If you use a tablet or a laptop that can fold or turn into a tablet (like a 2-in-1 device), your screen can automatically flip between portrait (tall) and landscape (wide) views when you turn it.

Sometimes, you may want to stop your screen from flipping automatically. This is called Screen Rotation Lock. When it’s turned on, your screen will stay fixed in one direction. When it’s off, the screen rotates automatically as you move your device.

Here’s a simple guide to help you turn this feature on or off in Windows 11.

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Option 1: Use the Keyboard Shortcut

Press these keys together on your keyboard:

Win + O

This will turn Rotation Lock on or off right away.

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Option 2: Use Quick Settings

1. Press Win + A to open the Quick Settings panel (the same place where you toggle Wi-Fi and Bluetooth).
2. Look for the Rotation lock button and click or tap it to turn it on or off.

Note: If the Rotation lock button is grayed out (not clickable), try rotating your device. On some laptops that fold or have removable keyboards (like Microsoft Surface), the option may only work when in tablet mode.

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Option 3: Use the Settings App

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Click on System on the left menu, then select Display on the right.
3. Scroll down to the Scale & layout section.
4. Find the Rotation lock switch and turn it on or off as you want.

Click here to open Display settings directly

Note: If the Rotation lock option is grayed out, your device might be in laptop mode or connected to a keyboard, which disables automatic rotation.

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Option 4: Change Rotation Lock Using Registry Editor (Advanced Users)

Warning: This method is for advanced users only and requires administrator permission. Changing the registry incorrectly can cause problems on your PC.

If you want to turn ON Rotation Lock, use this code:

reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFT\WAREMicrosoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AutoRotation" /v Enable /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

To turn OFF Rotation Lock (which is the default), use this code:

reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFT\WAREMicrosoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AutoRotation" /v Enable /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

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Summary

• Automatic Rotation: Tablets and 2-in-1 devices can flip the screen automatically as you turn them.
• Rotation Lock: Lets you stop your screen from rotating if you want it to stay fixed.
• Ways to Turn Rotation Lock On or Off:
  • Keyboard shortcut: Win + O
  • Quick Settings: Win + A
  • Settings app: Win + I → System → Display
  • Registry Editor (for advanced users)
• Rotation Lock may be grayed out in laptop mode or if your device is connected to a keyboard.
• Administrator rights are needed to edit registry settings.

By following these simple steps, you can control how your screen rotates and make your Windows 11 device work the way you want.