Screen orientation

(In development)

Ensure the content of the screen supports multiple device orientations. All screens of an app must be usable in all orientations. Users sometimes mount their devies in certain fixed orientations.

Impact

Supporting multiple orientations is important for users who have their device mounted and cannot rotate it. Users of text scaling often rotate their device to landscape mode, allowing more words to fit on one line.

Solutions

Elements

Testing

Automated testing

This issue can be detected automatically with the Abra Test Engine.

Manual testing

  1. Check if "portrait" mode is available
  2. Check if "upside down" mode is available
  3. Check if "left landscape mode" is available
  4. Check if "right landscape mode" is available

Passes if 1, 2, 3 and 4 are true.

Exceptions

Multiple orientations are not required if a particular orientation is essential for an app to function.

Examples: piano app (landscape), bank cheque (landscape).

In most cases, a particular orientation is not essential.

Guidelines

Always check the official guidelines.