Why Is Windows 11 Screen Rotating Automatically? Simple Steps to Fix This Annoying Problem

Want Your Windows 11 Display to Stay Put? Easy Ways to Prevent Unexpected Rotation

Screen flipping at the wrong time can make using your computer uncomfortable. Keeping your display in a steady position helps you work, read, or watch without interruptions. Here’s how you can keep your screen steady in Windows 11, even if you use a tablet, a convertible, or a regular laptop.

Solution 1: Use Windows 11 Settings

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Click System in the sidebar, and choose Display.
3. Scroll down to Scale & layout. Find Rotation lock.
4. Move the toggle to On. This locks your screen and stops it from rotating by itself.
5. If you ever want to enable auto-rotate again, just turn the toggle Off.

If you don’t see this option:

• Try turning your device sideways or detaching the keyboard (works for tablets and convertibles). Sometimes, Rotation lock only shows up in certain modes.

Solution 2: Use Quick Settings for Fast Access

1. Press Windows + A to open the Quick Settings panel.
2. Look for the Rotation lock button.
   • If it is highlighted, your screen rotation is locked.
   • To lock rotation, just click the button.
3. If you don’t see it, click the pencil icon to edit buttons and add Rotation lock.

Solution 3: Simple Keyboard Shortcut

Press Windows + O. This instantly toggles rotation lock on or off. Try this if Settings or Quick Settings are hard to find.

Solution 4: Fix Rotation with Registry Editor (Advanced)

Sometimes, normal fixes don’t last—like after updates. Editing the registry can keep your settings persistent. Be careful: editing the registry incorrectly can cause problems.

1. Press Windows + R and type regedit, then press Enter.
2. In Registry Editor, go to:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AutoRotation

3. Double-click the Enable value.
4. Change the number to 0 to stop auto-rotation.
5. Click OK and close the window.
6. Restart your device.

To make rotation work again, set the value back to 1 and restart.

What If Rotation Lock Is Grayed Out?

Sometimes, Rotation lock isn’t clickable or doesn’t show. This usually happens:

• If your device is in normal laptop mode with the keyboard attached.
• The device’s position isn’t one that supports auto-rotation.
• The orientation sensor isn’t working right.

To fix sensor problems:

1. Right-click the Start button, select Device Manager.
2. Expand the Sensors section.
3. Right-click your orientation sensor (for example, HID Sensor Collection V2), and choose Uninstall device.
4. Restart your device. Windows should reinstall the driver.
5. If this doesn’t work, check for system updates, graphics driver updates, and BIOS updates.

Disable Sensor Service for Good (Advanced)

This is for users who want auto-rotation—and all sensor features—turned off completely.

1. Open Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SensorService
3. Find the Start value and change it to 4.
4. Restart your computer.

This stops all sensor-based features, including auto-rotation. To undo, set it back to its original value and restart.

Helpful Tips

• Locking screen rotation keeps your preferred view steady, so you can read or work comfortably.
• You can always reverse these changes if your needs change.
• For quick changes, use the keyboard shortcut or Quick Settings.
• If nothing seems to work, there might be a hardware issue with the sensors.

With rotation locked, your display stays the way you like. No more confusing turns just because you picked up your device or moved the screen.

If you ever want rotation back, you can always switch these settings back. This way, you’re in control of how your screen behaves.