1.3.4: Orientation

What it means

Content must not be locked to a single display orientation unless a particular orientation is essential. Users should be able to view pages in portrait or landscape on phones and tablets.

Locking orientation blocks people who mount devices in a fixed position.

How to fix it

• Do not force portrait or landscape with orientation CSS or meta tags unless truly required.
• Test the site in both orientations on mobile devices.
• Allow content to reflow instead of showing a “rotate your device” blocker.
• If one orientation is essential (for example a piano app), document why in your assessment.

Quick examples

• Good: A news site works in portrait and landscape; layout adapts without blocking either.
• Bad: A web app shows “Please rotate to portrait” and hides all content in landscape.
• Good: Charts resize and remain usable when the tablet is turned sideways.
• Bad: Checkout fails in landscape because a fixed-height modal is clipped off-screen.