Here’s a handy tip that will allow you to force your iPhone to remain in portrait orientation. It can be frustrating if you’re running or doing something that means your iPhone is not level and it keeps switching from landscape to portrait so I thought I’d share this handy process with you. Please note that this will only work on iPhone’s with iOS4.

First step

Open the multitasking bar at the bottom of the screen by hitting the home button two times. This element shows all the apps that are currently active in the background of your iPhone. It’s a handy way to switch between these background apps but it’s also the way to access the screen lock.

iPhone multitasking screen

First step to locking iPhone in portrait - Double tap on home button

Second step

Now that you’ve got the multitasking element open, swipe your finger from left to right across the bar. This opens the iPod controls, and also the screen lock button. This is a useful way to control your iPod as it allows you to skip tracks forwards or backwards, pause etc

How to lock an iPhone in portrait

Second step to locking iPhone in portrait - Swipe multitasking bar left to right

Third step

At the left hand side of the set of controls there is the screen lock button. Once you’ve hit this button, a padlock symbol will appear in the middle of the icon, and you’ll be informed “Portrait Orientation Locked”.  When you decide that you want to re-allow the landscape switch simply tap this button again and everything will go back as it was.

How to lock your iPhone in portrait

Third step to locking iPhone in portrait - Hit the screen lock button

 

What I find a bit annoying is that Apple for some reason only allow you to lock the screen in portrait rather than giving the option to lock it in landscape too.

Hope you find this tip useful!