iPhone Screen Not Rotating to Landscape Mode? Here's How to Fix It

Can't put your iPhone in landscape mode despite rotating? Follow these troubleshooting steps and workarounds to fix the issue.

Most of us have been frustrated by how our phones handle auto-rotation at some point. Occasionally, your iPhone might not recognize that you've rotated it, leaving you with a less-than-optimal viewing experience.

If you're turning your iPhone and it's not going into landscape mode, there are several possible issues that we will go over. You might also want to know whether it's possible to force your iPhone into landscape mode, as you can do this with some iPhones but not others. So, let's get started.

Troubleshooting iPhone Landscape Mode Problems

Remember, although all the methods below will let you change the screen orientation on an iPhone, your phone should theoretically adjust itself whenever you physically rotate it. If it doesn't, here are a few troubleshooting tips to try:

1. Check the Portrait Orientation Lock

Are you sure that you haven't accidentally enabled the Portrait Orientation Lock? You'll find this toggle in the Control Center, which many iPhone users accidentally enable but realize much later when landscape mode isn't working.

On an iPhone with a Home button, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access it. On an iPhone without a Home button, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen instead.

Here, tap on the Portrait Orientation Lock toggle (which looks like a lock with a circular arrow) to turn it on or off. The lock will remain in place until you disable it again.

iphone portrait lock

2. Toggle Display Zoom

As we already mentioned, owners of an iPhone 6 Plus, 6S Plus, 7 Plus, or 8 Plus can rotate their Home Screen. If you have one of these models and it's not rotating, the Display Zoom feature might be to blame. To disable Display Zoom, follow the steps below:

  • Open the Settings app.
  • Go to Display and Brightness .
  • Scroll down to Display Zoom .
  • Go to View > Default .

Settings Screenshot iPhone

Force Landscape Mode Using AssistiveTouch

You can use AssistiveTouch, an iOS feature that comes in handy when your iPhone's Home button isn't working , to force rotate your iPhone's screen into landscape mode, even if you're using the device in portrait mode. This is the only built-in way to force-rotate your iPhone screen.

To use AssistiveTouch, you first need to activate it in your iPhone's Settings:

  • Go to Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch .
  • Make sure the toggle at the top of the screen is in the On position.
  • Tap one of the three options ( Single Tap , Double Tap , or Long Press ) and set it to Open Menu .
  • Return to your iPhone's Home Screen.

Settings Screenshot

You should now see a new floating Home button on the screen. Perform whichever action you set to Open Menu in the above steps, then go to Device > Rotate Screen . You can force-rotate left, right, or upside down.

If you're concerned about the new onscreen icon being distracting, don't worry. It will fade when not in use, and you can tap and drag it to move it around your screen. In case you're new to AssistiveTouch, you may want to learn how to use the virtual iPhone Home button .

Unfortunately, if you force iOS into landscape mode and then move your phone, the landscape setting will be overridden. So, you'll have to use this option each time it resets.

The force rotate feature will not work on apps that do not support landscape view. Only the iPhone 6 Plus, 6S Plus, 7 Plus, and 8 Plus can rotate the iOS Home Screen. Therefore, there's no possibility of a landscape Home Screen on iPhone X or later, likely due to the Face ID camera position.

Use a Video Rotation App

One of the main reasons people want to rotate the screen on their iPhones is to watch videos in the correct format. Of course, videos are naturally better in landscape mode, but the nature of smartphones means many people record their videos in portrait instead.

It's easy to rotate videos from the Edit option in the Photos app on your iPhone. But not everyone keeps their videos in this app. Thankfully, some third-party apps on the App Store allow you to rotate your iPhone videos from portrait to landscape and vice-versa. One of the best video rotation apps on iOS is Video Rotate + Flip. It's free to use with ads, which you can remove with a one-time fee of .99 cents.

Screenshot of the Video Rotate + Flip app on the App Store.

Once you've converted your video from portrait to landscape in the app, it will export a copy to your iPhone's Camera Roll. You can force-rotate videos of any length, and the app does not leave watermarks. It also works with videos in your Files app or those you download from Google Drive.

Lastly, because the videos get rotated at the frame level, the output is compatible with all video players on your Mac or Windows PC. Since these videos are saved to your Photos app, you can access them from iCloud.

Download: Video Rotate + Flip (Free, premium version available)

Is Your iPhone's Accelerometer Broken?

If you've checked all the solutions above but still can't rotate your iPhone into landscape mode, it's possible your iPhone has a broken accelerometer. The accelerometer is what tells your device that it's been rotated and then rotates the screen to match.

The best way to check if your accelerometer is broken is to open an app that rotates like Notes and rotate it. If that doesn't switch to landscape mode as it should, and Rotation Lock is off, then you might have an accelerometer issue.

It's a possibility if you've eliminated every other probable cause. If you suspect this, you can make an Apple Store appointment at a Genius Bar to get it handled by experts. However, if you don't have an Apple Store nearby, you'll have to take your device to an Apple Authorized Service Provider.

If your iPhone is covered by Apple's one-year limited warranty or you pay for AppleCare+ , you can get its accelerometer repaired for free.

Is There Any Other Way to Rotate Your iPhone Screen?

Unfortunately, there is no other way to rotate your iPhone screen into landscape mode. This is Apple's choice, as it discontinued landscape mode on several devices.

Because of this, many apps won't support rotating screens either. While some do, if you're trying to rotate the screen in an app and it's not rotating, the app most likely doesn't support it.

While some potential fixes exist, like removing the Portrait Orientation Lock and using Assistive Touch, if you've tried all the methods here and your screen isn't rotating, a broken accelerometer might be the culprit.

How-To Geek

My iphone or ipad screen won't rotate. how do i fix it.

Is your iPhone stuck in portrait orientation?

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Turn off orientation lock on iphone, turn off rotation lock on ipad, restart the app, restart the iphone or ipad, reset all settings, key takeaways.

  • Swipe down from the top-right corner of the iPhone or iPad screen to open the Control Center, then tap the lock icon to allow for screen rotation.
  • If the screen is stuck in portrait or landscape orientation, disable the Portrait Orientation Lock by tapping on the lock icon in the Control Center.
  • If disabling the lock doesn't work, restart the app or restart the iPhone or iPad to see if that solves the issue.

The iPhone and the iPad screen rotates almost seamlessly based on how you're holding it. But if your display is stuck in portrait or landscape orientation, here are a couple of ways to fix it.

If your iPhone display is stuck in portrait and won't rotate to landscape even when you hold your handset sideways, the Portrait Orientation Lock might be the culprit. Fortunately, we can quickly disable this lock from the iOS Control Center.

If you're using an iPhone X-style device with a notch, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen to reveal the Control Center.

Swipe down from top-right corner to access Control Center on iPhone

If you're using an iPhone 8 or earlier device with a physical Home button, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to reveal the Control Center.

In the Control Center, spot the icon that looks like a lock with a circle around it. If the Portrait Orientation Lock is enabled, this icon will be shown with a white background. Tap on the "Portrait Orientation Lock" button to disable it.

Tap on Orientation Lock icon From Control Center on iPhone

You'll see a "Portrait Orientation Lock: Off" message at the top of the Control Center.

Portrait Orientation Lock Off message shown on iPhone

Now, when you turn your iPhone sideways, your iOS device should switch to the landscape format.

Unlike an iPhone, the iPad can be locked in both the landscape and portrait orientation. This is why the feature is called Rotation Lock on the iPad.

To turn off the Rotation Lock on the iPad, we will use the same method described above. Keep in mind that the process for accessing Control Center on the iPad differs based on the iOS (or iPadOS) version.

If you're using iOS 12, iPadOS 13, or newer, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen.

Swipe down from top-right corner on iPad to use Control Center

If you're using iOS 11, double-click the Home button to reveal the App Switcher and the Control Center area on the right. If you're using iOS 10 and earlier, swipe up from the bottom of the screen.

