How to Rotate Your Computer Screen
Right-click the desktop and select "Screen Resolution" or "Display settings"., Find the "Orientation" menu., Select the orientation you want to use., Try the shortcut keys (Intel)., Check your video card's control panel., Create rotation shortcuts...
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Right-click the desktop and select "Screen Resolution" or "Display settings".
The option you'll see depends on your version of Windows.
All of these lead to the same general window.
If you are using Windows XP, this won't work.
Skip down to Step 5 of this section. -
Step 2: Find the "Orientation" menu.
This should be located towards the bottom of the window.
By default, it will say "Landscape" for most computers.
Most graphics cards will allow you to rotate the screen using this menu.
If you don't see this menu, there may be something wrong with your drivers or your computer manufacturer may have disabled the option.
Skip down to Step 4 for more ways to rotate the screen. , There will be four options to choose from:
Landscape
- This is the default option for standard monitors.
Portrait
- This will rotate the display 90° to the right so that the right edge of the monitor is now the bottom of the display.
Landscape (flipped)
- This will flip your screen upside down so that the top edge of the monitor is now the bottom.
Portrait (flipped)
- This will rotate the display 90° the opposite, so that the left edge becomes the bottom of the display. , Some graphics card adapters support shortcuts to change the display orientation.
You can use these shortcuts to quickly switch between orientation modes.
These shortcuts are most likely to work if you are using an Intel integrated graphics adapter.
For many users of Nvidia or AMD cards, these shortcuts will not work.
Ctrl+Alt+↓
- Flip the screen upside down.
Ctrl+Alt+→
- Rotate the screen 90° to the right.
Ctrl+Alt+←
- Rotate the screen 90° to the left.
Ctrl+Alt+↑
- Return the screen to the standard landscape orientation. , Nvidia, AMD, and Intel graphics adapters typically install a control panel program that allows you to make adapter-specific adjustments.
You can usually access this control panel from the menu tat appears when you right-click the desktop, but you may have to find it in the Start Menu or the Windows Control Panel.
Look for the "Rotate" or "Orientation" option.
In the Nvidia control panel, look for the "Rotate display" option in the left menu.
In the AMD Catalyst Control Center, you can find the "Rotation" menu in the Desktop Properties section.
For Intel, you can find the "Rotation" selector in the "Display Settings" menu. , If you are using an AMD or ATI card, the Catalyst Control Center software allows you to create keyboard shortcuts for screen rotation.
Right-click on your desktop and select "Catalyst Control Center".
Click the "Preferences" button and select "Hotkeys".
Select "Display Manager" from the drop-down menu, and then set the key combinations you want to use for the different rotation options.
The key combinations in Step 4 are not typically used for other functions, making them a good choice.
Make sure to check the boxes to enable your new hotkeys. , If you aren't seeing any rotation options and the shortcut keys aren't working, you may be able to enable the function by updating your video card drivers.
You'll want to download the latest drivers directly from the manufacturer instead of using Windows Update.
AMD and Nvidia have hardware detection tools that will automatically detect the graphics card you are using and provide the latest drivers.
You can run these tools from their driver download pages, or you can search for your specific model if you know it.
If you want to look up what model graphics adapter you have, press ⊞ Win+R and type dxdiag.
Click the "Display" tab to see your graphics adapter manufacturer and model. , This option is not actually provided by Windows; it is up to the hardware manufacturer to enable it.
Most computers have it enabled, but your computer may not support rotating the screen.
Laptops are the most common victims of losing the ability to rotate the screen. -
Step 3: Select the orientation you want to use.
-
Step 4: Try the shortcut keys (Intel).
-
Step 5: Check your video card's control panel.
-
Step 6: Create rotation shortcuts (AMD).
-
Step 7: Update your drivers if you don't have any rotation options.
-
Step 8: Understand that the computer manufacturer can disable screen rotation.
Detailed Guide
The option you'll see depends on your version of Windows.
All of these lead to the same general window.
If you are using Windows XP, this won't work.
Skip down to Step 5 of this section.
This should be located towards the bottom of the window.
By default, it will say "Landscape" for most computers.
Most graphics cards will allow you to rotate the screen using this menu.
If you don't see this menu, there may be something wrong with your drivers or your computer manufacturer may have disabled the option.
Skip down to Step 4 for more ways to rotate the screen. , There will be four options to choose from:
Landscape
- This is the default option for standard monitors.
Portrait
- This will rotate the display 90° to the right so that the right edge of the monitor is now the bottom of the display.
Landscape (flipped)
- This will flip your screen upside down so that the top edge of the monitor is now the bottom.
Portrait (flipped)
- This will rotate the display 90° the opposite, so that the left edge becomes the bottom of the display. , Some graphics card adapters support shortcuts to change the display orientation.
You can use these shortcuts to quickly switch between orientation modes.
These shortcuts are most likely to work if you are using an Intel integrated graphics adapter.
For many users of Nvidia or AMD cards, these shortcuts will not work.
Ctrl+Alt+↓
- Flip the screen upside down.
Ctrl+Alt+→
- Rotate the screen 90° to the right.
Ctrl+Alt+←
- Rotate the screen 90° to the left.
Ctrl+Alt+↑
- Return the screen to the standard landscape orientation. , Nvidia, AMD, and Intel graphics adapters typically install a control panel program that allows you to make adapter-specific adjustments.
You can usually access this control panel from the menu tat appears when you right-click the desktop, but you may have to find it in the Start Menu or the Windows Control Panel.
Look for the "Rotate" or "Orientation" option.
In the Nvidia control panel, look for the "Rotate display" option in the left menu.
In the AMD Catalyst Control Center, you can find the "Rotation" menu in the Desktop Properties section.
For Intel, you can find the "Rotation" selector in the "Display Settings" menu. , If you are using an AMD or ATI card, the Catalyst Control Center software allows you to create keyboard shortcuts for screen rotation.
Right-click on your desktop and select "Catalyst Control Center".
Click the "Preferences" button and select "Hotkeys".
Select "Display Manager" from the drop-down menu, and then set the key combinations you want to use for the different rotation options.
The key combinations in Step 4 are not typically used for other functions, making them a good choice.
Make sure to check the boxes to enable your new hotkeys. , If you aren't seeing any rotation options and the shortcut keys aren't working, you may be able to enable the function by updating your video card drivers.
You'll want to download the latest drivers directly from the manufacturer instead of using Windows Update.
AMD and Nvidia have hardware detection tools that will automatically detect the graphics card you are using and provide the latest drivers.
You can run these tools from their driver download pages, or you can search for your specific model if you know it.
If you want to look up what model graphics adapter you have, press ⊞ Win+R and type dxdiag.
Click the "Display" tab to see your graphics adapter manufacturer and model. , This option is not actually provided by Windows; it is up to the hardware manufacturer to enable it.
Most computers have it enabled, but your computer may not support rotating the screen.
Laptops are the most common victims of losing the ability to rotate the screen.
About the Author
Jacqueline Lane
Specializes in breaking down complex DIY projects topics into simple steps.
Rate This Guide
How helpful was this guide? Click to rate: