I’ve always been a big fan of the portrait mode where you can see more content on a webpage or document without having to scroll. However, even with better monitorsSwitching between portrait and landscape mode can be a hassle.
Over the years, I’ve considered using a monitor exclusively in portrait mode because I often write and edit long documents. When you watch online videos or need to open a spreadsheet, landscape mode remains your best choice. This is because you end up seeing big black bars above and below a video clip or have to scroll horizontally to get to remote cells in a spreadsheet.
In the past, I would switch to portrait mode, use my screen like this for a few days, and eventually end up switching back to landscape mode permanently. However, since I installed a screen on the wall when setting up a file Digital dashboard In my office earlier this year, I realized that a wall mount makes it easy to switch between the two.
If using a monitor in landscape and portrait mode is the kind of thing that can benefit your workflow, that’s why a wall mount might just be for you.
Switch between portrait and landscape mode using the monitor stand
Many screen stands on that ship with The best gaming monitors Or other advanced screens The ability to rotate your screen. This is easy enough because you just have to physically turn your screen from landscape to portrait mode. However, you must be careful when doing this to avoid damaging the monitor ports or anything else on your desk. For example, when I took this picture, I actually scratched the back of my keyboard Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3.
If your monitor is not very tall when attached to its stand, you may also have to tilt the monitor back before changing its position. From here, you just need to rotate the screen in your operating system.
In Windows, this can be done by right-clicking on the desktop, clicking Display Settings and changing the Display Orientation from landscape to portrait or portrait (inverted) depending on which way you have rotated your screen. (here How to rotate the screen in Windows 10 If you need some extra help.)
On macOS, you need to click on the Apple menu, then go to System Settings and Displays in the sidebar. Clicking a pop-up menu next to “Rotate” allows you to choose how many degrees to rotate the image on the screen accordingly support document (Opens in a new tab) from Apple. It’s a similar situation in one The best Chromebooks You can rotate your screen by opening Settings, going to Device, and then clicking Displays. Under Orientation setting, you can choose the number of degrees to rotate your screen.
While rotating your screen is easy no matter what operating system you’re using, actually doing it can get a little annoying when using a monitor stand. Fortunately, the wall mount removes any obstacles that you may encounter.
Wall mounting makes things even easier
Surprisingly, this wasn’t the first time I’d mounted a monitor on a wall because I already had another monitor mounted on the other side of that wall. However, this wall mount cannot rotate which is why I bought this ($18, Amazon (Opens in a new tab)) when I first set up the digital dashboard. It only took two screws to install and it has a low profile so my monitor is only three inches from the wall.
But what I really like is how easy it is to switch my screen from portrait to landscape mode and back. I just grab the top and bottom of the screen and gently rotate it to the desired position; I don’t have to worry about it getting knocked out or bumping into any items on my desk that way.
Surely, not everyone will be able to set up their screen this way. However, if you do not live in a small apartment or have an exceptionally large screen such as Samsung Odyssey G9You can mount your monitor on the wall to easily switch between landscape and portrait mode. Just like with a TV wall mount, there is an added advantage that your monitor will take up less space since it is attached to the wall instead of taking up space on your desk. Similarly, you can use a file observation arm To achieve the same effect, but you have to worry about accidentally bumping into your desk.
If you prefer portrait mode but want extra space left and right, the LG DualUp is the perfect portrait monitor in my opinion. As opposed to using the normal screen in portrait mode, DualUp offers the same screen display as two 21.5″ screens stacked on top of each other with no bezels in the way.
When to use the screen in portrait mode
So what are the best use cases for portrait mode? Well, if you frequently write, read or edit long documents, the portrait mode will make your work easier. This also applies to programmers and developers who work with code all day.
Now that TikTok vertical videos, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Pants are so popular, you might also want to consider using your screen in portrait mode if you’re a content creator or just someone who enjoys those short videos.
Although mounting the monitor on the wall made it incredibly easy to switch between these two screen orientations, you could always choose a budget monitor to sit next to your main monitor and only use it in portrait mode. Dual monitor setups are very popular for this reason as you don’t have to constantly switch back and forth.
Whichever way you choose to position your screen in portrait mode, it’s definitely worth a try if you haven’t yet and the results may surprise you—especially when browsing the web or editing documents.