Now, tap on the "Rotation Lock" button (the button has a lock icon with a circle around it) to toggle the rotation lock. Again, the button will be shown with a white background when enabled and a "Rotation Lock: Off" message will be displayed when disabled.

Tap on Rotation Lock button to disable orientation lock

If you've disabled Orientation or Rotation Lock, and you're still facing the same issue, the next thing to check is the app you're using.

If the app in question is stuck or has crashed , you should quit and restart the app. To do this, you'll first need to access the App Switcher on your iPhone or iPad.

If you're using one of the newer iPhones or iPads without the Home button, swipe up from the Home bar and hold a second to reveal the App Switcher. If your iPhone or iPad has a Home button, double-click it.

Quit Apps From App Switcher on iPhone

Now, locate the app you want to quit and then swipe up on the preview.

Locate the app from the Home screen and open it again. If the issue was with the app, you should now be able to rotate the iPhone or iPad screen.

If the issue persists across multiple apps, it might be a bug with the iPhone or the iPad. Usually, a simple reboot takes care of such problems.

On your iPhone or iPad with the software Home bar, press and hold the "Volume Up" or "Volume Down" along with the "Side button" to bring up the "Slide to Power Off" menu.

iPhones and iPads with a physical Home button allow you to view the power menu by pressing and holding the "Sleep/Wake button." Swipe your finger on the "Slide to Power Off" slider to turn off the device.

Swipe your finger on the "Slide to Power Off" slider to turn off the device

Then, press the "Sleep/Wake button" or the "Side button" to turn on the iOS or iPadOS device. While you're at it, you might want to try force restarting your iPhone to see if it fixes the issue.

Once the iPhone or iPad reboots, the issue should (hopefully) be fixed.

If the issue persists, you can try resetting iOS or iPadOS settings as a second-to-last resort. The last resort is resetting the iPhone or the iPad itself .

By resetting all settings, you'll be resetting things like Wi-Fi connections and network settings. This is also an excellent way to take care of some quirks and unidentifiable iOS or iPadOS bugs---one of which is the rotation lock issue.

Open the Settings app and go to General > Reset.

Tap on Reset button from General section in Settings

Here, tap on "Reset All Settings."

Tap on Reset All Settings

From the next screen, enter your device passcode to confirm resetting all settings. Once your iPhone or iPad reboots, your screen rotation issue should be fixed.

If not, you can use the last resort we mentioned above. From the "Reset" menu, tap on "Erase All Content and Settings" to get started. When we say last resort, we really mean it. Using this option will erase all your personal data and apps. Don't take this step without making a backup first .

If your tech isn't limited to just iPhone, fixing a screen that won't rotate on Android is also easy.

OS X Daily

Tips & Tricks

Troubleshooting, iphone / ipad screen not rotating here’s how to fix stuck screen rotation.

iPhone / iPad Screen Not Rotating? Here’s How to Fix Stuck Screen Rotation

Is your iPhone or iPad’s screen stuck in landscape or portrait mode while using a particular app? Or perhaps, you’re unable to switch between the orientations no matter what you do on your device? This issue is not exactly uncommon, but it’s frustrating, and fortunately, it’s very minor and pretty easy to fix.

Switching between Landscape mode and Portrait mode is common behavior on iPhone and iPad. Entering landscape view or portrait orientation on iPhones and iPads is routine, but technically speaking the feature is limited to supported apps, and that alone can be an issue. If you often make use of this feature while browsing the web, reading, or anything else really, you may have sometimes faced an issue where your screen is stuck in a particular orientation and you’re unable to get it back to the original state without rebooting your device. That’s less than ideal, so whether the issue is with a particular app or a minor glitch related to the iOS/iPadOS firmware that’s installed, we’re looking to troubleshoot the problem and resolve stuck screen rotation on your iPhone or iPad.

Troubleshooting & Fixing Stuck Screen Rotation on iPhone & iPad

Before you go ahead and turn your iPhone off and iPhone on to fix this issue, there are a couple of things that you can check or try. Let’s see what they are:

Check if Portrait Orientation Lock is OFF

If you cannot switch to landscape view across multiple apps or you’re unable to enter landscape mode from the home screen on an iPhone Plus model, there’s a chance that the orientation has been accidentally locked. This is a feature that locks the orientation to Portrait mode once enabled, and it comes in handy when you are lying down and using your iPhone.

You can access the Portrait Orientation Lock from the iOS/iPadOS Control Center. Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to bring up the Control Center (or swipe up from the bottom on iPhones with Touch ID) and check if the lock toggle isn’t highlighted in red.

iPhone / iPad Screen Not Rotating? Here’s How to Fix Stuck Screen Rotation

Force Quit the App

Screen rotation issues are more prominent while using specific apps on your iPhone. Sometimes, your screen gets stuck in landscape mode and it just doesn’t go switch back to Portrait when you rotate your iPhone. If you’re facing this issue, you don’t have the restart your iPhone right away. Instead, you can force close the app which should fix the issue in most cases.

If you’re not sure how to do this, you need to access the App Switcher first. Slow drag your finger from the bottom of your screen and let go to bring up the App Switcher on your screen. Now, simply swipe up on the affected app to force close it. Now, relaunch the app and you’ll see that it opens in Portrait mode.

iPhone / iPad Screen Not Rotating? Here’s How to Fix Stuck Screen Rotation

Reboot Your iPhone

If neither of the above methods helped your issue in any way, you can of course go ahead and restart your iPhone. At this point, it’s likely that the issue is rather firmware-related or just iOS being glitchy in general, both of which can be typically resolved with a quick reboot.

To restart an iPhone or iPad with Face ID, simply press and hold the side button and volume up button on your device to bring up the shutdown menu. Now simply use the slider to power off your iPhone. You can turn it back on by holding the side/power button again. On iPhones & iPads with physical home buttons, all you need to do is long-press the power button to access the shutdown screen.

iPhone / iPad Screen Not Rotating? Here’s How to Fix Stuck Screen Rotation

As long as you’ve followed all these troubleshooting steps correctly, you should be able to rotate your device’s screen to the intended orientation.

However, if you’re still unable to enter landscape mode on a particular app that you use on your iPhone or iPad for some reason, you’ll need to check if the app actually supports landscape orientation. A lot of apps do not support landscape mode on iPhones, so make sure this is not the reason why you’re unable to switch the orientation within the app.

In extremely rare cases, the issue may still persist, and if you’re one of those unlucky users who’re affected, you can reset your iOS/iPadOS settings. Don’t worry, the data stored on your iPhone and iPad won’t be erased during this process. Head over to Settings -> General -> Reset -> Reset All Settings. Although this only erases the system settings, but consider this as a last resort method.

Also, try updating your iPhone or iPad if a new software update is available . Most often, if the issue is due to a buggy app or problem with iOS, then developers or Apple are quick to push out a hotfix after several reports. As long as your device is running on the latest possible firmware, you should be fine with all the other steps we discussed.

Hopefully, you were able to resolve the screen rotation issues that you were facing on your iPhone and iPad. Which method worked for you? Did you find another solution to the portrait or landscape orientation issue with your device? Share your experiences and leave any relevant opinions in the comments section down below.

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Your first comment is opened ended. Is it supposed to be red and locked or should it be gray and unlocked. Logic says the later but you are giving tips that are incomplete. In either case neither of them works to try and change the viewing mode.

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iPhone screen not rotating? How to fix it

Mahit

iPhone rotation enables you to watch a video on full screen, use the device comfortably in bed, enable more options (like in the Calculator app), etc. If your iPhone screen is not rotating according to how you hold the device, here are the sure-shot solutions to fix this issue. Take a look.

  • Turn off portrait orientation lock on iPhone
  • Not all apps are designed to work in landscape mode!
  • Force quit the iOS app
  • Restart your iPhone
  • Turn off display zoom view
  • Reset all iPhone settings
  • Did you drop your iPhone and broke its accelerometer?

