Why Images Appear Rotated After Uploading to the CMS – ASP Knowledge Base

If an image looks correct on your computer but appears rotated incorrectly after uploading to the CMS, this is a common issue and usually isn’t caused by anything you’ve done wrong.

In most cases, this behaviour is caused by EXIF data stored within the image file.

❓ What Is EXIF Data?

EXIF data (Exchangeable Image File Format) is information embedded inside an image file by a camera, phone, or image-editing software.

It can include details such as:

The device used to take the photo
Date and time the image was captured
Camera settings
Image orientation (portrait or landscape)

Many devices don’t physically rotate the image when you turn the camera. Instead, they store the image in its original orientation and use EXIF data to tell software how the image should be displayed.

⚠️ Why Does This Cause Images to Rotate in the CMS?

Different systems and browsers interpret EXIF data in different ways.

Your computer or image viewer may read the EXIF orientation correctly
The CMS (or the browser displaying the image) may ignore or misinterpret it

As a result, the image can appear rotated or flipped after upload, even though it looked correct beforehand. This is why the issue can appear inconsistent or unpredictable.

🧭 How to Fix the Issue (Recommended)

The easiest and most reliable solution is to use the Media Manager within the CMS:

Upload the image as normal
Open the image in Media Manager
Use the rotate tools until the image displays correctly
Save the image

This process removes the EXIF orientation data and permanently sets the image in the correct position, ensuring it displays consistently across the site.

🛠️ Alternative Solutions

You can also resolve the issue before uploading by:

Opening the image locally on your computer
Rotating it if required
Re-saving it using an image editor that removes or resets EXIF data

⚠️ Note:
Some image editors retain EXIF data even after saving, which is why using the CMS Media Manager is often the most reliable approach.

📝 Summary

Images rotate due to EXIF orientation data, not an upload error
Different platforms interpret EXIF data differently
Rotating and saving the image in Media Manager removes EXIF data
Once removed, the image will display correctly and consistently

If you continue to experience issues after following these steps, please contact ASP Support, and we’ll be happy to investigate further.