Should mobile apps flip upside down? (I am referring to when you turn up phone upside down, and the screen flips.)

Are there any studies on this? Apple says iPad apps should be able to flip upside down, but I haven't seen anything about apps for mobile phones.

If it's relevant: This is a utility app. There is no horizontal mode - only portrait.

  • What search terms you have used while trying to find studies on this subject, for example at Google Scholar (scholar.google.com)? – locationunknown Jul 20 '20 at 6:32
  • @locationunknown I only searched regular google.com. I'll check that out. Thanks. – Evorlor Jul 20 '20 at 11:47

Apps shouldn’t flip upside down. Ignoring the current trend of notched phones that would cover up the apps bottom controls, users have a preconceived notion that apps that don’t have horizontal rotation likely don’t have upside down rotation. The user may then attempt to rotate the device without rotating the content (imagine the infamous “wrong photo orientation”, and accidentally rotate the content. Users may also accidentally rotate the content when, say, plugging in a charger.

  • iPhone default voice recording app works exactly like this: no horizontal orientation, but it will flip if you put phone upside down. – ADOConnection Jul 23 '20 at 13:53
  • That makes sense though, as a user would flip their phone upside down to use the microphone. If there's no reason for a user to flip their phone upside down in the use of an app, then it shouldn't flip upside down. – Elijah Ciali Jul 24 '20 at 4:54

It depends upon how the app is to be used.For example,Google maps can be flipped upside down.This is very useful while driving since in many cars it is impossible to keep the phone upright and charge it at the same time.The only way to do so is keep the phone vertically upside down.

  • 1
    I was going to write same answer. In general, if app can be used for a long time while charging phone - it should. – ADOConnection Jul 22 '20 at 22:28

To your specific application

Given that your app is vertical only, AND that the notch form factor may be an issue, upside down is probably lower down on your list of requirements. If your UI was such that the bottom of the screen was generally pretty open anyway, then it's not such an issue.

Consideration of how the app will be used

The environment and setting that the user will use the app should be a consideration. It could be as simple as the user being half asleep and reaching for the phone on the nightstand. Or they may have to grab the phone and use the app when distracted or only able to use one hand. Supporting alternate orientation in these situations might be important, or greatly decrease user frustration. A half asleep user may be frustrated that the app can't handle upside down for example.

Applications where orientation is an issue

The only kind of app that could not support it would be an app that had to be oriented vertically (did not support horizontal mode), and where a screen notch would interfere the UI when upside down. Another example of interference might be a camera or other physical aspect of the phone being obscured by the user's hand or difficult to access when holding the phone upside down.

Potential for user frustration by not supporting it

But unless the above is true, then I believe upside down should be allowed. Not allowing it just creates a small element of user frustration and bad user experience when the user turns their phone and the app does not respond.

On apps being able to adjust for orientation

If orientation could cause a problem (such as an upside down picture from the camera), then the app author should account for this. Apps that allow horizontal orientation don't have a right and wrong side and can properly handle photographs for example, so there is no reason why an app couldn't correct for an upside down phone.

There might also be cases related to integrated sensors, such as a compass app. But even then, this could theoretically be corrected for.

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