1. Turn off portrait orientation lock on iPhone

This is the first thing to ensure the iPhone screen rotates. When portrait orientation lock is enabled, your iPhone screen will stay in portrait mode and not rotate to landscape mode (except in certain apps like YouTube with their additional rotating mechanism).

To turn off the screen rotation lock, follow the steps below.

  • On iPhone with Face ID, swipe down from the top right of the screen.
  • On iPhone with a front Home button, double-press it.
  • Is the rotation lock icon red ? If yes, tap it to turn off the lock and enable free screen rotation.

Turn off portrait orientation lock

2. Not all apps are designed to work in landscape mode!

Every app does not rotate. This includes Apple as well as third-party apps downloaded from the App Store.

For example, on my iPhone 11, inbuilt apps like Phone, Music, App Store, Weather, Reminder, Health, etc., do not rotate. But iMovie, Settings, Contacts, Safari, Messages, Calendar, Files, etc., rotate freely.

Interestingly, a few apps like Books do not rotate when you are inside them navigating the catalogs, etc. But when you are reading a book, the screen rotates.

The elements (buttons, options) in FaceTime do not rotate. But when you are on a call, the actual video rotates.

In the Camera app, the icons for switching cameras, flash, and photo thumbnail slightly rotate while the rest of the options stay as they are.

Let us now talk about third-party apps. WhatsApp, Gmail, Twitter, and more rotate into landscape mode. But my favorite payment app – Paytm, Microsoft Authenticator, Instagram, etc., do not rotate.

Thus, we can infer that there is no fixed rule for app rotation. It depends on the app developer if they allow you to rotate the screen or not.

Now, let us talk about Home Screen rotation. You can rotate the iPhone Home screen into landscape mode on Plus and Max models (like iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 12 Pro Max, etc.). But on the smaller models (like my iPhone 11 despite having a huge 6-inch screen or my tiny iPhone 6s), the Home Screen does not rotate.

Additionally, some apps like Settings rotate on my big iPhone 11 but not on the smaller iPhone 6s.

Conclusion : Screen rotation depends on the app and the iPhone model you are using. In general, most apps allow rotation. To check if screen rotation is working perfectly or not, open the Safari app (it is known to rotate on all iPhone models). Now, turn your iPhone. If it rotates, everything is ok.

Safari on iPhone in landscape mode

3. Force quit the iOS app

Even after following the above solutions, iPhone screen rotation is not working? In this case, force quit the app and start afresh.

  • On iPhone with a Home button , double-press it.
  • Drag up the card of the app that does not rotate.

Force quit iPhone Settings app

4. Restart your iPhone

This has helped me in the past to fix minor issues like iPhone not rotating the screen. To restart your iPhone , turn it off like you usually do. After a minute, switch it on. The problem of the iPhone screen not rotating will be resolved!

Tip : If your iPhone is not updated, ensure you download and install the latest available version of iOS .

5. Turn off display zoom view

Do you use zoomed display settings? If yes, certain apps won’t rotate unless you set the screen settings to standard. For example, on my iPhone 11, the Settings app screen won’t rotate when using the zoomed view. But other apps like Safari etc., rotate.

In short, to ensure that all compatible apps rotate freely, follow the steps below to turn off display zoom.

  • Open iPhone Settings and tap Display & Brightness .
  • Scroll to the bottom and tap View .
  • Tap Standard .
  • Tap Set → Use Standard .

Turn off iPhone display zoom view

6. Reset all iPhone settings

Did none of the solutions above help? In this case, go ahead and reset all iPhone settings. Once it completes, your iPhone screen should rotate flawlessly.

Note : Resetting all settings won’t delete personal photos, apps, music, videos, app data, and things like these. However, all settings you have ever added or changed will fall back to the default state. This includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, VPN, notification, keyboard, etc.

  • Open iPhone Settings and tap General .
  • Tap Reset from the bottom.
  • Tap Reset All Settings and proceed.

Reset All Settings

7. Did you drop your iPhone and broke its accelerometer?

You followed all the above fixes, and still no luck! Do you remember dropping your iPhone recently on a hard surface? If yes, the problem may not be limited to software (else, the above fixes would have helped). It is possible that your iPhone’s accelerometer – the sensor that reads your physical device rotation, may have been broken. To correct this, contact Apple support and schedule an appointment at the nearest Apple Store or authorized service center.

I hope you were able to fix the screen rotation problem on your iPhone. It isn’t a big issue unless it’s a hardware problem. If you still have some queries, share them in the comments below.

More interesting posts for you:

  • How to change or lock screen orientation on iPhone or iPad
  • How to rotate a video on iPhone and iPad
  • Steps to change app icons on iPhone Home Screen
  • Proximity sensor not working on iPhone? How to fix it

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What is Safari Landscape Tab Bar in iOS 15 and How to Use It on iPhone?

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How to Use Safari Landscape Tab Bar on iPhone

What is safari landscape tab bar in ios 15 and how it works.

Safari tab bar on Mac

How to Enable/ Disable Safari Landscape Tab Bar on iPhone

1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.

What is Safari Landscape Tab Bar in iOS 15 and How to Use It on iPhone?

Use Safari Landscape Tab Bar to Switch Between Tabs Faster

What is Safari Landscape Tab Bar in iOS 15 and How to Use It on iPhone?

Additionally, it’s also much easier to rearrange tabs in the Landscape Tab Bar mode. To do so, you can long-press and hold on a tab. Then, you can drag it from its current position and drop it at the desired spot, pretty much like on a Mac.

Tab overview icon in Safari on iOS 15

Switch Between Tabs Faster in Safari on Your iPhone

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Rajesh Mishra

An old school bibliophile who turned a tech nerd out of obsession. When he is not digging into hacks and tracking down stories that are breaking the internet, you may find him reciting poems.

Why does Safari say , cannot connect to server , poor connection.

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Top 12 Ways to Fix Safari Not Working on iPhone and iPad

Apple’s ingenious web browser, Safari, was developed in 2003 and received many praises. However, Google responded with Chrome and many migrated to it as Safari had bugs . Although it has improved a lot over years, sometimes the web browser stops working. If you’re facing this issue, here’re twelve fixes for Safari not working on iPhone and iPad.

Safari Not Working on iPhone and iPad

Following are some of the most common methods that have worked to troubleshoot Safari. We recommend you try every method, except the Reset iPhone option which should be used as a last resort. We have provided detailed steps for each method, but let us start with the basics.

Why Is Safari Not Working On iPhone and iPad

Safari might not work for a lot of reasons, but the most common issue is the app not being able to connect to the internet. This is probably because you are not connected to a good internet connection, or there are a few misconfigurations on your iPhone settings that are preventing Safari from doing so.

Fortunately, there are a few effective methods to fix the issue. As you start reading the next section of this article, you will find a detailed procedure to fix Safari on your device.

How to Fix Safari Not Working on iPhone and iPad

Below are twelve easy methods to fix Safari. Most of these will resolve the issue within a few steps only, and therefore will not consume a lot of time.

We also came across a lot of users across forums suggesting toggling a few features off/on to fix the issue. So, let us take a look at all of these methods in detail. We can start by simply trying to restart the device

1. Restart iPhone or iPad

Simply trying to restart your device will fix most issues, and it can probably fix Safari not working as well. Here’s how you can restart your iPhone or iPad.

Step 1:  First, shut down your device.

  • On iPhone X and above : Press and hold the volume down and the side button.
  • On iPhone SE 2nd or 3rd gen, 7, and 8 series : Press and hold the side button.
  • On iPhone SE 1st gen, 5s, 5c, or 5 : Hold the power button at the top.
  • On iPad : Hold the power button at the top.

Restart iPhone

Step 2:  Now, drag the power slider to turn off the device.

