How can I rotate the screen of a MacBook Pro 90 degrees?

Question

How can I rotate the screen of a MacBook Pro 90 degrees to read content like books?

You're planning to rotate the screen and then tip the MBP on its side? — Doug Chase, May 14 '09 at 16:44
What software are you using to view these books? Perhaps one solution is to find software that lets you rotate the content (like PDF readers). — Andy May, May 14 '09 at 16:58
Yes it does. So it wouldbe easier to just rotate the entire document and, if you like, putit into fullscreen and have a whole page fill the screen. That would be the best option in your case. — alex, Oct 25 '09 at 05:46

score 55 · Answer 1 · edited Dec 04 '16 at 18:46

55

If System preferences is open, close it (this only work once after opening system preferences. I have no idea why)
press and hold option/alt + cmd + left click 'Display'
Now there should be a button that says 'Rotation: Standard', click it and choose your rotation

Word of caution - it may be tricky to navigate the mousepad with a rotated screen. You feel drunk.

edited Dec 04 '16 at 18:46

Giacomo1968

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answered Mar 01 '10 at 23:36

Johan

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awesome trick - where do u ppl get this s.. :) ? – Devrim Nov 30 '10 at 00:27
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helped me a lot.Thanx – Radek Feb 07 '11 at 00:55
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This should have been the accepted answer! – AlcubierreDrive Mar 13 '11 at 04:29
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There's a driver patch for linux that rotates the touchpad, too. :D – Rob Nov 03 '11 at 18:28
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Why is it like this? And where is this secret book of unknown shortcuts? – ffledgling Sep 12 '14 at 14:51
It's a good thing Apple hides these kinds of things ಠ_ಠ – But those new buttons though.. Dec 14 '14 at 15:25
Ｗorks like a charm! Thanks and wonder how you know this trick! – Jeff Tian Dec 01 '15 at 02:40
macOS 12, still working. (still only works once after opening system preferences, too) – chronospoon Jul 28 '23 at 14:52

score 9 · Answer 2 · edited Feb 15 '12 at 20:20

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Hold the Option and Command, click on Preferences and then on Display while holding the Option + Command. Only than you'll be given the option to change the rotation of the screen.

edited Feb 15 '12 at 20:20

Simon Sheehan

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answered Feb 15 '12 at 12:39

Slobodan

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score 3 · Answer 3 · edited Dec 04 '16 at 18:47

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I am running Windows XP on a MacBook and have found while holding the ctrl and option keys together and pressing the cursor move keys (home pgup pgdn end) orients the screen in the direction of the cursor key.

edited Dec 04 '16 at 18:47

Giacomo1968

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answered May 31 '11 at 21:21

Tom

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John Pick · Answer 4 · 2013-11-26T19:09:29.157

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On Mac OS X 10.6.8:

System Preferences -> Displays -> Rotation is a hidden setting:

Go to System Preferences (in the Apple menu).
While holding the alt/option and command keys, click 'Displays'.
Adjust the Rotation setting. (If you don't see it, close System Preferences and start over.)
A popup entitled "Confirm new display setting" appears.
Rotate the physical screen.
In the popup, click "Confirm" or "Revert".

edited Nov 26 '13 at 19:09

answered Jan 17 '12 at 01:55

John Pick

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Doesn't work for me on 10.7.5 – Niels Bom Feb 22 '13 at 09:00
edited to emphasize that this answer is for Mac OS X 10.6.8 – John Pick Nov 26 '13 at 19:10

score 0 · Answer 5 · edited Dec 04 '16 at 18:48

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To rotate the screen when reading a PDF or word file, simply hold control and right click the mouse. You can rotate the screen, and your mouse, etc. still runs the same, so you won't get disoriented.

edited Dec 04 '16 at 18:48

Giacomo1968

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answered Dec 04 '16 at 18:41

ggirl

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score 0 · Answer 6 · edited May 09 '22 at 13:02

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According to http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9290419 the hardware supports the act of displaying sideways, but it appears that only SMSRotateD makes use of this.

edited May 09 '22 at 13:02

Glorfindel

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answered May 14 '09 at 16:51

Adam

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score -2 · Answer 7 · answered May 14 '09 at 17:16

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On MBP's with multi-touch, you can rotate content in Preview.app using the 'two finger swirl' ;) or you can use cmd-L or cmd-R. This works in OX 10.5.x, but I don't know about earlier versions.

answered May 14 '09 at 17:16

Dana the Sane

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It really only rotates the current page, am I wrong? And then it can even be saved, destroying the PDF. – Pablo Fernandez May 15 '09 at 08:23
cmd-L gives you the option to rotate the entire document and there's no reason you can rotate it back later, or not save the doc after you rotate it. – Dana the Sane May 15 '09 at 18:52

How can I rotate the screen of a MacBook Pro 90 degrees?

7 Answers7