Buzz
Fixing Screen Rotation Issue on Windows 10
Method 1: Disconnect External Devices
If you're using a 2-in-1 device like Surface Pro, accessories such as keyboards or docks that can be detached may be causing the screen rotation issue.
To check if accessories are the culprit behind the misbehavior of screen rotation, follow the steps below:
1. Disconnect keyboard, dock, or external monitor.
2. Change the orientation of the device to see if it rotates the screen automatically.
Method 2: Check Screen Rotation Settings
You might have accidentally activated the screen rotation lock option to prevent screen rotation without realizing it. Follow the steps below:
Step 1: Press Windows + A to open the Action Center.
Step 2: Click on Expand button.
Step 3: Click on the Rotation lock button to turn it off.
Tip: Alternatively, you can control this option in the Scale and layout section under Settings =>System =>Display.
Step 4: Change the device orientation to see if the screen rotates automatically.
On certain devices like the Microsoft Surface Pro, Windows 10 locks screen rotation and disables the Rotation lock option when an external keyboard is connected. However, unfolding the keyboard or opening the device unlocks it, and the screen will rotate again.
Method 3: Run Troubleshooter
If you've tried the above methods but the screen still won't rotate, the next solution is to use the Sensors Troubleshooter to fix the issue.
Step 1: Download Sensors Troubleshooter and install it on your computer.
Download Sensors Troubleshooter for your computer and install it from this link.
Step 2: Double-click on SensorDiagnosticTablet.diagcab to run it.
Step 3: Click on Next button.
Step 4: The utility will scan, detect, and fix common issues with sensors on your computer, including motion sensors.
Step 5: Click on Close button.
After the process completes, try changing the device orientation to see if the screen rotates automatically.
Method 4: Update motion sensor driver
Although rare, the culprit causing screen rotation error on Windows 10 may be the driver. In this case, the solution is to try updating the sensor driver and see if the issue persists.
Method 5: Fix grayed-out screen rotation option
If you've tried all the above methods but to no avail, and the screen rotation option turns gray even when disconnecting the keyboard, dock, or turning off the external monitor. Follow the steps below to fix the issue:
Warning: Incorrectly tweaking the Registry can pose risks to the system, so Mytour recommends you to back up your entire computer before proceeding to avoid potential mishaps.
Step 1: Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
Step 2: Type regedit into it and press Enter or click OK to open Registry Editor.
Step 3: In the registry window, navigate to the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AutoRotation
Tip: On Windows 10 Creators Update and newer versions, you can copy and paste the path into the Registry address bar for quick access.
Step 4: Double-click on DWORD Enable and set the value to 1.
Step 5: Click on OK.
Step 6: Double-click on DWORD LastOrientation and set the value to 0.
Step 7: Click on OK.
Step 8: Double-click on DWORD SensorPresent and set the value to 0.
Step 9: Click on OK.
Step 10: Double-click on DWORD SlateEnable and set the value to 1.
Step 11: Click on OK.
After completing all the steps, restart your Windows 10 device and check if the screen rotates automatically.
If any DWORD is missing in the AutoRotation key, we will have to create that DWORD manually:
Step 1: Right-click on the Registry window, select key AutoRation =>New =>DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Step 2: Enter the name of the missing key and then press Enter.
Step 3: Double-click on the newly created DWORD key and set the value for the DWORD as described in steps 4, 6, 8, and 10 as instructed by Mytour above, depending on the key you are creating.
The above article has just guided you through some ways to fix screen rotation issues on Windows 10 that are not working or not working correctly. If you encounter a computer screen inversion error, refer to how to fix the computer screen inversion 180 degrees here. If you have any questions or need assistance, readers can leave their comments below the article.
If you're looking to rotate the screen on Windows 11 for convenience in your work, refer to the article here to easily rotate the screen.
- Explore more: How to Rotate Screen in Windows 11
