Many people keep the screen rotation feature on their Android devices turned off, and only turn it on in specific cases, such as when watching a YouTube video or streaming shows on Netflix. Keeping the feature on at all times can be pretty annoying as your device constantly switches orientation with a slight change in how you're holding it. Thankfully, you can enable auto-rotate on your phone for specific apps only while keeping it disabled for others in a few ways, depending on your device.

On Samsung phones

On Samsung phones running One UI 5 or later, you have the Modes and Routines feature. With the Modes feature, you can automate some settings depending on various situations or activities. Similarly, you can use the Routines feature to set up automations when some conditions are fulfilled or based on a schedule. You can use it to set your screen to auto-rotate when running certain apps on your Samsung phone.

  1. Open the Settings app on your Samsung phone and tap on 'Modes and Routines'.
  2. Next, tap on the Routines tab before tapping on the '+' button at the top.
  3. Now, under the 'If' section, tap on 'Add what will trigger this routine'.
  4. On the next screen, search for 'App opened' and select it.
  5. Then select the apps for which you want the auto-rotate screen feature to work before tapping on 'Done'.
  6. Under the 'Then' section, tap on 'Add what this routine will do'.
  7. Search for and select 'Screen orientation' using the search bar.
  8. Select 'Auto rotate' in the Screen Orientation options and then tap on 'Done'.
  9. Then tap on 'Save' and add a name to the routine. You can also customize the routine by changing its color and icon. Tap on 'Done' to finish. Now, whenever you open an app added to the routine, it will automatically rotate the screen to landscape mode.
Note: You can disable the routine at any time by opening the Modes and Routines app and tapping on the Routines tab. Open the routine settings by tapping on it and then tap on 'More' in the bottom right. Then tap on 'Disable this routine'.

On other Android phones

If you're using a non-Samsung phone, you will have to rely on third-party apps to set up screen rotation automations for specific apps. MacroDroid is one such app that you can try out since it is quite easy to use and completely free.

  1. Download and install MacroDroid from the Google Play Store on your Android device.
  2. Once it is installed, grant it the required permissions to function properly.
  3. Now tap on the 'Macros' tab at the bottom and then tap on the '+' button at the bottom right.
  4. Next, tap on the '+' icon in the 'Triggers' section.
  1. On the Triggers page, tap on 'Applications'.
  2. Then tap on the 'Application Launched/Closed' tile.
  1. In the pop-up that appears, tap on 'Application launched' and then on 'OK'.
  2. Then tap on 'Select Application(s)' and tap on 'OK'.
  1. Now select the applications for which you want to set the auto-rotate automation from the list on your screen and tap on 'OK'.
  2. Follow the same steps as above to create another trigger but this time tap on the 'Application Closed' option and select the same apps as before.
  1. Now, tap on the '+' icon in the Actions section.
  2. Then tap on 'Device Settings'.
  1. Tap on 'Auto Rotate On/Off'.
  2. Then tap on 'Auto Rotate Toggle' from the popup before tapping on 'OK'.
  1. Now type in a name for the macro at the top and tap on the '+' button to save it.
  2. Tap on the 'Home' tab at the bottom and then on the toggle on the top right to turn on MacroDroid.
Note: MacroDroid will automatically switch your screen orientation for the apps you selected when you open them and will also work even when you close it from the recents menu. You can turn it off by disabling the macro from the Macros tab in the app any time you want.

Things to know

  • The free version of MacroDroid is ad-supported and lets you set up up to five macros. To remove ads and set up more macros, you will need to buy the Pro version.
  • When using apps like MacroDroid, you may have to disable battery optimization since it can stop the app from running in the background.
  • Similarly, if you have other battery-saving apps installed, you will also have to add MacroDroid as an exclusion for it to work properly.
  • Modern Android versions let you lock your screen orientation in portrait or landscape mode. However, apps like MacroDroid can overwrite this functionality.