Step 3:  Next, turn on your device by pressing and holding the power button on your iPhone.

If it’s a software issue, restarting the device should fix your Safari not working issue. If it doesn’t, try tweaking a few settings shown in the next few fixes and see if they help.

2. Turn off Safari Suggestions

We’re not entirely sure how this fixes the issue, but a lot of users reported that doing this restored the functionality of their browser. Here’s how you can turn off Safari Search Suggestions on iPhone or iPad.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and open Safari

Open iPhone Settings

Step 2: Toggle off ‘Search Engine Suggestions’.

iphone safari landscape not working

That is how you can disable Search Engine Suggestions. If the issue persists, you need to check if Safari is limited by any Screen Time settings.

3. Edit Your Screen Time Settings

To provide digital well-being controls to the user, Apple has an option to set a limit to the duration of any app being used. If you’ve enabled Screen Time for Safari , it cannot be used once you exhaust the set limit. Here’s how you can remove the limit to ensure Safari works as usual on iPhone.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and select Screen Time.

iphone safari landscape not working

Step 2: You need to select App Limits.

iphone safari landscape not working

Step 3: Safari will show up in this list if there is a limit for it. Tap on it, and select Delete Limit.

iphone safari landscape not working

This ensures that you do not have any limits set on using Safari. You now need to check if there is a network limit set on Safari.

4. Check Cellular Settings for Safari

If you have turned off cellular data access for Safari, and are trying to use Safari on mobile data, it won’t work. Therefore, you need to remove the restrictions. Here’s how you can do it.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and select Cellular.

iphone safari landscape not working

Step 2: Scroll down to find Safari. Turn on the toggle to give Safari access to cellular connectivity.

iphone safari landscape not working

If the issue persists, perhaps it is time you now try and clear all browsing data from Safari.

5. Clear Safari History and Data

If you have been using Safari for a long time, it will accumulate a lot of website data. This can slow down Safari and affect the web browsing performance. Hence, it is a good practice to clear browsing history and cache from Safari every fortnight. Here’s how you can do it.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and select Safari.

iphone safari landscape not working

Step 2: Tap on ‘Clear History and Website Data’ and select ‘Clear History and Data’ to confirm. This will delete your browsing history, stored cache, cookies, and saved passwords.

iphone safari landscape not working

6. Check Network Connectivity

As mentioned earlier, a major reason why Safari does not work on iPhone and iPad is due to a lack of connectivity. Here’s how you can ensure that you are connected to a good network on your device.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and select Wi-Fi.

Step 2: Now, check if the Wi-Fi network you are connected to has full strength, and does not show errors like ‘Not Connected to Internet’ or ‘Weak Security’.

iphone safari landscape not working

If you are operating on mobile data, the connection needs to either be on 4G or 5G running on strong signal strength.

Step 2: Ensure the toggle is on for Cellular Data. Also, ensure that the network is connected to 4G/5G and has a good signal strength.

iphone safari landscape not working

Step 3: If you can’t connect to a 4G or 5G network despite having a plan for the same, tap on ‘Cellular Data Options’.

Step 4: Now, tap on ‘Voice & Data’. Select 4G or 5G as your default network.

iphone safari landscape not working

7. Turn Off Hide IP Address From Trackers

The ‘Hide IP Address From Trackers’ option ensures that your IP address is not provided to any browser trackers. To know more, you can read our article on trackers on Safari . However, this causes a few issues that might cause Safari to not work on iPhone and iPad.

Here’s how you can disable this feature.

Step 2: Tap on ‘Hide IP Address’.

iphone safari landscape not working

Step 3: Select Off, if not already.

iphone safari landscape not working

Another feature on Safari that might cause a few errors are extensions. Here’s you you can disable them to fix Safari not working on iPhone and iPad.

8. Check Safari Extensions

While Safari extensions on iPhone help expand functionality, not all extensions are stable and some might cause issues with your web browsing experience. Here’s how you can turn off an extension.

Note : The extension we are using to show you the steps is just an example. By no means we are stating that this extension is causing issues.

iphone safari landscape not working

Step 2: Now, tap on Extensions.

iphone safari landscape not working

Step 3: Now, select the extension, and toggle it off.

iphone safari landscape not working

This is how you can turn off extensions to ensure they are not the means of any problem. However, sometimes disabled JavaScript can also affect Safari. Let’s understand this in detail in the next section.

9. Enable JavaScript

JavaScript is a crucial element in websites that enables interactive content. If you disable it, you won’t see any images, videos, or other media content on a website. Thus, it can prevent Safari from responding on iPhone. Here’s how you can turn JavaScript on.

Step 2: Scroll down and tap on Advanced.

iphone safari landscape not working

Step 3: Ensure to turn on the toggle for JavaScript.

iphone safari landscape not working

That is how you enable JavaScript and ensure all kinds of websites work fine on Safari. If this does not work too, you need to check if your device is connected to a VPN network and if this prevents Safari to operate normally.

10. Disable VPN

VPN is a private network that hides your IP address while browsing the web. However, if you don’t connect to a VPN using a reliable service, you will face low speeds while browsing on Safari. Therefore, you can turn off the VPN connection.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and select General.

iphone safari landscape not working

Step 2: Tap on ‘VPN & Device Management’ and ensure that the VPN status remains ‘Not Connected’.

iphone safari landscape not working

If none of the above methods work, you can try some generic methods that help resolve most issues on iPhone and iPad, you can check if there is any software update for your iPhone.

11. Update Your iPhone and iPad

Apple ensures to fix issues faced by a lot of users through a software update. Therefore, it is best to remain on the latest version of iOS. Here’s how you can do the same.

Step 2: Tap on Software Update and select Download and Install. This will download and install the latest iOS update for your iPhone and iPad.

iphone safari landscape not working

If this does not work either, you can probably try and reset your iPhone or iPad as a last resort.

12. Reset All Settings

Resetting your iPhone has a good probability of fixing any issue, and it goes the same for Safari not working as well. Here’s how you can Reset your iPhone.

Step 2: Tap on Transfer or Reset.

Step 3: Select Reset.

Step 4: Now, you can select Reset Network Settings to restore all original settings related to the network, i.e Wi-Fi settings, cellular Settings, saved passwords, etc.

If that does not work, you can select Reset All Settings. However, this will restore all your iPhone settings to default. This will not erase any of your data.

iphone safari landscape not working

Step 5: If this does not work too, you can try to completely erase your iPhone and start afresh. You can tap on the ‘Erase All Content and Settings’ option on the reset page.

Now, follow the on-screen instructions to erase and reset your iPhone. However, since it wipes your phone, we suggest you take a full backup of your iPhone and iPad .

iphone safari landscape not working

This, as mentioned earlier, should only be tried as a last resort as you’ll have to set up your iPhone or iPad as a new device.

Get Safari Working Again With these methods

That is all you need to know about trying to fix Safari not working on iPhone or iPad. We hope you found these methods helpful. Realistically speaking, it will most probably be an issue with your network connectivity, or from the website’s end. We hope your Safari is up and running soon.

Last updated on 28 March, 2023

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

Fix Facebook not loading in Safari

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iphone safari landscape not working

Supreeth Koundinya

Supreeth is passionate about technology and dedicates himself to helping people figure it out. An engineer by education, his understanding of the inner workings of each device is what ensures he provides top-quality assistance, tips, and recommendations. When away from the desk, you will find him traveling, playing FIFA, or hunting for a good movie.

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If Safari isn't loading websites or quits on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

If you can't load a website or webpage, or Safari quits unexpectedly, follow these steps.

Connect to a different network

Try to load a website, like www.apple.com , using cellular data. If you don't have cellular data, connect to a different Wi-Fi network , then load the website.

If you're using a VPN (Virtual Private Network), check your VPN settings . If you have a VPN turned on, some apps or websites might block content from loading.

Restart your device

Turn off your device and turn it on again.

