Rotate screen shortcut: Ctrl+Alt+Arrow (Windows)
On most Intel-graphics Windows PCs, hold Ctrl+Alt and press an Arrow key to rotate the display — ↓ flips it upside down, ↑ returns to normal landscape. macOS has no rotation shortcut; you rotate an external display from Displays settings.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rotate screen 180° (upside down) | — (no default; use Displays settings) | Ctrl+Alt+↓ | |
| Rotate back to normal (landscape) | — (no default) | Ctrl+Alt+↑ | |
| Rotate 90° clockwise (portrait) | — (no default) | Ctrl+Alt+→ | |
| Rotate 90° counter-clockwise | — (no default) | Ctrl+Alt+← | |
| Open display settings (to rotate manually) | ⌥ while clicking Displays in System Settings | Win+I → System → Display |
Does Ctrl+Alt+Arrow rotate the screen on Windows?
On many Windows PCs, Ctrl+Alt+Arrow flips the whole display: Ctrl+Alt+↓ turns it upside-down, Ctrl+Alt+→ and Ctrl+Alt+← set portrait, and Ctrl+Alt+↑ restores normal landscape. This is not a Windows feature — it is a hotkey provided by Intel Graphics drivers, so it only works on PCs with Intel integrated graphics and the hotkeys enabled. On AMD/NVIDIA-only machines the shortcut does nothing.
If the shortcut does nothing
Rotate the display from Settings instead: press Win+I → System → Display → Display orientation, and choose Landscape, Portrait, or a flipped option. On Intel systems you can re-enable the hotkeys from the Intel Graphics Command Center → System → Hot Keys.
Rotating the screen on a Mac
macOS has no keyboard shortcut and no built-in rotation for the built-in laptop display. For an external monitor that supports it, open System Settings → Displays, then choose a Rotation value (90°, 180°, 270°). A hidden tip: hold ⌥ (Option) while opening Displays to reveal the Rotation menu on some setups. There is no key combo equivalent to Windows' Ctrl+Alt+Arrow.
FAQ
What is the keyboard shortcut to rotate the screen on Windows?
On PCs with Intel graphics, Ctrl+Alt+Arrow rotates the display: Ctrl+Alt+↓ flips it upside down, Ctrl+Alt+→/← set portrait, and Ctrl+Alt+↑ returns to normal. It is an Intel driver hotkey, not a core Windows feature, so it does not exist on AMD/NVIDIA-only systems.
Why doesn't Ctrl+Alt+Arrow rotate my screen?
The hotkey comes from Intel Graphics drivers. If you have AMD or NVIDIA graphics, or the hotkeys are disabled, nothing happens. Rotate from Win+I → System → Display → Display orientation instead.
Is there a shortcut to rotate the screen on a Mac?
No. macOS has no rotation keyboard shortcut and cannot rotate the built-in laptop display. For a supported external monitor, use System Settings → Displays → Rotation.
How do I undo an accidental screen rotation?
On Windows press Ctrl+Alt+↑ to go back to landscape, or open Win+I → System → Display and set Display orientation to Landscape.