diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/AndroidManifest.xml b/xwords4/android/XWords4/AndroidManifest.xml
index 6d239b62f..c0835cdbf 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@
     <activity android:name="SMSInviteActivity"
               android:theme="@android:style/Theme.Dialog"
               android:configChanges="keyboardHidden|orientation|screenSize"
-              android:screenOrientation="portrait"
+              android:screenOrientation="sensor"
               />
 
     <activity android:name="GameConfig"
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardActivity.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardActivity.java
index 62e343375..b4cb8ddc1 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardActivity.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardActivity.java
@@ -516,6 +516,10 @@ public class BoardActivity extends XWActivity
     protected void onCreate( Bundle savedInstanceState ) 
     {
         super.onCreate( savedInstanceState );
+        if ( 9 <= Integer.valueOf( android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK ) ) {
+            setRequestedOrientation( ActivityInfo.
+                                     SCREEN_ORIENTATION_SENSOR_PORTRAIT );
+        }
         getBundledData( savedInstanceState );
 
         if ( CommonPrefs.getHideTitleBar( this )