Restart your iPhone

Restart your iPad

Restart your iPod touch

Clear website data

You can clear website data occasionally to improve Safari performance.

Go to Settings > Safari.

Tap Clear History and Website Data.

Tap Clear History to confirm.

Turn on JavaScript

Turn on JavaScript if it's not already on.

Go to Settings > Safari > Advanced.

Turn on JavaScript.

Get more help

If the issue continues and only affects a certain website or webpage, check if you have Private Relay turned on. You can temporarily turn off Private Relay in iCloud Settings . If Safari still doesn't load websites and you tried all of these steps, contact the website developer for more help.

iphone safari landscape not working

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Find what’s been asked and answered by Apple customers.

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Safari Not Working on Your iPhone? Here’s How to Fix It

Ojash Yadav

Although iPhones and iPads support other apps to reach the Web, Safari remains the most favored and frequently used browser for iOS users. Troubleshooting on Safari can be frustrating, especially if its issues prevent you from searching for a solution online. Here are a few common reasons why Safari may not be working on your iPhone and how to fix the problems.

Turn on Mobile Data for the Safari App

Disable experimental features, change your network settings.

Also read: How to Make Mobile Safari Save Your Passwords on iOS

Test Your Internet Connection

To begin with, ensure that the problem is with Safari and not with your internet connection. For this, open, say, a non-Apple app like Facebook or Chrome, and see whether the website or the feed loads. If it does, then Safari is at fault. Otherwise, your internet connection is at fault. If it’s the former, move on to the next step.

If you’ve been exploring your iPhone’s data-saving features, which let you specify which apps have access to your phone’s mobile data, then there’s a chance that you turned off mobile data for the Safari app. That means Safari will work when you’re connected to Wi-Fi but not to mobile data. (Try running Safari over Wi-Fi to test this.)

If that’s the case, then to turn mobile data back on for Safari, go to “Settings -> Mobile Data,” and then in the “Mobile Data” list, make sure the slider next to Safari is in the green “On” position.

Turn On Cellular Data For Safari App

Also read: 20 of the Best Siri Shortcuts for iOS Power Users

You may not know about this, but Safari for the iPhone has a whole load of experimental features that you can disable and enable as you please.

The problem with these, as the name suggests, is that they are indeed experimental and subsequently don’t all work properly. Disabling them one by one can fix Safari if it’s not working and help you discover which exact feature was causing the problem,

On your iPhone, go to “Settings -> Safari -> Advanced -> Experimental Features.”

Turn On Cellular Experimental Features For Safari App

If you have more than one feature enabled here, disable just one, then check to see if Safari works normally again. If it doesn’t, re-enable that feature (if you want it) and disable the next one. Keep repeating this procedure until Safari starts working again.

Turn Off Experimental Features For Safari

Also read: Everything You Need to Know About Using “Shared with You” in iOS 15

Try resetting your Wi-Fi connection and reconnecting to the network.

  • Go to “Settings -> Wi-Fi” and turn it off, then turn it back on after a few seconds.

Turn Off And Turn On Wifi

  • If you’re using mobile data, go to “Settings -> Mobile Data” and turn “Mobile Data” off and back on after a few seconds.

Turn Off And Turn On Mobile Data

  • If neither option works, go to “Settings -> Wi-Fi,” connect to a different Wi-Fi network, and try loading the web page again.

Change Wifi Network

If the problem persists, try restoring your network settings to their original configuration.

  • Go to “Settings -> General -> Transfer or Reset iPhone -> Reset” and choose “Reset Network Settings.”

Restoring Your Network Settings

Also read: How to Fix Contact Names Not Showing, Appearing as Numbers in iOS

Common Problems With Safari And How To Solve Them

By following the fixes we’ve mentioned above, you should be able to revive Safari and make it work normally again. However, there are some specific issues that commonly come up with Safari. Here’s how to solve them.

Problem: Safari Crashed and Won’t Open

If you’ve ever panicked after Safari closed unexpectedly and couldn’t get the app to start, you probably encountered a bug that affects Safari’s search engine suggestions. This issue can cause the app to crash, freeze, or fail to start altogether. Although the bug usually plagues devices running iOS 10, it can affect just about any iPhone or iPad.

How to Fix It: Disable Search Engine Suggestions

Go to “Settings” and choose “Safari” in your list of apps. Here, find “Search Engine Suggestions” and turn it off.

Turn Off Seqarch Engine Suggestions

This feature offers suggestions for what you can search for as you type into Safari’s search bar. Disabling it gets rid of the problem for many users.

Problem: Safari Is Gray (and Won’t Open)

Sometimes when you update your iPhone’s iOS to a newer version, you may encounter a bug that turns some apps gray and prevent them from opening.This bug causes Safari to stop working and turns its icon gray when you switch to another app while Safari is running in the background.

How to Fix It: Update Your Software

To solve this problem, update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS. Apple includes important bug fixes in each software update, so it’s important to keep your iPhone or iPad up to date. iOS 11.1 fixed this bug for most users, so be sure to update to 11.1 or greater if you’re running an older version of iOS.

Go to “Settings -> General,” choose “Software Update,” and install the latest update.

Update Ios Software

Also read: How to Update to iOS 17 Smoothly

Problem: Safari Is Slow

As powerful as your iPhone can be, it can get bogged down with all the extraneous information that it processes. If you notice that Safari takes longer to load pages or graphics, it may be time to do some housekeeping. Try clearing your browser history, website data, and cache to make Safari run more smoothly.

How to Fix It: Clear Your Data

To delete your cookies, cache, and browsing history, go to “Settings -> Safari,” choose “Clear History and Data,” and confirm that you want to go ahead. Safari will remember your AutoFill information if you choose this option.

Clear Website Data Safari

To keep your browsing history but clear your cache and cookies, first go to “Settings -> Safari -> Advanced.”

Safari Advance Settings Menu

There, choose “Website Data -> Remove All Website Data” and tap “Remove Now.” Note that Safari will not remember your AutoFill information if you choose this option.

Remove Website Data Safari 2

To remove only a portion of your browsing history, cache, and cookies, start by opening Safari and tapping the Bookmark icon. Here, open your history and tap “Clear.” Now Safari will give you the option to clear your history, cookies, and browsing data from the past hour, the past day, the past 48 hours, or from your entire history. Pick the relevant option.

Delete History Safari

Problem: Safari Still Isn’t Working

Although it sounds cliche, turning your phone off and back on again can be the solution to any number of Safari-related issues.

How to Fix It: Restart Safari or Reboot Your Phone

If none of the previous fixes help solve your problem, try restarting the app or rebooting your phone.

Image7

  • Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and press on the screen when your finger is near the center to open the multitasking view, and then swipe up on Safari to close it. This will reset Safari.
  • To shut down your phone, press and hold the sleep/wake button until a slider appears. Slide to the right to power off your phone. For iPhone X and above, press and hold the side button and one of the volume buttons until the slider appears. Then slide it to the right to power off your phone.

Also read: How to Block Websites on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Android, and iOS

Frequently Asked Questions

How to fix "safari can't find server" on iphone.

The most probable and common reason behind the “Safari can’t find server” error is not with Safari but with your internet connection. Here are a few ways to fix it.

  • Reset your wireless router.
  • Turn mobile data off and turn it back on again.
  • Clear Safari cache and data.
  • Restart your iPhone.

How to reset Safari on iPhone?

To reset Safari on your iPhone, open the Settings app and scroll to the Safari settings. There, tap on “Clear History and Website Data” and the bottom of the page and follow up along with the pop-up on your screen to confirm the action. Once it’s complete, all your data and cookies will be wiped clean, and Safari will be as good as new.

Can you reinstall Safari on your iPhone?

Yes, just like any other app, you can uninstall Safari from your iPhone by holding down the Safari icon on the home screen and tapping “Remove app.” Then, visit the App Store, search for Safari, and reinstall it from there. Can’t find the Safari app to delete it? Here’s how to delete hidden apps .

