- Rotate the screen in Settings
- The four orientations
- Screen upside down or sideways by accident?
- Rotate a second monitor only
- Stop a laptop or tablet rotating by itself
- Display orientation is missing or greyed out
- Check the resolution while you're there
- Why portrait is worth trying
- Recording your screen after rotating
- Rotating the screen on a Surface or tablet
- Can't see well enough to fix it?
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To rotate the screen on Windows 11 or 10, right-click the desktop, choose Display settings, and pick an option from the Display orientation list, such as Portrait. Click Keep changes to confirm. If your screen is upside down, choose the default option to put it back.
Two reasons bring people here. Either the screen has suddenly turned sideways or upside down and you need it back, or you want a monitor in portrait to read long documents and code. The fix for both is the same setting. Here's how to use it, and how to stop a laptop or tablet from rotating by itself.
Rotate the screen in Settings
- Right-click an empty part of the desktop and choose Display settings. Or open Start, Settings, System, Display.
- If you have more than one monitor, click the one you want to change in the diagram at the top.
- Scroll to Display orientation and open the list.
- Pick the orientation you want. Windows shows a preview.
- Click Keep changes. If you don't, Windows switches back on its own after a short countdown.
That countdown is your safety net. If the screen ends up at an angle that makes the mouse impossible to use, do nothing and it reverts.
The four orientations
| Option | What you see | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| The default (wide) setting | The normal horizontal screen | Everyday use |
| Portrait | Turned a quarter turn, taller than wide | A monitor rotated on its stand for reading or code |
| The flipped wide setting | Upside down | A screen mounted the other way up |
| Portrait (flipped) | Turned the other way | A monitor rotated the other direction |
Microsoft makes a point that's easy to forget: Windows marks one option as recommended, and if you switch a monitor to portrait you also need to turn the monitor itself on its stand. Changing the setting alone leaves you reading sideways.
Screen upside down or sideways by accident?
This usually happens after a keypress or a graphics driver hotkey. Go back to Display settings and choose the default option marked Recommended under Display orientation. If the mouse feels backwards while you do it, move it slowly; the controls work as normal, they just look rotated. On many PCs with Intel graphics, pressing Ctrl, Alt and the Up arrow also puts the screen the right way up, though not every graphics card supports these keys.
Rotate a second monitor only
Each monitor has its own orientation. In Display settings, click the monitor in the diagram first, then change Display orientation. A common set-up is a laptop screen in its normal orientation with a second monitor in portrait beside it for documents.
Stop a laptop or tablet rotating by itself
Convertible laptops and tablets turn the screen as you move them. To stop it, open Quick Settings with Windows key + A and click Rotation lock, or turn on Rotation lock in Settings, System, Display. If the button is greyed out, the device is probably in laptop mode or has a keyboard attached; Windows only offers auto-rotate when it's being used as a tablet.
Display orientation is missing or greyed out
- Outdated graphics driver: Microsoft's advice for unexpected display behaviour is to check Settings, Windows Update, Check for updates. Optional updates often include display drivers.
- Remote desktop: some remote sessions don't allow orientation changes. Change it on the PC itself.
- Projector or TV: some can only show the default orientation.
If you're tempted by a driver updater app to fix it, read my review of whether Driver Easy is safe first; Windows Update or your PC maker's website is usually enough.
Check the resolution while you're there
After rotating, glance at Display resolution just above. Microsoft recommends sticking with the option marked Recommended, because a lower one makes text look soft or stretched. If text looks too small on a big portrait monitor, use Scale instead of lowering the resolution.
Why portrait is worth trying
A monitor turned to portrait shows a whole page of a document or a long web page without scrolling. It's popular with writers, developers and anyone reading long reports. Pair it with Snap so you can stack two windows one above the other, and you've got a very efficient set-up. There are more ideas like this in my office productivity hacks.
Recording your screen after rotating
If you record tutorials, rotate first and record second: the recording takes the shape of the screen. My guide to screen recording on Windows covers the built-in tools.
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Rotating the screen on a Surface or tablet
On a Surface or other Windows tablet, the screen is designed to turn as you hold it. Detach or fold back the keyboard and turn the device; the picture follows. If it doesn't, check that Rotation lock is off in Quick Settings. Some apps, especially games and video players, only run in one orientation and will stay that way however you hold the device, which is normal rather than a fault.
Can't see well enough to fix it?
If the screen is sideways and you're struggling to click anything, use the keyboard. Press the Windows key, type display settings and press Enter. Press Tab to move between controls until you reach Display orientation, use the arrow keys to choose the Recommended option and press Enter, then Tab to Keep changes and press Enter again.
My verdict
Display settings, Display orientation, Keep changes: that's the whole job on Windows 11 and 10. If the screen flipped by accident, choose the Recommended option to put it back, and on a convertible, use Rotation lock to stop it turning on its own.
Frequently asked questions
How do I rotate my screen on Windows 11?
Right-click the desktop, choose Display settings and change Display orientation.
How do I fix an upside down screen?
In Display settings, choose the Recommended orientation, or try Ctrl, Alt and the Up arrow.
What is the keyboard shortcut to rotate the screen?
On many PCs Ctrl, Alt and an arrow key rotate it, but it depends on the graphics card.
How do I stop my screen rotating automatically?
Turn on Rotation lock in Quick Settings or in Settings, System, Display.
Why is rotation lock greyed out?
The device is in laptop mode or has a keyboard attached.
