The Google Phone app has recently introduced support for a landscape user interface, a feature that activates when the system-wide auto-rotate setting is enabled. However, this addition has not been without its complications, as users have reported a recurring pattern of the landscape feature being intermittently available in stable updates, leading to confusion and frustration among users.
Understanding the Landscape UI Feature
In September 2025, a wave of user complaints surfaced regarding the unexpected rotation of the Google Phone app during calls. Initially, many users believed this behavior to be a glitch, unaware that the app had indeed begun supporting a landscape orientation. When users with auto-rotate enabled made calls, they encountered the intended landscape view, which was a significant shift from the previously portrait-only interface.
Reddit user xylarr highlighted this issue, noting that their Pixel device would automatically rotate the app’s UI during calls. Other users echoed similar sentiments, expressing their confusion over what they perceived as a bug. In reality, the landscape rotation was functioning as designed, leading to a puzzling situation where intended behavior was mistaken for an error.
Feature Additions and User Experience
Prior to the introduction of the landscape UI, the Google Phone app had strictly adhered to a portrait format, rendering the auto-rotate feature ineffective within the app. The recent update, which allowed for landscape orientation, prompted a backlash from users who were unaccustomed to this change. In response to the feedback, Google introduced a dedicated toggle for locking the UI in portrait mode, enabling users to bypass the auto-rotate feature if they preferred a consistent experience during calls.
Despite these efforts, the landscape UI continues to be a source of inconsistency, with reports indicating that it is frequently added and removed between updates. Meanwhile, the portrait lock toggle remains confined to beta releases, leaving users in a state of uncertainty regarding how their app will behave.
Temporary Solutions for Users
For those grappling with the unexpected rotation of the Google Phone app, a straightforward solution is to disable the system-wide auto-rotate feature. This action will effectively lock all applications, including the Google Phone app, in portrait mode. While this workaround may alleviate immediate concerns, the ideal resolution would be for Google to stabilize both the landscape UI and the portrait lock toggle in the app’s stable release. Until such a resolution is achieved, users can expect ongoing discussions and inquiries regarding the app’s functionality.
