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220-1201 Practice Question: That their iPad will not rotate the screen when…
A user reports that their iPad will not rotate the screen when the device is turned sideways, even though rotation lock is off. The issue started after a recent iOS update. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
The 220-1201 exam often tests the misconception that hardware failures are the primary cause of post-update issues, but the trap here is that candidates overlook the simple software toggle in Control Center, assuming the user's statement 'rotation lock is off' refers only to the Settings app, not the Control Center override.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The rotation lock is enabled in the Control Center.
The most common cause of screen rotation failure after an iOS update is that the update resets or changes Control Center settings, re-enabling the rotation lock. The user may have rotation lock off in Settings but it can be toggled on in Control Center without their knowledge, as iOS updates can alter Control Center configurations. The accelerometer and display driver are unlikely to be affected by a standard iOS update, and the issue is system-wide, not app-specific.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The accelerometer sensor is damaged.
Why it's wrong here
An accelerometer sensor detects the device's orientation and movement. If this sensor were physically damaged, the iPad would exhibit a complete and persistent failure to detect orientation changes across all applications and the entire operating system interface. This would result in a total lack of screen rotation functionality, or potentially erratic and unpredictable rotation behavior, regardless of any software settings or application-specific support.
- ✗
The app being used does not support landscape mode.
Why it's wrong here
While individual applications can be designed to support only portrait or landscape mode, the user's report indicates a general inability for the iPad to rotate at all. If the issue were confined to a specific app, the device would still correctly rotate on the home screen, within other applications, or when navigating system menus. The problem described points to a system-wide override or global setting, rather than an app-specific limitation.
- ✓
The rotation lock is enabled in the Control Center.
Why this is correct
iOS and iPadOS devices incorporate a rotation lock feature, typically accessible through the Control Center, which explicitly prevents the screen from automatically reorienting based on the device's physical position. When this lock is activated, the operating system intentionally disregards input from the accelerometer, causing the display to remain fixed in its current orientation. This common user-enabled setting directly overrides the automatic rotation function, making it the most probable cause for a sudden inability to rotate.
- ✗
The iOS update corrupted the display driver.
Why it's wrong here
A display driver is the software component responsible for managing the device's graphics processing and output to the screen. If an iOS update corrupted the display driver, the symptoms would typically manifest as visual anomalies such as flickering, distorted images, incorrect colors, resolution problems, or even a complete failure of the display. A specific and isolated failure of screen rotation, without any other visual impairments, is not characteristic of a corrupted display driver.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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