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Tip: Microsoft Surface has a hidden rotation lock button

posted on Nov 5th 2012 by

If you use Microsoft Surface with a Touch Cover or Type Cover you probably rarely, if ever, use the device in portrait orientation. If that’s the case you probably find it very annoying if the orientation switches while you’r moving the tablet around. A rotation lock button would be great, and it turns out there is one if you can find it.

Open up the charms menu and select “Screen.” On top of the slider is a little icon that can lock or unlock the rotation of the tablet. It’s not the most obvious place to look for this setting, but it’s not the worst either. We’re just glad it’s there.

[via WinSupersite]


  • idlelimey

    It’s not really that hidden. And I also think it’s in exactly the right place - under screen settings charm.

    There are far more powerful features that are ‘less visible’ like disk management and command prompt - and they’re just on the other end of a Window key+X press.

    Thoroughly enjoying the Surface RT at the moment. It has it’s downsides (the power connector isn’t great, and you can’t charge from USB-to-USB) but as a consumption device it’s in a different class.

  • http://winsource.com/ Joe Fedewa

    Ah, you are right, I was looking in Windows 8 and it’s called “Brightness” not “Screen.” Screen makes much more sense.

  • idlelimey

    I didn’t realise it was different in 8 over RT. I’ll have to check that out on the desktop later.