Display orientation reverts to Landscape after reboot on kiosk devices: update to required OS build

Android

If your MicroTouch kiosk devices keep reverting to Landscape orientation after each reboot, even though you've set a different orientation policy in Esper, this article will help you resolve the issue. The problem occurs on devices running older OS builds and can be fixed by updating to OS build 20260128.1120 or later.

Before you begin

This issue affects MicroTouch kiosk devices provisioned using the Frank Mayer MicroTouch template. You'll need to apply a Compliance Policy to enable automatic system updates, since the default template has updates disabled.

We recommend testing the fix on a single device before rolling it out to your entire fleet.

Step 1: Create or edit a Compliance Policy

1. In the Esper Console, go to Compliance Policy and either create a new policy or select an existing one applied to a test device.
2. Locate the System Updates section.
3. Set the update mode to Update automatically.

Step 2: Apply the policy to a test device

1. Assign this Compliance Policy to a single affected MicroTouch device first — do not apply it to your entire fleet yet.
2. Allow the device time to receive and install the OTA update to OS build 20260128.1120. The download and installation may take several minutes depending on your network connection.

Step 3: Verify the fix on your test device

1. After the update completes, reboot the device.
2. Check that the screen orientation now matches your configured Esper policy and does not revert to Landscape.
3. In the Esper Console, go to Devices & Groups → [Device Name] → Device Info and confirm the OS build now shows 20260128.1120.
4. Check the Activity Feed for that device and verify that the "Permission denied to change rotation settings" error no longer appears.

Step 4: Roll out to your fleet

Once you've confirmed the fix works on your test device, apply the Auto-Update Compliance Policy to all remaining affected kiosk devices. Monitor the Activity Feed to ensure the OS updates complete successfully.

Important notes about orientation verification

If you're using Esper Remote Viewer to verify the orientation, be aware that it normalizes all displays to either Portrait or Landscape and does not show whether a device is in standard or inverted orientation. For example, a device set to Inverse Portrait will appear as Portrait in Remote Viewer. To verify the actual physical orientation, inspect the device in person on-site.

Troubleshooting

• The OTA update doesn't appear: Confirm your device has an active internet connection and that no other Compliance Policy is overriding the System Update setting.
• The orientation error persists after updating: This may indicate a device-specific configuration issue. Contact Esper Support with your device serial number, the updated OS build string, and a fresh Activity Feed export showing the continued failure.

Still need help?

If you've followed these steps and the issue persists, or if you have questions about applying the Compliance Policy, submit a support ticket and include your device serial number, current OS build, and a screenshot of the Activity Feed showing the orientation error.