How to Turn Your Computer Screen Upside Down

Try the shortcut keys., Try the Screen Resolution window., Determine what graphics card you have., Rotate the screen with an NVIDIA card., Rotate the screen with an AMD/ATI card., Update your drivers if you can't rotate your display.

6 Steps 3 min read Medium

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Step 1: Try the shortcut keys.

    If you have an Intel graphics adapter, you can use keyboard shortcuts to rotate your screen.

    Try the following shortcuts.

    If they don't work, read on for instructions on rotating.

    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 orientation.
  2. Step 2: Try the Screen Resolution window.

    If your shortcuts aren't working, you may be able to rotate the screen in the Screen Resolution or Display Properties window.

    You can open this window by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting "Screen resolution"

    or selecting "Properties" and then clicking the Display tab (XP only).

    Use the "Orientation" drop-down menu to select how you want your screen to be displayed.

    It will switch back to the default setting after a few seconds unless you accept the changes. , The process for rotating screens is dependent on the graphics card that you are using, and your graphics card drivers may be overriding Window' rotation controls.

    Knowing what graphics card you have will make it easier to find the rotation controls.

    Press ⊞ Win+R and type dxdiag.

    This will open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.

    Click the Display tab.

    If you have an NVIDIA card installed, see the next step.

    If you have an AMD/ATI card installed, see Step
    5. , If you have an NVIDIA graphics card, you can use the NVIDIA Control Panel to rotate the screen.

    If you have an AMD/ATI card, skip down to the next step.

    Right-click on the desktop and select "NVIDIA Control Panel".

    Select "Rotate display" in the left menu under the "Display" category.

    Select the display that you want to rotate.

    Choose the orientation that you want that display to use, or use the buttons to rotate it 90° at a time. , If you have an AMD or ATI graphics card, you can use the Catalyst Control Center to rotate the screen.Right-click on the desktop and select "Catalyst Control Center".

    Select "Rotate Desktop" under "Common Display Tasks".

    If you don't see this option, you'll need to update your drivers (see the next step).

    Select the display you want to rotate from the drop-down menu.

    Select the orientation that you want that display to show. , The most common reason that your display won't rotate is bad or outdated drivers.

    Updating to the latest drivers will usually restore this option, and may even give you a performance boost.

    Visit the NVIDIA or AMD website, depending on your graphics card manufacturer.

    If you aren't sure, use the DirectX Diagnostic Tool (see Step 3).

    Run the auto-detect tool to let the website scan your computer for your graphics card.

    You can also use the information from the DirectX Diagnostic Tool to search directly for your model.

    Download and install the latest drivers.

    The installer will automatically remove your old drivers and install the latest version.

    Most users can leave the installer on its default settings.

    Try rotating the display again.

    With the latest drivers installed, you should be able to use one of the above methods to get your displays to rotate.
  3. Step 3: Determine what graphics card you have.

  4. Step 4: Rotate the screen with an NVIDIA card.

  5. Step 5: Rotate the screen with an AMD/ATI card.

  6. Step 6: Update your drivers if you can't rotate your display.

Detailed Guide

If you have an Intel graphics adapter, you can use keyboard shortcuts to rotate your screen.

Try the following shortcuts.

If they don't work, read on for instructions on rotating.

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 orientation.

If your shortcuts aren't working, you may be able to rotate the screen in the Screen Resolution or Display Properties window.

You can open this window by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting "Screen resolution"

or selecting "Properties" and then clicking the Display tab (XP only).

Use the "Orientation" drop-down menu to select how you want your screen to be displayed.

It will switch back to the default setting after a few seconds unless you accept the changes. , The process for rotating screens is dependent on the graphics card that you are using, and your graphics card drivers may be overriding Window' rotation controls.

Knowing what graphics card you have will make it easier to find the rotation controls.

Press ⊞ Win+R and type dxdiag.

This will open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.

Click the Display tab.

If you have an NVIDIA card installed, see the next step.

If you have an AMD/ATI card installed, see Step
5. , If you have an NVIDIA graphics card, you can use the NVIDIA Control Panel to rotate the screen.

If you have an AMD/ATI card, skip down to the next step.

Right-click on the desktop and select "NVIDIA Control Panel".

Select "Rotate display" in the left menu under the "Display" category.

Select the display that you want to rotate.

Choose the orientation that you want that display to use, or use the buttons to rotate it 90° at a time. , If you have an AMD or ATI graphics card, you can use the Catalyst Control Center to rotate the screen.Right-click on the desktop and select "Catalyst Control Center".

Select "Rotate Desktop" under "Common Display Tasks".

If you don't see this option, you'll need to update your drivers (see the next step).

Select the display you want to rotate from the drop-down menu.

Select the orientation that you want that display to show. , The most common reason that your display won't rotate is bad or outdated drivers.

Updating to the latest drivers will usually restore this option, and may even give you a performance boost.

Visit the NVIDIA or AMD website, depending on your graphics card manufacturer.

If you aren't sure, use the DirectX Diagnostic Tool (see Step 3).

Run the auto-detect tool to let the website scan your computer for your graphics card.

You can also use the information from the DirectX Diagnostic Tool to search directly for your model.

Download and install the latest drivers.

The installer will automatically remove your old drivers and install the latest version.

Most users can leave the installer on its default settings.

Try rotating the display again.

With the latest drivers installed, you should be able to use one of the above methods to get your displays to rotate.

About the Author

S

Samuel Morgan

Samuel Morgan is an experienced writer with over 19 years of expertise in engineering and technical solutions. Passionate about sharing practical knowledge, Samuel creates easy-to-follow guides that help readers achieve their goals.

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