How to flip screen orientation on a smartwatch

Photo by Victoria Song / The Verge

Southpaws tend to get the short end of the stick. Lefties have to learn to wear watches on their dominant hand if they want to buy a destro watch. It doesn't have to be that way with all of the watches. Some watch manufacturers give lefties the option of flipping the screen orientation so it looks like it's upside down. It is easier to use a device on the right hand if you have more control over where the buttons are.

Two of the biggest players in the industry do allow you to switch screen orientations. You have to use third-party apps to rotate the screen for Wear OS, although it is rumored that the ability to flip screen orientation will be added. It is not currently possible on the devices that are currently being used.

But hang on, you might say, didn't my wrist setting prompt me to wear it on my wrist? A lot of users are asked to do this as soon as they get their new watch. This doesn't mean that screen orientation is always referred to. If you wear your device on your nondominant hand, this prompt is meant to help the watch run the correct fitness tracking.

There is a way to flip your screen orientation on the Apple Watch and the SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH 4. If other makers decide to enable this feature in the future, we will give an update.

Apple Watch

Image: Apple

Users have been able to modify their watch's screen orientation. You can change it from your phone or watch.

The watch can be used to flip the screen.

• Navigate to the Settings app.
• Scroll down and tap General.
• Scroll down to Orientation.
• From here, select which wrist you want to wear the watch on.
• Then select which side you want the digital crown to appear.

To change the orientation of the screen on the phone.

• Open the Watch app.
• Select the My Watch tab.
• Select General and tap Watch Orientation.
• From here, select which wrist you want to wear the watch on.
• Then select which side you want the digital crown to appear.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic

Image: Samsung

You couldn't change screen orientation when the first iteration of the watch was launched. If you wanted to use the new body composition feature, you had to wear the watch on your right wrist. To create a circuit for bio electrical impedance analysis, you had to touch the watch's buttons with two fingers. Southpaws would have to reach all the way over in an uncomfortable way to use the feature.

Thankfully, the problem has been solved by the company. Lefties who want to wear their watches on their right hand can use the new feature without having to worry about the placement of the buttons.

It is possible to flip screen orientation.

• Navigate to the Settings menu on the watch.
• Tap General, then select Orientation.
• Choose your Left or Right wrist.
• Once you’ve done that, scroll down to Button Position.
• Again, select whether you want the buttons to appear on the left or right.

The ability to adjust screen orientation will be added to more watches. It would be helpful for lefties and also for accessibility. When you make a design accessible, you help everyone else as well.