Google has quietly rolled back a new display option it recently tested in its Phone app, following mixed user feedback.
The company had introduced a setting called “Keep portrait mode on calls” in the app’s beta channel. The feature was designed to prevent calls from switching to landscape mode when auto-rotate is enabled at the system level.
Google added the option after complaints surfaced about the new landscape calling interface. Many users reported that the horizontal layout was disruptive, especially when walking or using the phone one-handed.
The landscape design displays caller information on one side and call controls on the other, in a two-column layout. While some users welcomed the change, others found the automatic rotation inconvenient during active calls.
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Despite the initial test, Google has now removed the portrait lock option. Beta users report that the setting no longer appears under the app’s Display menu. The feature was never released to a stable version of the Phone app.
Other experimental tools remain available in the beta version. These include Expressive Calling, which adds enhanced visual effects to calls and continues to receive active testing.
Google has not issued an official statement explaining the rollback. However, the removal suggests the company may be re-evaluating how best to balance usability with design changes in core communication apps.
For now, users will have to rely on system-wide rotation controls while Google considers its next steps
