Success Criterion 1.3.4
Conformance level AA

1.3.4 · Orientation

Lesson overview · Orientation

In plain language

The site must work in both portrait and landscape unless one orientation is truly essential.

Who it affects

People whose devices are mounted or who cannot rotate a display freely.

How to check

Rotate the device/emulator both ways: everything must remain usable, with no 'please rotate' blocker.

Common misconception

Teams assume this only applies to phones. It also covers any device that can be mounted or fixed in place, like a tablet on a wheelchair, where the user genuinely cannot rotate it.

Learn more

Understanding Understanding this success criterion (opens in a new tab)

Scenarios in this lesson

App Locked Into One Screen Orientation With No Real Reason
Page That Just Asks Users to Rotate Their Device to Continue
Screen Orientation Locked in Code With No Essential Justification
App Manifest Locking Orientation for Ordinary, General Content
CSS That Hides or Breaks Content in One Orientation Only
Critical Controls Cropped or Unusable in One Orientation
Video Player Forcing Landscape Fullscreen for Ordinary Content
Kiosk-Style Overlay That Blocks Use Until the Screen Is Rotated
Layout That Breaks After Rotating Even Though Rotation Is Allowed