If you upload a photo to LeagueApps and it shows up sideways or upside down, even though it looks correct on your computer or phone, the photo itself isn't broken. This article explains why it happens and walks you through fixing the image on a Mac, a Windows PC, or a phone so it uploads the right way up.
The fix takes about a minute: you save a fresh copy of the photo, then upload that copy to LeagueApps.
Jump to a section:
- Why images upload sideways
- Fix the image on a Mac
- Fix the image on a Windows PC
- Fix the image on an iPhone or Android phone
- Re-upload the corrected image
- FAQ
Why images upload sideways
Phones and digital cameras always save a photo's pixels the same way the camera sensor captured them, no matter how you were holding the device. Instead of turning the image itself, the camera adds a small piece of hidden information to the file, called an orientation tag (part of the photo's EXIF data). That tag tells other apps, "rotate this 90 degrees before showing it."
Your phone's photo gallery, Mac Preview, and the Windows Photos app all read that tag and quietly turn the picture upright, so it looks correct to you. But many websites remove that hidden information when an image is uploaded, or don't read it at all. When that happens, the website shows the photo the way the pixels were actually stored, which is sideways or upside down.
This is why rotating the photo on your computer often doesn't seem to help. Some apps only change the hidden tag instead of turning the actual image, so the photo still looks fine on your device and still uploads sideways.
The reliable fix is to save a new copy of the photo with the rotation built into the image itself. The steps below do exactly that.
| ⚠️ Photos taken on a phone are the most common cause. Screenshots, graphics made in design tools like Canva, and logos exported from design software almost never have this problem. |
Fix the image on a Mac
Option 1: Use Preview
- Find the photo in Finder, right-click it, then choose Open With and then Preview.
- If the photo looks sideways in Preview, click the Rotate button in the toolbar (or press Command + R) until it's upright. If it already looks correct, skip this step.
- From the menu bar, click File, then Export.
- Give the file a new name (for example, add "-fixed" to the end) so you don't overwrite the original.
- Set Format to JPEG or PNG, then click Save.
Option 2: Use the Photos app
- Open the Photos app and select the photo.
- If it isn't upright, click Edit, then Crop, use the rotate button to turn it, then click Done.
- From the menu bar, click File, then Export, then Export 1 Photo. Don't choose Export Unmodified Original, because that keeps the original sideways file.
- Choose JPEG as the photo kind, click Export, and pick where to save it.
Fix the image on a Windows PC
Option 1: Use Paint (most reliable)
- Right-click the photo, choose Open with, then Paint.
- If the photo looks sideways in Paint, click Rotate in the Image section of the toolbar and choose Rotate right 90° or Rotate left 90° until it's upright. If it already looks correct, skip this step.
- Click File, then Save as, then choose JPEG picture or PNG picture.
- Give the file a new name so you keep the original, then click Save.
Paint saves a brand-new copy of the image without the hidden orientation tag, so what you see in Paint is what LeagueApps will show.
Option 2: Use the Photos app
- Open the photo in the Photos app.
- Click Edit image (or press Ctrl + E).
- If needed, use the Rotate button in the crop tools to turn the photo upright.
- Click Save options, then Save as copy.
Fix the image on an iPhone or Android phone
If you're uploading straight from your phone, the quickest fix is to take a screenshot of the photo:
- Open the photo in your phone's gallery so it fills the screen the right way up.
- Take a screenshot.
- iPhone: press the side button and the volume up button at the same time.
- Android: press the power button and the volume down button at the same time (this can vary by phone).
- Use your phone's crop tool to trim away anything around the photo.
- Upload the screenshot to LeagueApps instead of the original photo.
| ⚠️ A screenshot is lower resolution than the original photo. It works well for headshots and small images, but for large banners or anything that will be printed, use the Mac or Windows steps above instead. |
Re-upload the corrected image
- Go back to the place in LeagueApps where you uploaded the original image.
- Remove or replace the sideways image.
- Upload the new copy you saved (the one ending in "-fixed" if you followed the naming tip).
- Save your changes and check the page to confirm the image is upright.
If the image still shows sideways after you upload the fixed copy, try refreshing the page or opening it in a private browser window. Your browser may still be showing the old image.
Frequently Asked Questions
The photo looks fine on my computer. Why is it sideways on LeagueApps?
Your computer reads the photo's hidden orientation tag and turns it upright for you. LeagueApps shows the image as it's actually stored, without that tag. Saving a new copy using the steps above builds the correct rotation into the image itself.
I already rotated the photo on my computer and it's still sideways. What went wrong?
Some apps rotate a photo by changing only the hidden tag, not the image. Use one of the export or Save as steps in this article to create a new copy, then upload that copy.
Will this happen to every photo I upload?
No. It mostly affects photos taken on a phone or camera held sideways or upside down. Screenshots and images made in design tools generally upload correctly.
Can I share these steps with coaches or parents who upload photos?
Yes. The steps work the same for anyone uploading a photo, including player headshots. You can send them this article or use language like: "If your photo shows up sideways, open it on your computer, save a new copy using File then Export (Mac) or Save as (Windows), and upload the new copy."