Tired of craning your neck? YouTube Shorts just flipped the script. Now, you can ditch the vertical scroll and go horizontal with landscape mode. Sounds weird, right? Maybe. But if curiosity’s got you hooked, here’s how to rotate into a whole new dimension of short-form video.
Good to know : check how to try AI-powered search in YouTube right now.
Landscape YouTube Shorts: Who’s It Actually For?
YouTube Shorts just got wider, but not for everyone. The new landscape mode isn’t a trendy feature drop; it’s an accessibility setting. Think about it: users with disabilities who depend on landscape-mounted devices. This update lets them enjoy Shorts without neck strain or awkward adjustments – a seamless viewing experience designed for inclusivity.
Landscape Shorts: More Than Just Accessibility
Think beyond accessibility. Landscape Shorts cater to everyone who enjoys a widescreen view. Let’s face it: sometimes, propping your phone horizontally is just easier. No stand? No problem! Keyboard case users, rejoice! Now you can seamlessly switch from typing to video viewing without rotating your device. Landscape Shorts: Convenience and comfort, redefined.
Tip : learn to upgrade your TikTok privacy with these tips.
Enable Shorts in Landscape Mode in YouTube
Hunting for the new feature? It’s a bit of a phone-by-phone treasure hunt right now. I found it shimmering on my Pixel 8 (Android 16, naturally), but my trusty iPhone 15 remained stubbornly feature-free. Before you launch your own expedition, try the age-old trick: app update! Head to the Google Play Store (Android) or App Store (iOS), search for YouTube, and smash that “Update” button if you see it. Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor.
Next up, open the YouTube app and press theYoubutton in the lower right corner of the display.
Tap the gear icon in the upper right corner.
Swipe down to theVideo and audio preferencessection and selectAccessibility(on my iPhone, this menu wasn’t available.)
Toggle on the option toRotate Shorts.
FYI : here are a few easy methods to help you play YouTube videos in the background on Android.
Viewing YouTube Shorts in Landscape Mode
You might think that’s all you need to start watching YouTube Shorts in landscape mode, but strangely, it is not.
You’ll also need to enable the Screen Auto-Rotate option on your device, in this example, our Android.
Unlock the secret to seamless screen rotation! Just swipe down from the top of your phone to reveal Quick Settings. Hunt down thatAutorotatetile and tap it to unleash its power. Already on? Watch out! It can be a bit overzealous, flipping your screen at the slightest angle.
Unlocking landscape view for YouTube Shorts requires both “Auto-rotate” and “Rotate Shorts” to be switched ON. Miss either step, and you’ll be stuck in portrait mode!
Ready to dive into the endless stream of Shorts? Head back to YouTube and tap thatShortsicon at the bottom prepare for a captivating vertical video journey!
Widen your world! Turn your phone sideways for instant landscape viewing. Swipe up or down to keep the good times rolling with more videos.
Viewing Landscape Shorts on Tablets
Tablets? Landscape Shorts are a match made in heaven, that glorious screen real estate really shines. Funny thing, my Blackview tablet plays Shorts sideways just fine, despite YouTube stubbornly hiding the Accessibility option. Go figure.
Locked out of landscape mode? Here’s a quirky workaround I stumbled upon: While watching a Short on my tablet, I instinctively rotated it. Even with auto-rotate stubbornly disabled in Android settings, the video flipped! Give it a whirl; you might just unlock that elusive full-screen view. It’s an odd fix, but hey, it worked for me!
Note : I tried the same on my iPhone and it did not work.
Want to become a YouTube power user? Dive into our guide to unlock hidden features you never knew existed. Or, supercharge your content creation with the ultimate ChatGPT cheat sheet for YouTube!
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