What this criterion requires
Content must not be locked to portrait or landscape unless a specific orientation is essential (such as a piano app or a bank check scanner).
Who it helps
Wheelchair users and others with devices mounted in a fixed orientation.
Example: fails vs passes
<div class="rotate-overlay">Please rotate your device to portrait</div>/* the layout simply adapts */
@media (orientation: landscape) { .form { max-width: 40rem; margin-inline: auto; } }Users with mounted devices cannot rotate. Support both orientations unless one is truly essential.
How to meet and fix it
- Support both orientations in CSS; never suppress rotation in the app or page
- Test forms and dialogs in landscape on a phone
Common failures auditors find
- A "please rotate your device" wall
- Web apps that disable rotation via manifest or script without an essential reason
Automated scanning catches a share of these instantly - run a free check - and a manual audit covers the judgement calls a tool cannot make.
Sources
- W3C, Understanding 1.3.4: Orientation - w3.org/WAI
- W3C, How to Meet 1.3.4 (quick reference) - w3.org/WAI/quickref
Last updated . Reviewed by the EqualWeb accessibility team.
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