my computer is sideways

Question

MY SCREEN IS SIDEWAYS. But Ctrl alt and up arrow did not work. And I need this tomorrow.

Answer 1

Welcome Hallmark, Elizabeth,

I understand how frustrating it can be when your screen is sideways and you need a quick step‑by‑step fix. 

To help identify the fastest resolution, please confirm the following:   

• Are you able to open Settings using the keyboard? 
• Is your mouse movement still usable or is it very difficult to control? 
• What version of Windows are you using? 
• Are you on a laptop, desktop, or using an external monitor? 
• Do you know what graphics adapter you have (Intel, NVIDIA, AMD)? 

In addition to Q&A Assist's suggested steps, please try these extra checks to move forward:    

Option 1: Check if rotation lock is enabled (for tablets/laptops)  

• Press Windows + A 
• Turn off Rotation lock if enabled 

Option 2: Boot into Safe Mode and adjust  

• Press Windows + R 
• Type msconfig and press Enter 
• Go to Boot tab 
• Enable Safe boot > Restart 
• Fix orientation in Display settings 
• Disable Safe boot after restart 

I hope this information helps resolve your issue. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me again in this thread. 

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Answer 2

Use the display settings to rotate the screen back:

1. Right-click on an empty area of the desktop.
2. Select Screen resolution (Windows 8/8.1) or Display settings (Windows 10/11).
3. Find Orientation.
4. Change it to Landscape.
5. Click Apply, then Keep changes.

If the display is so sideways that the mouse is hard to use, temporarily rotate the monitor itself so navigation is easier, fix the orientation in settings, then rotate the monitor back.

If the rotation was caused by a keyboard shortcut, pressing Ctrl+Alt+Up arrow normally resets it, but that behavior is controlled by the graphics driver and may be disabled, so using Display settings is the reliable method.

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References:

• Draw straight lines or align things with the ruler in PowerPoint