The Exif Assumption
Modern digital cameras and smartphones embed hidden metadata into every photo they take, known as EXIF data. This data includes information like the camera model, exposure settings, and crucially, the physical orientation of the device when the picture was taken (e.g., portrait or landscape). By default, the Windows 11 Photos app reads this EXIF orientation flag and automatically rotates the image on your screen so it appears “right-side up.” While usually helpful, this becomes a major problem if you intentionally shot an image at an odd angle for artistic effect, or if your camera’s internal gyroscope was broken and embedded incorrect orientation data, causing Windows to display the image sideways or upside down against your wishes.
Stripping Orientation Metadata
To view your raw images exactly as they were written to the file and stop Windows 11 from automatically rotating them based on hidden EXIF tags, you must strip or modify the metadata, as the Photos app lacks a toggle to ignore it.
Because the Windows 11 Photos app is hardcoded to respect EXIF orientation, you cannot simply flip a switch in its settings menu. You must remove the orientation tag from the file itself. Right-click the problematic image file in File Explorer and select Properties. In the Properties window, click on the Details tab. Look at the bottom of the window and click the link that says Remove Properties and Personal Information. A new dialogue box will open. Select the second radio button: Remove the following properties from this file. Scroll through the list of checkboxes until you find the one labeled Orientation. Check the box next to Orientation, and then click OK. Windows will strip the flag, and the Photos app will now display the raw pixel data exactly as it exists in the file, without automatic rotation.