Changing the orientation of your computer screen allows you to view images on the screen vertically, horizontally or upside down. This function can be useful to comfortably read documents or e-books or when you need to install a monitor in a place that is difficult to reach. Changing the screen orientation on Windows or OS X systems is a simple and straightforward process, but in some exceptional cases the manufacturer can complicate things a bit.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Windows
Step 1. Click with the right mouse button on an empty spot on the desktop, then choose the item "Screen resolution" or "Properties"
The option on the desktop context menu varies depending on the version of Windows you are using. Both options lead to the same configuration window.
If you are using a computer with the Windows XP operating system, the following procedure is not suitable. Skip straight to step 5 of this method
Step 2. Locate the "Orientation" menu
It should be available at the bottom of the window that appeared. By default, this option is usually set to "Horizontal". Most graphics cards allow you to change the orientation of the screen using this menu.
If the menu in question is not present, the video card drivers may be incorrect or the device manufacturer may have disabled this function. To know how to rotate your computer screen with a different method, go to step 4
Step 3. Choose the desired orientation
You will have 4 options:
- Landscape: This is the default option when using standard monitors.
- Vertical: This option rotates the screen 90 ° counterclockwise. The side of the screen that was originally the right side will then become the bottom side of the monitor.
- Horizontal (upside down): this option flips the image projected on the screen, in this case, therefore, the top side will become the bottom side and vice versa.
- Vertical (upside down): In this case the screen is rotated 90 ° clockwise, so the side of the screen that was originally the left side will become the bottom side of the monitor.
Step 4. Try using hotkeys (Intel)
Some video cards support the use of Windows keyboard shortcuts to change the screen orientation. Using these key combinations you can change the orientation of the projected image quickly and easily. These hotkey combinations are most effective when using integrated Intel video cards. Using many of the Nvidia or AMD video cards, however, this procedure cannot be adopted:
- Ctrl + Alt + Directional arrow down: flips the projected image on the screen.
- Ctrl + Alt + Directional Arrow Right: Rotates the screen 90 ° to the right.
- Ctrl + Alt + Left directional arrow: Rotates the screen 90 ° to the left.
- Ctrl + Alt + Directional arrow up: restores the default horizontal orientation.
Step 5. Check the video card control panel
Normally Nvidia, AMD and Intel video cards are equipped with a control panel that allows you to quickly change all configuration settings. Normally it is possible to access this panel directly from the context menu of the desktop, but in some cases you will have to do it from the "Start" menu or the "Control Panel" of Windows.
Look for the "Rotate" or "Orientation" option. The control panel of the Nvidia cards offers the "Rotate screen" option within the menu on the left of the window. The AMD Catalyst Control Center instead provides the "Rotate Desktop" item in the "Manage Desktop" menu. When using Intel video cards the "Rotation" slider will be available within the "Display Settings" menu
Step 6. Create Rotation Hotkeys (AMD)
If you are using an ATI or AMD card, the Catalyst Control Center software allows you to create shortcut keys for screen rotation.
- Right click on the desktop and select "Catalyst Control Center";
- Click on the "Preferences" button and select "Hotkeys";
- Select "Display Manager" from the drop-down menu and then set the key combination you want to use for different rotation options. The combinations seen earlier in step 4 are not typically used for other functions, so they are a great choice.
- Make sure you check the boxes to activate your new combinations.
Step 7. Update the video card drivers if the menu for changing the screen orientation is missing
In the absence of such an option, if the associated hotkey combinations fail to work, you will most likely need to enable the screen rotation feature by updating your video card drivers. Instead of using "Windows Update", you can download the latest available driver version directly from the card manufacturer's website.
- The websites of AMD and Nvidia have a tool that can automatically detect the model of graphics card installed on your computer and provide you with the most up-to-date drivers accordingly. You can use this tool from the driver download page; alternatively you can perform a manual search using the specific model of the graphics card installed on your computer.
- To find the model of graphics card installed in the system, press the hotkey combination ⊞ Win + R, then type the command dxdiag in the "Open" field of the window that appears. The model of your graphics card is listed in the "Display" tab of the "DirectX Diagnostic Tool" panel.
Step 8. Understand that the video card manufacturer can disable the ability to change the screen orientation
This functionality is not provided by the Windows operating system, but by the video card manufacturer. Most computers allow you to change this option, but some devices may not support changing the screen orientation. Laptops are rarely equipped with this feature.
Method 2 of 2: Mac
Step 1. Access the "Apple" menu and choose the "System Preferences" item
In this case you will only be able to rotate the image projected on an external monitor and only if the device supports this function. If you are using an older version of OS X, you can try to force the primary screen orientation to be changed; however, remember that this procedure does not work on newer systems.
Step 2. Select the "Monitor" icon
A list of all monitors connected to the computer will be shown.
Step 3. Select the external monitor from its menu
If you want to try changing the orientation of the built-in monitor of a MacBook or iMac, go directly to step 6 of this method
Step 4. Within the "Monitor" tab, change the "Rotate" or "Rotate" menu setting to suit your needs
You can choose the options "90 °", "180 °" or "270 °". These values express the degrees of rotation that will be applied clockwise to the screen.
Step 5. Check that the "Duplicate Monitor" function is not activated
This feature projects the same image on all connected monitors. To find out if the "Duplicate Monitor" option is active, then change the orientation of a single screen and notice if the image projected on all monitors rotates. To disable it, go to the "Layout" tab and uncheck the "Duplicate monitor" checkbox.
Step 6. Try changing the orientation of a Mac's built-in screen (OS X 10.9 and earlier)
If you are using the Mavericks version of OS X or an earlier version, you can attempt to force the screen orientation by accessing an advanced version of the "Monitor" menu. Before proceeding, make sure the "System Preferences" window is closed. DO NOT try to perform this procedure on OS X 10.10 (Yosemite) or later systems to avoid causing serious problems.
- Access the "Apple" menu and select "System Preferences".
- Press and hold the hotkey combination ⌘ Cmd + ⌥ Opt while selecting the "Monitor" icon.
- A new menu will allow you to rotate your Mac's main screen.