Image credit: Flickr

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Ojash Yadav

Ojash has been writing about tech back since Symbian-based Nokia was the closest thing to a smartphone. He spends most of his time writing, researching, or ranting about Bitcoin. Ojash also contributes to other popular sites like MakeUseOf, SlashGear, and MacBookJournal.

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How to fix Safari not working on iPhone after iOS 17 update

Last Updated on December 3, 2023 by Dave Johnson

Some users have reported that Safari doesn’t load websites or webpages after iOS 17 update. There could be many reasons for Safari not working on your iPhone after iOS 17 update. This is especially an issue when you rely heavily on Safari to browse the internet.

Fortunately, most iOS 17 Safari problems are minor and can be fixed within a few minutes without much technical knowledge. Just follow the steps below to fix Safari if it isn’t working properly on your iPhone after iOS 17 update.

Note: Information in this article applies to the iPhone 11 series, 12 series, 13, 14, and 15 series iPhones.

How to fix Safari not working on iPhone in iOS 17

1. update safari.

Before you do anything, make sure that Safari is up-to-date. It is possible that a software update may fix your problem. Safari is part of iOS and included with iOS. This means when you update iOS, Safari will also be updated. This further means that you need to update iOS to install the latest Safari updates. Here is how:

  • Go to Settings and tap on General .
  • Tap on Software Update and install any available updates.

2. Close Safari and then reopen it

One of the ways you can fix minor app glitches on iOS is by force-quitting problematic apps.

So, if Safari is still not working for you, then you should force-quit and reopen the app. Here’s how:

  • iPhone XR, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15, go to your Home screen and swipe up from the bottom of the screen. If this is an iPhone SE (2nd or 3rd generation), double press the Home button.
  • This will reveal the app switcher which lists your most recently used apps.
  • Swipe left or right and find the Safari preview.
  • Swipe up on the Safari icon.
  • Then reopen Safari normally to see if your issue is resolved.

3. Internet connection issues?

It is possible that Safari is not working after iOS 17 update due to problems with internet connection. Lets first try to test that if you have a strong connection. Open the App Store app on your device, does the App Store app load without an issue? Then probably you have a connection. If not, you may try:

  • Turn on Airplane Mode and wait about 30 seconds and then turn it off (Settings > Airplane Mode).
  • Restart your modem and router by unplugging the power cord and wait about 1 minute and then plug them back in.
  • Try a different connection. If you are using a cellular connection, connect to a Wi-Fi network to see if your problem still occurs. If you are using a Wi-Fi connection, then try to connect to a Wi-Fi network.

4. Check for VPN and security software

Sometimes VPN can interfere with website loading on Safari. To disable VPN on your device, follow the steps below:

  • Open Settings , then tap on General .
  • Tap VPN & Device Management , then tap VPN .
  • Also, look at Settings > General > Profiles . If this option doesn’t exist, you don’t have any profiles installed. If you see something here, it may have been installed by the system administrator for your company, and you should talk to them.

5. Restart your iPhone

You hear it all the time—turn your device off and on again. While this may sound like a cliche fix, restarting your iPhone has been known to clear your usable memory, which can speed up Safari.

If Safari is frozen or just a blank white screen, restarting your iPhone can also fix these problems. Here’s how:

  • iPhone XR, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 : Press the side button and the volume up button until the Power Off slider appears. Slide it, then wait 30 seconds. Press the side button until the Apple logo appears.
  • iPhone SE(2nd or 3rd gen) : Press and hold the side button until the Power Off slider appears. Slide it, then wait 30 seconds. Press the side button until the Apple logo appears.

6. Turn off private relay

Private Relay works like a VPN and routes your Internet traffic through two separate relays to encrypt traffic and hide your IP address. If you have an iCloud Plus subscription, the setting is enabled by default. Private Relay can affect some websites. Here’s what to do:

  • Open Settings , then tap on your name at the top.
  • Tap on iCloud , then if Private Relay is on, tap on Private Relay .
  • Toggle the switch next to Private Relay to turn it off.
  • Select Turn Off Until Tomorrow . If you find that this is the problem, you may want to turn it off completely.

7. Disable extensions

Safari extensions are useful tools, but some of them, and ad blockers, in particular, might prevent Safari from working properly. If you are using extensions, disable them and see if that fixes your problem. Here’s how:

  • Open the Settings app.
  • Tap Safari .
  • Tap Extensions .
  • Turn off all of the extensions.

Now, force-quit Safari and open again. If Safari is now working, this means that one or more of your extensions are causing your problem. What you can do is to turn on extensions one by one until you find the problematic one. When you find it, you can update or delete the associated app to fix your problem. If Safari is not working still, you can now enable your extensions.

8. Clear out Safari data

This will remove history, cookies and other data. The history will be cleared from all of your devices signed into iCloud.

  • Open the Settings app on your iPhone and then go into Safari .
  • Tap Clear History and Website Data .
  • Choose your time frame. You can choose all history .
  • Tap Clear History .

9. Check that JavaScript is enabled

JavaScript is on by default on most iOS devices. However, if you’re having issues with Safari, it’s likely that JavaScript is off. Sometimes, one might turn JavsScript off as some websites might not support it.

If you’ve turned JavaScript off or want to check if it’s off and turn it back on, follow the steps below:

  • Open Settings and tap on Safari .
  • Scroll down and tap on Advanced .
  • If JavaScript is off, toggle the switch to turn it on.

10. Turn off Safari experimental features

The experimental features of Safari give you access to upcoming web tools, ideas about web element changes, new browser initiatives, behavior adjustments, and other under-test development features by the Apple development team.

Sometimes, you’ll find activating these features beneficial to enhance the web app experience on Safari. However, if you don’t possess a clear idea of which experimental features of Safari are beneficial, you shouldn’t toy with this section of the Safari web browser application. Here’s how to check and disable Safari experimental features on your iPhone:

  • Open Settings .
  • scroll down and tap Advanced .
  • Tap Experimental Features . And toggle off everything here. If this does not resolve your problem, you can turn them on again.

11. Reset Network Settings

You can Reset Network Settings if nothing else has fixed your iOS 17 Safari problems. Resetting network settings can solve a variety of connection problems, however, you will need to set up all of your Wi-Fi networks again. Copy down your Wi-Fi networks and their passwords, then Reset Network Settings by following the steps below:

  • Go to Settings , then tap General .
  • Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone , then Reset .
  • Tap Reset Network Settings , then follow onscreen instructions.

12. Contact Apple Support

If none of the above has solved your iOS 17 Safari issues, you may want to contact Apple Support for more help.

About Dave Johnson

Dave Johnson is a staff writer for GeeksChalk based in New Jersey. He covers news, how-tos, and user guides for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch.

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Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

HappyFunJay

Unable to use Messages app in landscape (horizontal) orientation

I just got my iPhone 12 Mini. In the Messages app, landscape (horizontal) orientation does not work. In the message list, inside a conversation, when typing a message, etc., I get the same result: Rotating my phone horizontally has no effect in the app. The app stays locked in portrait (vertical) orientation.

This used to work on older iPhones. Why doesn't it work anymore? I type much faster in landscape orientation. This is very disappointing.

I checked orientation lock. It is not turned on.

I tried restarting the phone. That didn't help.

Other apps, such as WhatsApp, Safari, etc. have no problem rotating. And rotation works in the Messages app on my iPad--just not on my iPhone.

Is this a bug in the latest iOS? Any help would be appreciated.

iPhone 12 mini, iOS 14

Posted on Nov 30, 2020 6:06 PM

Posted on Nov 30, 2020 10:33 PM

OK, I contacted Apple Support. With their help, I discovered that the problem was caused by display zoom (Settings->Display & Brightness->Display Zoom). With display zoom turned on, rotation does not work in the Messages app. With display zoom turned off, rotation works. My eyesight isn't what it used to be, so I had display zoom turned on.

