How to Turn Off Auto Rotate in Windows 10

Don’t like the automatic screen rotation in Windows 10? Here is a simple way to completely turn off auto rotate in Windows 10.

Unlike regular laptops or desktops, if you are using a two-in-one or convertible laptop, Windows 10 automatically enables the screen rotation feature. When enabled, the screen will auto-rotate depending on the physical orientation of the display. As you can guess, when using a convertible laptop that can often be used with just a touch screen, the auto-rotate feature is hugely helpful. For example, if you are using your convertible in portrait mode, the screen will auto-rotate to accommodate the new screen orientation.

Though the auto-rotate feature is useful in a lot of situations, it can also be a hassle at times. This is especially true when you don’t want Windows 10 to change the screen orientation. Some of the situations include but not limited to changing sitting positions, passing your laptop to others, etc. In those cases, it is better to turn off auto rotate functionality in Windows 10.

In today’s simple guide, let me take you though different ways to disable auto rotate in Windows 10 operating system.

Disable auto rotate in Notification Center

To turn off auto rotate in Windows 10, you just need to turn on the Rotation Lock feature. Once the rotation lock is turned on, Windows 10 will no longer auto-rotate the screen. Here’s how you can do it.

1. First, click on the Notifications icon. You will see it to the rightmost side of the taskbar. It will look like a message bubble icon.

2. In the Notification Center, click on the “Rotation Lock” button to turn it on. Once turned on, the button color will change to a dark color and you will also briefly see “On” in the button.

Depending on the button layout, you might have to expand the quick actions section. To do that click on the “Expand” link on top of the buttons.

If you cannot see the Rotation Lock button in the Notification, it is possible that it is hidden via Settings or your system doesn’t support the auto-rotate feature. In case you are wondering, the auto-rotate feature works using the accelerometer sensor built into your laptop. If your laptop doesn’t have the required sensor, Windows cannot auto-rotate.

Turn off auto rotate in Settings app

You can also turn off auto rotate from the Settings app itself. This is helpful if you cannot find the Rotation Lock quick action in the Notification center. Here’s how.

1. Open the Settings app. You can either press the “Windows key + I” shortcut or click on the “All Settings” button in the Notification. Of course, you can also search for “Settings” in the Start menu.

2. After opening the Settings application, select the “System” option and then click on the “Display” tab on the sidebar.

3. On the right page, turn on the “Rotation Lock” option. You will find this option right under the “Scale and Layout” section’s “Display Orientation” dropdown menu.

If you cannot see the Rotation Lock option, it means your system doesn’t support the auto-rotate feature. As I said before, your laptop should have a special sensor called accelerometer for auto-rotate to work.

That is all. After turning it on, Windows will no longer auto-rotate when you physically change the display orientation.

I hope that helps. If you are stuck or need some help, comment below and I will try to help as much as possible. If you like this article, check out how to change display refresh rate in Windows 10.