Best solution
Quick answer: To rotate your Mac screen, go to System Settings > Displays > Rotation and choose 90°, 180°, or 270°. This works with external monitors on macOS Tahoe and newer.
When my workspace is tight, Mac screen rotation to a vertical position is my go-to solution. Why? Because this simple adjustment maximizes desk space, letting me comfortably use dual monitors, and proves especially useful for tasks that benefit from portrait orientation, like drafting long documents or managing extensive spreadsheets.
Curious about how to rotate the screen on your Mac, too? In this article, I’ll guide you through the process and show you how you can transform your workspace.
| How to rotate screen | Best for | Key steps |
| System Settings (macOS Tahoe) | Built-in solution for external displays | Apple menu > System Settings > Displays > Rotation |
| DisplayBuddy | Quick adjustments from menu bar | Click menu bar icon > Select rotation angle |
| Keyboard shortcut (older macOS) | Hidden rotation menu access | Hold Option-Command while opening System Settings |
| Physical monitor adjustment | After software rotation | Rotate monitor stand to match new orientation |
Before I explain how to flip a Mac screen, you need to know some general information about screen rotation. Being aware of these points will help you understand any limitations you might face because of your hardware setup. It will also prepare you for any troubleshooting steps after changing your settings.
Important points to note are:
Don't forget to keep these points in mind, and make sure to check that your software and drivers are up to date to avoid any compatibility issues.
If you want to spruce up your workspace or tweak your screen for different tasks, macOS Tahoe lets you easily rotate your display.
Here is how to rotate the default display 90 degrees or more on macOS Tahoe:
After you have chosen an option, your screen will go black for a moment. When it returns, it will be in the new orientation, with a prompt to revert or apply the new setting. When you press Confirm, the screen will refresh in the new orientation.
As a writer, math doesn’t come all that easily to me! So, when I first discovered how to flip a screen on a Mac, I used trial and error to decide which rotation to choose.
If you’re unsure of how much to rotate your Mac screen, you can use the cheat sheet below to choose the right degree of rotation for you:
| If you choose this rotation setting | You will get this outcome | |
| Standard | The normal default horizontal orientation. | |
| 90° | The display on the screen is turned one-quarter to the left (you will need to physically rotate your monitor to match the new vertical orientation). | |
| 180° | Your screen display will be horizontal like in Standard, but flipped upside down. | |
| 270° | The screen display will be vertical, but opposite in physical orientation to 90° (turned one-quarter to the right). | |
It's pretty easy to flip the screen on a Mac using Settings. But I also tinker with a bunch of other display settings, and it can be hard to find the right menu for each one. Since these settings change a lot depending on what I'm doing, I've started using this all-in-one app called DisplayBuddy to handle all my display tweaks.
With DisplayBuddy, you can change your screen orientation and other display settings via a simple app-based interface. Just click the DisplayBuddy icon in the menu bar and select the adjustments you want to make.
If you’re using an older version of macOS (such as Monterey or earlier), the Rotation option isn’t set to default. This means it won’t automatically appear in Settings, even when you connect a compatible external monitor.
You can still get Rotation to appear on an older macOS. However, there are reports that using this feature can cause issues with your Mac’s display that may not be reversible.
If you are running Monterey or an earlier macOS and still want to know how to rotate a MacBook screen, here are the instructions:
Rotation should now appear. If it doesn’t work, close System Preferences and restart the process.
If you only need to rotate your Mac screen temporarily, you will want to know how to return it to normal. Fortunately, this is very simple.
To flip your screen back to the Standard layout, follow these steps:
I usually only use a vertical screen when I have a small workstation or for a specific project. Once I’m done, I rotate my screen back to normal and work with my screens in a horizontal orientation.
Read also:
Hardware or software limitations might prevent you from rotating your Mac screen.
These are the main reasons Mac screen rotation may not be available:
If none of these issues apply and rotation still isn't working, I recommend using DisplayBuddy as a workaround. The app often enables rotation features that aren't accessible through System Settings.
There are many reasons you might want to learn how to rotate the screen on a Mac. For example, you may need to flip your screen because of the physical setup of your workstation. Or, you might find that a different screen orientation enhances your focus.
In most cases, you will be changing a screen from the standard horizontal setup (landscape orientation) to a vertical layout (portrait orientation).
Here’s a list of common reasons to know how to rotate the screen on your Mac:
Moreover, you might use it for a full-screen preview of your iPhone or iPad screen, or you can use your Mac’s screen as a poster.
Any time you change your screen orientation, the cursor controlled by your mouse or trackpad will change behavior. This is because you haven’t simply rotated the image on your Mac display. You have changed the physical layout of the monitor. This takes a bit of getting used to. But in my experience, the productivity benefits from knowing how to flip a Mac screen are well worth the learning curve.
Understanding how to rotate your Mac screen means you can always work with a second monitor, even with limited workspace. The ability to flip your screen to vertical orientation opens up new possibilities for productivity.
If you have a compatible monitor, you can utilize Mac screen rotation through System Settings. However, app-based solutions can be more efficient and easier to use.
DisplayBuddy provides a simple interface right from the menu bar for changing settings across monitors. For design work, Mockuuups Studio makes it easy to create mockups for iPhones and other devices without needing to rotate your screen.
Your monitor is rotated. Now get the tools that make multi-display setups effortless. DisplayBuddy, Mockuuups Studio, and 270+ other Mac and iOS apps — all in one Setapp membership. Cancel before Day 7 — $0 charged. Start Your 7-Day Trial.
You can flip any compatible external display in just a few clicks.
On macOS Tahoe or newer:
On Monterey and earlier: Hold Option-Command while opening System Preferences > Displays. The hidden Rotation menu appears—choose your angle and confirm.
After applying the setting, turn the physical monitor to match and give yourself a moment to adjust to the new mouse direction.
No single key flips the display in macOS. The quickest built-in trick is to hold Option-Command while you open System Settings > Displays. That reveals the Rotation menu, but you still pick an angle with the mouse.
If you want a true one-press hotkey, apps like DisplayBuddy let you assign your own shortcut to rotate the screen instantly.
Security-tested
Best solution