This seems like a bug and not expected behavior. Apple Support tells me the problem is being escalated. I suppose I'll just have to leave display zoom turned off and use a larger text size for the time being.

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Nov 30, 2020 10:33 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

Dec 1, 2020 2:50 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

Either way, it's undesired behavior for me. I would certainly prefer to have access to both landscape orientation in Messages and display zoom. And there's nothing preventing this from a technical standpoint. Back in the very early iPhone days, I was using Messages in landscape orientation, and those screens had a much lower screen resolution than an iPhone 12 Mini with display zoom turned on.

Thanks for your help.

Mar 23, 2021 8:38 AM in response to MickyMom

Escalate. What a joke. I let them know about this issue the day iPhone 12 Pro came out. Still has not been resolved and I could not be more unhappy with all of the conversations I have had with Apple support on this issue.

Works on iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 max. 🙁

joejohnson

Apr 30, 2021 8:21 AM in response to HappyFunJay

IMO, this is dumb. Landscape mode should work regardless of whether you are using "Zoomed" display mode or not. I am not old, but since the iPhone mini has a smaller screen anyways, I feel like it just makes sense to use "Zoom" to make it easier to read text on the screen.

Apple, please RE-ENABLE the landscape mode feature in messages for us "Zoomed" users ASAP!

Jan 29, 2021 12:47 PM in response to MickyMom

Thanks for your messages, everyone. I see that several of you are experiencing the same problem I experienced. There are two things you can do to help:

1) At the top of this thread, click the button that says "I have this question too".

2) Visit the iPhone feedback page and submit a description of the problem.

The more of you who do those things, the more it improves our chances that Apple will produce a solution. Thanks!

Neutrinodior

Jan 24, 2021 10:41 AM in response to MickyMom

This has been driving me insane! Especially if I have been using something in landscape and get a message notification. Then iMessage even in portrait has a landscape keyboard! I’ve entered a feedback report!

Jan 29, 2021 8:10 AM in response to LAK312

I hope they fix this soon too. I need the zoom cause I’m old , lol. I reported to Apple , everyone should report. My iPhone 8 Plus was a perfect phone and I just wanted a new phone. Not sure I made the right decision.

Mar 3, 2021 11:05 AM in response to drffc

It works for me when I turn off display zoom. I am able to type in the Messages app in landscape orientation.

I don't know why it isn't working for you. I can only think of two things...

1) Make sure orientation lock is turned off.

2) Try forcing the Messages app to close and restarting your phone.

I hope you can get it working.

ChrisJ4203

Nov 30, 2020 6:09 PM in response to HappyFunJay

Are you referring to the native Messages app on the iPhone? If so, this should be working, it does on my iPhone. Since you have already tried restarting the phone, try resetting the phone. Follow these instructions, Force restart iPhone - Apple Support

Nov 30, 2020 6:27 PM in response to HappyFunJay

No, I'm not. I have the iPhone 12 Pro, but I still believe the smaller screen should rotate in Messages. I don't have a smaller phone to test it on. You can wait for another response, or you can contact Apple Support with your question.

Dec 2, 2020 3:45 PM in response to Awphx

I'm glad this post could be helpful to you!

If you're like me, and you'd like Apple to fix this problem, then please visit the feedback page shared by ChrisJ4203 above. If enough of us request a fix from Apple, then maybe they'll get it done.

Jan 29, 2021 7:39 AM in response to Neutrinodior

Same thing happening to me on my iPhone 12 pro with 14.4. If I’m watching a video in landscape and an IM comes in and I try to view it, I cannot because it has the keyboard stuck in landscape covering up most of the message itself, which is in portrait. I too have the zoom on but I am not willing to change it for this. Did not encounter this behavior on my iPhone 8 plus which also had the zoom feature on. Let’s hope Apple corrects it soon.

Dec 1, 2020 8:46 AM in response to HappyFunJay

Okay, glad to hear you got it sorted. I would not classify that as a bug, it is what happens with certain settings. There are other accommodation settings that will prevent some behaviors as well.

Dec 1, 2020 3:42 PM in response to HappyFunJay

Feedback to Apple goes here, Feedback - iPhone - Apple

Nov 30, 2020 6:19 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

Hi ChrisJ4203,

Yes--the native Messages app.

OK, I tried the forced restart. Still no luck.

Are you using a 12 Mini? I wonder if this has something to do with the smaller screen.

Safari Not Working on iPhone? Here’s How to Fix It

What to know.

  • If Safari is not working, be sure to check your cellular and Wi-Fi connection.
  • Confirm that you have not set any Screen Time limits for Safari.
  • If all else fails, try clearing Safari history and browsing data.

iphone safari landscape not working

It can be incredibly frustrating when Safari is not working on iPhone. Whether web pages are not loading or you’re getting a “Safari cannot open page” error message, we’re going to go over a few different fixes that should help resolve any issues you are having with your web browser.

Why Is Safari Not Working?

  • How to Check Screen Time Settings

How to Clear Safari Browsing Data

There are a few different reasons why Safari is not working on your iPhone, so we'll recommend multiple solutions to help resolve the problem. Let’s get started with how to fix Safari on iPhone.

iPhone Life

How to Check Cellular & Wi-Fi Connection

Like any web browser, Safari needs an internet connection to work. For more Safari troubleshooting fixes, like how to fix the Safari cannot open page error, be sure to sign up for our Tip of the Day newsletter. Now, to fix any problems with Safari not working on your iPhone, let’s first check your cellular and Wi-Fi connection:

Swipe down from the top right edge of your screen to open the Control Center.

If these settings are already enabled, but your web browser is still giving you trouble or Safari can't find server, there are other solutions to try.

How to Enable Cellular Data for Safari

One of the iPhone’s many useful features is that you can restrict certain apps from using your cellular data . This is great for those who do not have unlimited data plans. However, that also means that if you disable data for Safari, then the web browser will be unable to load any web pages if you're not connected to Wi-Fi. If Safari is not working on your iPhone, here’s how to check your cellular data settings:

Open the Settings app, and tap Cellular.

Once you've confirmed that cellular data is enabled for Safari, try opening a web page to see if the issue has been resolved.

Safari Won’t Open on iPhone? Check Screen Time Settings

Screen Time is a handy feature that is designed to help you reduce the amount of time you spend on your phone, including restricting access to a particular app. If you played around with Screen Time settings in the past, you might have accidentally set an App Limit for Safari by accident. If Safari won't open this is one of the first things you should check. Here’s how to check your Screen Time settings when Safari is not working on iPhone:

Open the Settings app, and tap Screen Time.

If you do not see Safari in this list, then you have not set any Screen Time limits for your web browser. If Safari is still not opening on your iPhone, the issue could be elsewhere.

Sometimes clearing out old website history and data can help with issues related to Safari not working. Here’s how to do it:

Note:  Clearing this data will log you out of your online accounts and clear recent websites from your browsing history. While that is not a huge loss for most people, it can be a bit annoying when you get Safari working again, so it is best to use this option as a last resort.

Open the Settings app, scroll down, and tap Safari.

If Safari is not working on your iPhone after clearing your browsing data, try closing the app completely.

Close & Re-open Safari

If Safari is still not working on iPhone, try closing and re-opening the app . Sometimes apps stop functioning correctly so completely closing it can help resolve things. When you close the app and re-open it, this effectively restarts the app.

If Safari cannot open a page, the above fixes should help resolve any underlying issues. However, if you are still having trouble with Safari not working on iPhone, you may need to seek further assistance from Apple Support . Next, find out how to block or allow pop-ups in Safari .

