I’m trying to rotate my iPhone screen but it stays in portrait mode. I checked if orientation lock is on, but it’s not. Is there another reason or a setting I should check for this issue?
Check if the app you’re usin’ even supports landscape mode. Not all of 'em do. It’s maddening but true, some apps are like “portrait or bust.” Also, try flipping your phone to the other direction in case your gyro’s feelin’ picky today. Worst case? Restart the dang thing—it’s the “have you tried turning it off and on again” of fixing everything tech-related. If all else fails, consider throwing it at the couch (kidding, mostly). Could also be worth checkin’ for iOS updates, 'cause bugs be everywhere.
Alright, let’s troubleshoot this iPhone screen rotation thing. So, since you’ve already checked orientation lock (props for that, most people miss it), here’s another potential reason: sometimes the accelerometer inside your phone—that’s the little gizmo that tells your phone which way it’s tilted—can bug out. If you’re noticing the screen refusing to flip even when the app does support landscape mode (like @andarilhonoturno already mentioned), try giving the accelerometer a wake-up nudge.
Here’s an odd trick: open the Calculator app, which switches between portrait and landscape, and see if tilting the phone works there. If it doesn’t, well, then we might actually be dealing with a hardware issue. Don’t panic yet, though—before you go crying to Apple Support, maybe clean around the edges of your phone case, especially if it’s super snug. Sometimes cases (even slim ones) mess with the sensors.
On the software side, check your Display Zoom settings. Yep, this random setting hides under Settings > Display & Brightness. If you’re using Zoomed mode instead of Standard, some orientation features don’t work. Why? Ask Apple—probably just to keep us guessing.
Lastly, performing a ‘Force Restart’ could help. That’s when you hold down your volume button and the side button (or home button if you’re on an older iPhone) until the Apple logo reboots your sanity. It’s like the angry slap you wish you could give your phone but… gentle.
If none of this gets your screen to turn, well, my theory is that your iPhone just decided to embrace the vertically-inclined lifestyle permanently. But hey, no shame in loving portrait, I guess?