround but to no avail and that your iPhone 7 Plus screen rotation is still not working? If so, then at this point you should consider escalating the problem to Apple Support for further assistance and recommendations. However, if calling tech support is not your preference, then you can just head straight to an Apple Genius bar or authorized service center in your place and have your iPhone checked for any signs of hardware damage. It’s possible that physical or liquid damage is present on the iPhone, the reason why none of the aforementioned solutions is able to fix it.

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