  • How do I get the Safari icon back on my iPhone?  Safari is one of the few Apple apps that cannot be removed from your iPhone. However, if it has somehow vanished from your phone, there are a few different ways to get Safari back on iPhone . Our article covers each method in detail, ensuring you can find the app.
  • Why won't Safari open on my iPhone?  If Safari won't open at all, the problem could be your Screen Time settings. If you don't have any Screen Time restrictions, you could be experiencing a software bug, in which case, I would recommend reaching out to Apple Support for help.
  • How do I reset Safari on my iPhone? You can close and re-open Safari to reset it. However, if that does not work, you can follow the above steps for clearing your browsing data .

Author Details

Rhett Intriago's picture

Rhett Intriago

Rhett Intriago is a Feature Writer at iPhone Life, offering his expertise in all things iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods. He enjoys writing on topics related to maintaining privacy in a digital world, as well as iPhone security. He’s been a tech enthusiast all his life, with experiences ranging from jailbreaking his iPhone to building his own gaming PC.

Despite his disdain for the beach, Rhett is based in Florida. In his free time, he enjoys playing the latest games, spoiling his cats, or discovering new places with his wife, Kyla.

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  1. Safari Not Working on iPhone? Here are 11 ways to fix it

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  2. Safari Not Working on Your iPhone? Here's How to Fix It

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  3. Safari Not Working On iPhone? Here's The Fix. [Step-By-Step Guide]

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  4. Top 12 Ways to Fix Safari Not Working on iPhone and iPad

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  5. How to Fix Safari Not Working on iPhone and iPad?

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  6. การใช้งานซาฟารี (safari) ใน iphone or ipad, iOS7

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  1. [2 Ways] How To Reset Safari Browser On IOS 17

  2. How To Reset Safari Settings On iPhone IOS 17

  3. iOS 17 Standby Mode Not Working || Standby iOS 17 iPhone 13 || iphone xs,xs max

  4. Fix Safari Download Stuff Not Showing In iPhone Gallery ✅

  5. Safari Not Working Problem in iPhone || iPhone Me Safari Kaam Nahi Kar Raha Hai

  6. [FIXED] Safari No Loding Images On iPhone iPad After Update iOS 17

COMMENTS

  1. Rotate the screen on your iPhone or iPod touch

    Rotate the screen on an iPhone without a Home button. Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to open Control Center. Tap the Portrait Orientation Lock button to make sure that it's off. Turn your iPhone sideways. If the screen still doesn't rotate, try a different app, like Safari or Messages, that is known to work in landscape mode.

  2. My I phone won't change to landscape mode…

    Only on the plus models from previous years like my iPhone 6s Plus does it work. But on the newer phones like my 13 it doesn't. apps that support landscape (like Safari or Waze for example) do still flip into landscape but only the apps themselves. Not the Home Screen. From what I've found at least. I'd love to be shown wrong though.

  3. iPhone Screen Not Rotating to Landscape Mode? Here's How to Fix It

    Go to Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch. Make sure the toggle at the top of the screen is in the On position. Tap one of the three options ( Single Tap, Double Tap, or Long Press) and set it to Open Menu. Return to your iPhone's Home Screen. You should now see a new floating Home button on the screen.

  4. My iPhone or iPad Screen Won't Rotate. How Do I Fix It?

    If you're using iOS 12, iPadOS 13, or newer, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen. If you're using iOS 11, double-click the Home button to reveal the App Switcher and the Control Center area on the right. If you're using iOS 10 and earlier, swipe up from the bottom of the screen. Now, tap on the "Rotation Lock" button (the button ...

  5. iPhone / iPad Screen Not Rotating? Here's How to Fix Stuck Screen Rotation

    If you're not sure how to do this, you need to access the App Switcher first. Slow drag your finger from the bottom of your screen and let go to bring up the App Switcher on your screen. Now, simply swipe up on the affected app to force close it. Now, relaunch the app and you'll see that it opens in Portrait mode.

  6. My iPhone Won't Rotate. Here's The Real Fix!

    Landscape Mode Only Works In Certain Apps. When an app is created, the developer has the option to choose whether their app will work in portrait mode, landscape mode, or both. The Settings app, for example, only works in portrait mode. The Messages app and Safari work in both portrait and landscape mode, and many games work only in landscape mode.

  7. Change the layout in Safari on iPhone

    In the Safari app , you can choose the tab bar layout that works best for you. Depending on the layout, the search field appears at the top (Single Tab layout) or bottom (Tab Bar layout) of the screen. Go to Settings > Safari, then scroll down to Tabs. Select either Tab Bar or Single Tab. See also Customize your Safari settings Organize your tabs.

  8. Top 8 Ways to Fix Auto Rotate Not Working in iPhone

    Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Display & Brightness. Step 2: Scroll down to tap on Display Zoom. Select Default and tap Done in the top right corner. Once you complete the ...

  9. iPhone screen not rotating? How to fix it

    Additionally, some apps like Settings rotate on my big iPhone 11 but not on the smaller iPhone 6s. Conclusion: Screen rotation depends on the app and the iPhone model you are using. In general, most apps allow rotation. To check if screen rotation is working perfectly or not, open the Safari app (it is known to rotate on all iPhone models).

  10. How to Fix iPhone Landscape Mode Not Working: Stuck Screen

    Clue #1. Check your Screen orientation locked or not. Clue #2. Try on another App or Switch on another content. Clue #3. Restart iPhone, Something stuck in landscape mode and your iPhone is freeze, I recommend Fix itself. Clue #4. After restarting nothing happen, Ultimate guideline to resolve iPhone users issue of iPhone landscape mode not ...

  11. What is Safari Landscape Tab Bar and How to Use It on iPhone?

    1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone. 2. Then, scroll down and choose Safari. 3. Under the Tabs section, make sure to turn on the Landscape Tab Bar toggle. That's it! Going forward, Safari will show a dedicated tab bar with all the open tabs in landscape mode on your iOS 15 device.

  12. Top 12 Ways to Fix Safari Not Working on iPhone and iPad

    Here's how you can turn off Safari Search Suggestions on iPhone or iPad. Step 1: Open the Settings app and open Safari. Step 2: Toggle off 'Search Engine Suggestions'. That is how you can ...

  13. If Safari isn't loading websites or quits on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod

    Connect to a different network. Try to load a website, like www.apple.com, using cellular data. If you don't have cellular data, connect to a different Wi-Fi network, then load the website. If you're using a VPN (Virtual Private Network), check your VPN settings. If you have a VPN turned on, some apps or websites might block content from loading.

  14. Safari Not Working on Your iPhone? Here's How to Fix It

    This will reset Safari. To shut down your phone, press and hold the sleep/wake button until a slider appears. Slide to the right to power off your phone. For iPhone X and above, press and hold the side button and one of the volume buttons until the slider appears. Then slide it to the right to power off your phone.

  15. Problem with usable screen height in landscape

    First it was the top address bar, and now it is the browser menu. So you have a couple options. YOu can set a media query for landscape and shorten the height of that container and just have it scroll if you need. Could probably drop font-size too. Or there are a couple options in this article that might help.

  16. How to fix Safari not working on iPhone after iOS 17 update

    Go to Settings and tap on General. Tap on Software Update and install any available updates. 2. Close Safari and then reopen it. One of the ways you can fix minor app glitches on iOS is by force-quitting problematic apps. So, if Safari is still not working for you, then you should force-quit and reopen the app.

  17. Unable to use Messages app in landscape (…

    I just got my iPhone 12 Mini. In the Messages app, landscape (horizontal) orientation does not work. In the message list, inside a conversation, when typing a message, etc., I get the same result: Rotating my phone horizontally has no effect in the app. The app stays locked in portrait (vertical) orientation. This used to work on older iPhones.

  18. Safari Not Working on iPhone? Here's How to Fix It

    Open the Settings app, and tap Cellular. Scroll down and find Safari. If the toggle is gray, that means cellular data is disabled for Safari. Tap it so that it turns green to turn it on. Once you've confirmed that cellular data is enabled for Safari, try opening a web page to see if the issue has been resolved.