Toggling it to match the moment is far more comfortable
Turning auto-rotate on when you want a bigger landscape view, and off when lying down to browse, lets you use your phone far more comfortably than leaving one setting fixed all the time.
Rotation lock behaves differently across apps
Some apps ignore the system-wide rotation setting entirely and force a fixed orientation of their own, which is why a handful of apps stay locked to portrait no matter what your rotation lock says. Split-screen or multi-window modes on tablets can also override the setting temporarily while active.
Frequently Asked Questions
Auto-rotate is on, but a specific app still won't rotate.
Some apps lock their own screen orientation internally, so they may only support portrait mode regardless of the system's auto-rotate setting.
Does the same method work on a tablet?
Yes β most tablets use the same quick-settings panel or Control Center toggle to turn auto-rotate on or off.