If you are an Android user, you might have come across situations where an app is locked in portrait mode or landscape mode, and you want to rotate it. It can be frustrating when the screen doesn’t flip automatically, and you’re stuck with an app that doesn’t match your preference.
Fortunately, there are ways to force an Android app to rotate. In this tutorial, we’ll explore some of the methods that can help you achieve this.
Method 1: Using the Built-in Screen Rotation Option
The first and easiest way to force an app to rotate is by using the built-in screen rotation option on your Android device. Here’s how you can do it:
- Open the app that you want to rotate.
- Hold your phone in the orientation (portrait or landscape) in which you want the app to be rotated.
- Swipe down from the top of your screen to open the Notification Shade.
- Tap on the “Auto-rotate” icon (it looks like a lock with circular arrows around it) to enable automatic rotation if it’s not already enabled.
- The app should now rotate automatically based on your phone’s orientation.
Method 2: Using Third-Party Apps
If Method 1 doesn’t work for some reason or if there’s no built-in screen rotation option available for a specific app, then there are third-party apps that can help force apps to rotate. Here are some popular options:
- Set Orientation: This free app allows you to force any Android app into any orientation (landscape or portrait). Once installed, open Set Orientation and select “Auto” mode for automatic screen rotation or “Portrait” or “Landscape” for manual orientation selection.
- Rotate Screen Orientation: Another free app that lets you force any app to rotate. Once installed, open the app and select “Portrait” or “Landscape” mode for manual orientation selection.
- Ultimate Rotation Control: This is a paid app that offers more advanced features than the free options. It allows you to set different rotation modes for different apps and has a per-app basis rotation lock feature.
Method 3: Using Developer Options
If you’re an advanced user and have enabled Developer Options on your Android device, then there’s another way to force an app to rotate. Here’s how:
- Go to your phone’s Settings and select “System” (if available).
- Select “About phone” or “About tablet”.
- Scroll down and tap seven times on the “Build number” until it says “You are now a developer!”.
- Go back to the main settings screen, scroll down, and select “Developer options”.
- Scroll down until you find the option named “Force activities to be resizable”.
- Enable this option by toggling it on.
- Restart the app that you want to force-rotate, and it should now rotate automatically based on your phone’s orientation.
In Conclusion
Forcing an Android app to rotate can be helpful when dealing with apps that don’t have built-in screen rotation options or those that are locked in one orientation. The methods listed above should help you achieve this.
However, keep in mind that some apps may not work properly when forced into an orientation they weren’t designed for. So use these methods with caution and only when needed.