Why Is Windows 10 Rotation Lock Greyed Out? How To Fix?

If you notice with keen eyes, Windows 10 has slowly shifted its focus from desktop PCs to portables. Just look at how Aero was removed as a way to prevent excess battery loss. Portables like laptops and 2-in-1s make it easy to compute different tasks on the go, making them much more popular among users.

If you use your 2-in-1 in different orientations, you will be annoyed to see the rotation lock greyed out all of a sudden.

Windows 10 Rotation Lock Greyed Out – Easy Fixes

The rotation lock in Windows 10 is essentially the Auto rotate feature of your smartphone. This button helps you lock the orientation at which your device is set, making it easy to work in different orientations. This button being grayed out can be very frustrating, and here are some simple fixes that you can use to solve this.

Solution 1: Adjust Orientation Of Your Device

If you have a 360-degree laptop or a 2-in-1, you may find the rotation lock greyed out if your device is being used in laptop mode. For some weird reason, Windows 10 occasionally grays out the rotation lock button when your laptop is being used in normal orientation.

If you want to change the auto rotation setting, change the orientation is which you are using your device. Change to portrait mode, or tent mode (creative canvas in surface devices) and check the rotation lock button. It should become clickable again.

Solution 2: Change Orientation From Settings

If you still cannot click on the rotation lock button, force the change from the Settings app. This should help you change the orientation of the display and hopefully should also make the rotation lock button clickable. Follow these steps for the same:

1. Right click on any empty desktop space and click on Display settings from the context menu.
   This should open the Display section of the Settings app.
2. In the right pane, locate the Display orientation drop down menu under the Scale and layout section.

Solution 3: Switch To Tablet Mode

Tablet mode in Windows 10 is another feature introduced with portables in mind. This mode was designed to be used with portable devices without the keyboard. All the apps launch in Metro mode, in full screen without the taskbar. The screen also rotates automatically according to the orientation of the device.

If your device is set in Desktop mode, try switching to tablet mode and check if the button becomes available. Your error should now be resolved.

Solution 4: Check For Outdated Device Drivers

Outdated device drivers are known to cause many errors surrounding malfunctioning hardware. Thus, if you see your device malfunctioning in any way, it is likely that the device drivers are not on the latest version. Update your device drivers and check if the error persists.

Solution 5: Adjust Windows Services

Windows Services are responsible for your applications and Windows performing optimally as a whole. If some part of Windows is malfunctioning, there is a chance that some Windows Service is malfunctioning, or is locked up. Change the following services if you see Windows 10 rotation lock greyed out:

1. Open a Run dialog using Win + R key shortcut.
2. Type services.msc and press Enter to launch the Services console.
3. Locate the Sensor Monitoring Service and double click on it to launch the Properties window for it.
4. Change the Startup type of the service to Automatic from the drop-down menu.
5. Restart the service by first clicking the Stop button followed by the Start button.

6. Click on Apply followed by OK to save the changes.
7. Next, locate the following service:
   YMC services
8. Change the Startup type for this service to Disabled.
9. Click on Apply followed by OK to save the changes.

Upon changing the state of the services, check if still you cannot change the orientation of the device. Your error should now be resolved.

Solution 6: Make Registry Changes

If none of the solutions can force the rotation lock button working, you can use the following method to command Windows to forget the previous orientation and use the sensor information every time. This involves making changes to the registry, so we recommend creating a system restore point, or backing up your registry in case something goes wrong:

1. In Windows Search (Win + S), type regedit and press Enter to launch the Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to the following location, by pasting the path in the address bar of the Registry Editor:
   Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AutoRotation
3. With the AutoRotation key selected, double click on the LastOrientation DWORD entry in the right pane.
4. Change the Value Data to 0 for this entry.

5. Next, verify if the SensorPresent DWORD value is present. If it is not, create the value by selecting New > DWORD value from the right click context menu.
6. For this entry, change the Value Data to 1.

7. Click on OK and restart your computer.

Once you restart your computer, you will notice that the rotation lock for Windows 10 is not greyed out anymore.

Wrapping Up

So, there you have it. Now you know how to fix the error if you see rotation lock greyed out on your device. Comment below if you found this useful, and to discuss further the same.