diff --git a/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml b/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
index 05d76598f9..cd298aad1e 100644
--- a/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@
             android:configChanges="orientation|uiMode|screenLayout|screenSize|smallestScreenSize|locale|fontScale|keyboard|keyboardHidden|navigation"
             android:name=".InterfaceActivity"
             android:label="@string/app_name"
-            android:screenOrientation="landscape"
             android:launchMode="singleTop"
             >
 
@@ -72,6 +71,7 @@
 
         <activity
             android:name=".SplashActivity"
+            android:screenOrientation="portrait"
             android:theme="@style/Theme.AppCompat.Translucent.NoActionBar" />
     </application>
 
diff --git a/android/app/src/main/java/io/highfidelity/hifiinterface/InterfaceActivity.java b/android/app/src/main/java/io/highfidelity/hifiinterface/InterfaceActivity.java
index 1567c864e9..a48093eaf5 100644
--- a/android/app/src/main/java/io/highfidelity/hifiinterface/InterfaceActivity.java
+++ b/android/app/src/main/java/io/highfidelity/hifiinterface/InterfaceActivity.java
@@ -128,6 +128,9 @@ public class InterfaceActivity extends QtActivity {
     @Override
     protected void onStart() {
         super.onStart();
+        if (!isLoading) {
+            setRequestedOrientation(ActivityInfo.SCREEN_ORIENTATION_LANDSCAPE);
+        }
         nativeEnterForeground();
     }
 
diff --git a/android/app/src/main/res/layout/activity_splash.xml b/android/app/src/main/res/layout/activity_splash.xml
index b38fe3e53c..5b4f91e733 100644
--- a/android/app/src/main/res/layout/activity_splash.xml
+++ b/android/app/src/main/res/layout/activity_splash.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     android:id="@+id/root_activity_splash"
     android:layout_width="match_parent"
     android:layout_height="match_parent"
-    android:background="@android:color/transparent">
+    android:background="@color/backgroundLight">
 
 <!-- TODO -->