The home screen on iPhone devices can rotate, but this feature is not available on all models. Prior to the introduction of Face ID technology, there were iPhone models with larger screens, such as the Plus-size models, that allowed the home screen to rotate. However, with the introduction of Face ID on newer iPhone models, including the iPhone X and later, the home screen rotation feature was removed.
This means that if you have an iPhone with Face ID, such as the iPhone X, XS, XS Max, XR, 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, or 12 Pro Max, the home screen will not rotate. This design decision was likely made to ensure a consistent and optimized user experience, as the Face ID sensors and notch are specifically designed to work in portrait mode.
On the other hand, if you have an older iPhone model without Face ID, such as the iPhone 8 Plus, the home screen can still rotate. This is because these models do not have the Face ID hardware and are not limited by the same constraints.
If you find that your home screen is not rotating on a compatible iPhone model, it could be due to other factors. One common reason for this issue is the presence of widget stacks on the home screen. Widget stacks are a new feature introduced in iOS 14 that allow you to stack multiple widgets on top of each other. Some users have reported that removing widget stacks on iOS 15 has restored the screen rotation feature on their iPhone.
To remove widget stacks, simply long-press on the home screen to enter the edit mode, then tap on the widget stack to expand it. From there, you can swipe left or right to reveal the individual widgets within the stack. Once you have expanded the stack, tap on the “Remove” button to remove it from the home screen. Repeat this process for any other widget stacks you have on your home screen.
It’s worth noting that the inability to rotate the home screen on iPhone models with Face ID is not a limitation unique to Apple. Many other smartphone manufacturers have also adopted similar design decisions, as the notch and front-facing sensors can disrupt the user experience when the device is held in landscape orientation.
While the home screen on iPhone devices can rotate on certain models without Face ID, such as the Plus-size models, this feature has been removed on newer iPhone models with Face ID. However, if you are experiencing issues with home screen rotation on a compatible iPhone model, removing widget stacks on iOS 15 may potentially restore this feature.