Google has responded to the ongoing complaints from Android users by introducing a new toggle in the Phone by Google app that keeps the screen locked in portrait mode during calls. This helpful feature prevents the screen from accidentally switching to landscape mode, which has been a source of irritation for many users when trying to hang up or manage calls.
Auto-Rotate on Calls: A Source of Frustration for Many Android Users
Previously, the Phone by Google app allowed the call screen to rotate between portrait and landscape based on the device's orientation if auto-rotate was enabled. While convenient in some cases, this automatic rotation brought frustration to many users. The shifting interface often made it difficult to locate the end call button as it changed positions, resulting in confusion and accidental call drops.
User Feedback Reflects Widespread Annoyance
In a recent poll of 3,135 users, over 53% admitted they get frustrated with the screen constantly switching orientation during calls. Many reported having to disable the auto-rotate setting entirely, only to forget to turn it back on afterward — a cumbersome and inconvenient workaround. A popular Reddit user, whappenow, expressed this frustration, highlighting how landscape mode “forces itself” during calls, moving crucial buttons unexpectedly and disrupting user flow.
New Portrait Mode Toggle Brings Relief
Google responded to this collective user feedback by introducing a new toggle in the beta version 202 of the Phone by Google app. To access it, open the app, tap the hamburger menu icon at the top left, then navigate to Settings > Display options. Under the Controls section, you will find the “Keep portrait mode on calls” toggle. Activating this button locks the call screen to portrait mode, preventing it from flipping to landscape while on a call.
Users subscribed to the beta version, including those with devices like the Pixel 6 Pro, report that the app has not only improved with this toggle but also features a more compact bottom navigation bar, enhancing the overall appearance and user experience.
Getting the Phone by Google App
If you don’t currently have the Phone by Google app, it is available for most Android devices running Android 9.0 (Pie) or later and is the default dialer on Pixel phones. You can download it directly from the Google Play Store by tapping here.
