To rotate your screen in Windows 11, right-click the desktop and choose Display settings, or go to Settings > System > Display. Under Scale & layout, open the Display orientation menu and choose Landscape, Portrait, Landscape (flipped), or Portrait (flipped). Click Keep changes within 15 seconds, or Windows switches back automatically. If your screen is sideways or upside down right now, choose Landscape to put it back to normal.
Below you’ll find step-by-step instructions, keyboard shortcuts that work on some PCs, how to rotate just one of several monitors, and fixes for when the orientation option is missing or grayed out.
How to rotate the screen in Settings
- Right-click an empty area of the desktop and choose Display settings. Or press Windows key + I and go to System > Display.
- If you have more than one monitor, click the one you want to rotate in the diagram at the top.
- Scroll to Scale & layout and open the Display orientation menu.
- Choose an orientation.
- Click Keep changes. If you don’t click anything, Windows goes back to the previous orientation after about 15 seconds.
What each orientation does
| Orientation | Rotation | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | Normal | The standard wide view. Choose this to fix a sideways screen. |
| Portrait | 90° to the left | A monitor turned on its side, for reading documents or code |
| Landscape (flipped) | 180° | A monitor or projector mounted upside down |
| Portrait (flipped) | 90° to the right | A monitor turned on its side the other way |
Keyboard shortcuts to rotate the screen
Some PCs with Intel graphics support these shortcuts:
- Ctrl + Alt + Up arrow: Landscape (normal)
- Ctrl + Alt + Down arrow: Upside down
- Ctrl + Alt + Left arrow or Right arrow: Portrait
Windows itself doesn’t include these shortcuts. They come from the graphics driver, and many newer PCs have them turned off or don’t support them at all. If you pressed them by accident and your screen flipped, press Ctrl + Alt + Up arrow or use the Settings steps above.
How to rotate only one monitor
Each monitor has its own orientation. In Display settings, click the monitor number at the top (click Identify if you’re not sure which is which), then change its Display orientation. Your other monitors stay the same.
Rotate the screen on a 2-in-1 or tablet
Laptops that fold into tablets rotate automatically when you turn them. To stop that:
- Open Quick Settings with Windows key + A and click Rotation lock.
- Or go to Settings > System > Display and turn on Rotation lock.
Rotation lock only appears on devices with a rotation sensor, and it may be grayed out while a keyboard is attached in laptop mode.
Rotate with your graphics card’s software
Graphics control panels can also rotate the display, which helps if the Windows setting isn’t working:
- NVIDIA Control Panel: Right-click the desktop, open NVIDIA Control Panel, and go to Display > Rotate display.
- AMD Software: Open it and look under Display settings for rotation options, if your card supports them.
- Intel Graphics Command Center: Open it, click Display, and change Rotation.
If Display orientation is grayed out or missing
- Update the graphics driver. With the basic Microsoft driver, some options are limited. Update through Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates, or download the driver from your PC or graphics card maker.
- Turn off rotation lock on tablets and 2-in-1s, or try it in tablet mode.
- Check for duplicated displays. When you duplicate displays, both monitors must use the same orientation. Choose Extend these displays under Multiple displays to rotate them separately.
- Restart your PC after a driver update or if the screen gets stuck.
If your screen looks wrong in other ways, such as zoomed in or the wrong size, see how to return your computer screen to normal on Windows 11.
Frequently asked questions
How do I fix a sideways screen in Windows 11?
Go to Settings > System > Display, set Display orientation to Landscape, and click Keep changes. You can also try Ctrl + Alt + Up arrow.
Why does my screen keep rotating by itself?
Your device has a rotation sensor. Turn on Rotation lock in Quick Settings to stop it.
Does rotating the screen affect the mouse?
Windows adjusts the mouse direction to match the new orientation automatically, so moving the mouse up still moves the pointer up on the screen.
Are the steps the same on Windows 10?
Very similar. See how to rotate the screen on Windows 10.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.