How Do I Turn Off the Clock When My Phone is Sideways?

UI/UX Design
1

I’ve been dealing with this annoyance for a while now and I’m hoping someone can guide me on how to turn off the automatic clock display that pops up when my phone is sideways.

Context

Every time I tilt my phone to use it in landscape mode, this clock gets in the way and it’s really frustrating. I like to use my phone horizontally for gaming and streaming, but the constant clock display is a big distraction.

Troubleshooting Steps I’ve Tried

  • Checking the Display Settings: I dove into the settings to see if there’s a toggle somewhere that I missed, but I couldn’t find anything specific to this clock feature.
  • Screen Timeouts: I also tried adjusting the sleep settings, thinking that might help, but no luck.
  • App-Specific Settings: I looked into the settings for the apps I use most (like YouTube and games) to see if there’s an option there, but I’ve come up empty.

Questions

  • Is there a way to disable this feature in the settings?
  • Do I need to root my phone or install a specific app to get this done?
  • Are there other users out there who have resolved this issue?

I appreciate any insights you can share. Let’s help each other out! Thanks in advance!

8 Likes
2

To turn off the clock when your phone is sideways, you first need to check your auto-rotate settings. On most phones, you can find this in the display settings. This impacts how the clock behaves in landscape mode.

3

That’s great advice! On my Samsung, I can disable rotation from the quick settings panel. It might be similar on other Android devices.

4

On iPhones, the auto-rotate setting is a bit different. You can find it in the Control Center; just make sure Rotation Lock is enabled to stop the clock from showing sideways.

5

I never knew that! Thanks for clarifying that. Disabling rotation really helps when I’m watching videos.

6

If you have a Pixel phone, you can go to the settings under ‘Display’ and look for ‘Advanced’ to toggle rotation lock. Simple yet effective!

7

Sometimes, the clock unit might not switch off completely when using apps. It can depend on the app’s design. A workaround could be to use a different app or turn off notifications for the clock feature.

8

That’s interesting! I wonder if certain apps override the phone’s rotation settings? It’d be good to know which ones do that.

9

Good point! Some games might lock the rotation because they want you in landscape mode for a better experience. It really depends on how the developer set it up.

10

Maybe I missed something? Is there a way to stop the clock specifically without disabling rotation for other apps? I’d love to keep my auto-rotate function alive.

11

That’s a good question! I’ve often wondered if there’s a clock app that allows more customization.

12

I think a bit of humor could help here too! Why does the clock always seem like it wants to invade every screen orientation? Hopefully, tech gets better at options!

13

And can we talk about how annoying it is? It’s like the clock is always standing watch. Just give us peace when we flip our phones!

14

If you’re looking to disable the clock when your phone is sideways, check the display settings. Some phones allow you to adjust settings for the lock screen display. You can try looking in Settings > Display > Lock Screen.

6 Likes
15

Thanks for the tip! I will check those settings. I hope there’s a way to really hide that new horizontal clock feature.

16

A great app to consider is ‘Always On AMOLED’ if your phone supports it. You can customize how your display works when it’s locked and turn off the clock entirely during certain orientations.

17

I use that app! It’s pretty flexible and has a lot of cool features. It definitely helps with the clock annoyance.

6 Likes
18

Don’t forget about checking third-party launcher options too! Some launchers allow you to customize lock screen behavior. Nova Launcher, for example, may provide options for this.

1 Like
19

That’s a solid idea! I’ve heard Nova can do a lot; maybe I’ll give it a shot. Never thought about a launcher affecting lock screen behavior.

20

Why not just get used to it? If the clock is there, maybe it’s useful in some scenarios, like checking time without unlocking the phone? Just a thought!