If you’ve ever taken a picture only to realize later that it’s upside down or sideways, you’re not alone. Learning how to rotate a photo on iPhone is a simple yet essential skill that ensures your images always appear correctly aligned. Whether you’re adjusting a landscape shot that accidentally got taken in portrait mode or straightening a tilted horizon, your iPhone provides built-in tools to rotate and align photos effortlessly.

In this detailed guide, we’ll explore how to rotate a photo on iPhone using the Photos app, third-party apps, and additional editing tricks to perfect your images.

Why You Might Need to Rotate a Photo on iPhone

There are several reasons why you might need to rotate a photo:

• Accidental orientation changes – Sometimes, the iPhone camera captures an image at an unexpected angle due to movement.
• Flipped selfies – If you take a front-facing selfie, it may appear mirrored, and you might want to correct its orientation.
• Crooked photos – You may want to rotate an image slightly to make it level with the horizon.
• Social media adjustments – Platforms like Instagram and Facebook may display photos differently than expected, requiring manual rotation.

Regardless of the reason, knowing how to rotate a photo on iPhone ensures your pictures always look their best.

Method 1: How to Rotate a Photo on iPhone Using the Photos App

The Photos app on iPhone has a built-in editing tool that allows you to rotate and straighten pictures with ease. Here’s how:

Step-by-Step Guide to Rotating a Photo in the Photos App

1. Open the Photos App

   • Tap the Photos app on your home screen.

2. Select the Photo to Rotate

   • Browse your gallery and choose the image you want to edit.

3. Tap “Edit”

   • In the top-right corner, tap Edit to enter the photo editing mode.

4. Access the Crop & Rotate Tool

   • Tap the Crop/Rotate icon (it looks like a square with arrows) at the bottom of the screen.

5. Rotate the Photo

   • Tap the Rotate button (a circular arrow) in the top-left corner. Each tap rotates the photo 90 degrees clockwise.

6. Save the Changes

   • Once satisfied with the rotation, tap Done to save the changes.

Your photo is now properly aligned and ready to share or use.

Method 2: How to Rotate a Photo on iPhone Using Third-Party Apps

While the built-in Photos app is great for basic rotations, third-party apps offer additional features like precise angle adjustments, automatic alignment, and perspective correction.

Best Apps for Rotating Photos on iPhone

1. Snapseed (Free)

   • Features an “Rotate” tool that allows for custom angle adjustments.
   • Also offers straightening tools for precise alignment.

2. Adobe Lightroom Mobile (Free with premium options)

   • Includes advanced rotation and perspective correction tools.
   • Great for photographers who need precise control.

3. VSCO (Free with paid features)

   • Simple rotation options with easy-to-use controls.
   • Offers creative filters along with rotation.

How to Rotate a Photo Using Snapseed

1. Open Snapseed and Import the Photo.
2. Tap “Tools” and Select “Rotate.”
3. Use the Rotate Gesture or Buttons to Adjust the Angle.
4. Tap the Checkmark to Save.

Snapseed also has an Auto Straighten feature that aligns the image automatically based on detected lines.

Method 3: How to Rotate a Photo on iPhone with Google Photos

If you use Google Photos instead of Apple’s Photos app, you can still rotate images easily.

Steps to Rotate a Photo in Google Photos

1. Open Google Photos and find the image.
2. Tap Edit (the sliders icon).
3. Select Crop & Rotate and tap the Rotate button.
4. Tap Save Copy to keep both the original and rotated versions.

Google Photos is great for people who store and edit pictures across multiple devices.

How to Rotate a Photo on iPhone Without Cropping

Sometimes, rotating an image causes cropping, especially if it’s not a perfect square. To avoid this:

• Use apps like Photoshop Express, which let you rotate images freely without automatic cropping.
• Rotate the image slightly instead of full 90-degree turns to minimize trimming.
• When using the iPhone Photos app, ensure Auto Crop is turned off before saving.

Tips for Perfectly Aligned Photos

Even after you learn how to rotate a photo on iPhone, you might want additional adjustments for perfection. Here are some expert tips:

1. Use the Grid Feature in Camera Settings

• Go to Settings > Camera > Grid and enable it.
• This helps capture level photos, reducing the need for post-edit rotation.

2. Straighten Photos with the “Crop” Tool

• Instead of just rotating, you can manually drag the corners to adjust perspective.
• This is useful for fixing skewed horizons or tilted buildings.

3. Use Auto-Alignment in Third-Party Apps

• Apps like Snapseed and Lightroom detect horizons and adjust automatically for perfect alignment.

4. Check the Photo Before Sharing

• Always preview photos before uploading them to social media.
• Some platforms automatically crop or rotate images based on metadata.

How to Rotate a Photo on iPhone and Undo the Changes

If you rotate a photo but later decide to revert it, follow these steps:

1. Open the Photos app and find the edited image.
2. Tap Edit again.
3. Select Revert (bottom-right corner).
4. Confirm by tapping Revert to Original.

This will restore the photo to its original orientation before any edits were made.

Final Thoughts: Mastering How to Rotate a Photo on iPhone

Now that you know how to rotate a photo on iPhone, you can effortlessly fix orientation issues and ensure your images look perfect every time. Whether using the built-in Photos app, Google Photos, or third-party editing tools, you have multiple options for adjusting your pictures.

For quick fixes, the Photos app works perfectly. But for more precise control, apps like Snapseed and Lightroom Mobile offer advanced rotation and straightening tools.

By mastering this simple yet powerful feature, you can improve your photography skills and make sure every image is displayed just the way you want it!