Rotating your screen in Windows 11 is a simple process that can be accomplished using either the built-in Settings application or convenient keyboard shortcuts.
Using Windows Settings
The most common method to rotate your display is through the Windows 11 Settings menu. This gives you precise control over the orientation.
Here's how:
- Open Settings: Right-click on an empty area of your desktop and select Display settings from the context menu. Alternatively, press
Windows key + Ito open Settings and then select Display from the left-hand menu under System. - Locate Display Orientation: Scroll down to the Scale & Layout section. You will find a dropdown menu labeled Display orientation.
- Choose Orientation: Click the dropdown menu. You will see several options:
- Landscape (This is the default, standard orientation)
- Portrait (Rotates 90 degrees clockwise)
- Landscape (flipped) (Rotates 180 degrees, upside down)
- Portrait (flipped) (Rotates 270 degrees clockwise, or 90 degrees counter-clockwise)
- Apply Changes: Select the desired orientation. Your screen will immediately rotate.
- Confirm Changes: A confirmation prompt will appear. Click Keep changes within 15 seconds to confirm the rotation. If you don't click anything, the screen will revert to its previous orientation.
Note: If you have multiple displays connected, you can select which display you want to rotate by clicking on its representative number at the top of the Display settings window before changing the orientation.
Using Keyboard Shortcuts
For a quicker rotation, you can use specific keyboard shortcuts. These shortcuts are particularly useful for rapid switching between orientations.
As referenced, you can also use keyboard shortcuts to rotate the screen on Windows 11:
Ctrl + Alt + Up arrow– rotates to landscape mode.Ctrl + Alt + Down arrow– rotates the screen upside down.
Note: While Ctrl + Alt + Left arrow and Ctrl + Alt + Right arrow sometimes work to rotate 90 degrees (Portrait and Portrait (flipped)), their functionality can vary depending on your graphics card driver settings. The Ctrl + Alt + Up/Down shortcuts are generally more consistently supported by default.
Here's a summary of the primary keyboard shortcuts:
| Shortcut | Orientation |
|---|---|
Ctrl + Alt + Up arrow |
Landscape |
Ctrl + Alt + Down arrow |
Landscape (flipped) |
Choosing the Right Method
Both methods are effective for rotating your screen in Windows 11.
- Use the Settings app for precise control over the orientation, especially if you need Portrait or Portrait (flipped), or when dealing with multiple monitors.
- Use the Keyboard Shortcuts for quick toggling between standard Landscape and upside-down orientations.
Understanding these simple steps allows you to easily adjust your screen orientation based on your needs, whether you're using a monitor in portrait mode for document viewing or simply need to correct an accidental rotation.
