diff --git a/app.config.js b/app.config.js
index 1461b7b885..88a71a08e1 100644
--- a/app.config.js
+++ b/app.config.js
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ module.exports = function (config) {
       runtimeVersion: {
         policy: 'appVersion',
       },
-      orientation: 'portrait',
       icon: './assets/app-icons/ios_icon_default_light.png',
       userInterfaceStyle: 'automatic',
       primaryColor: '#1083fe',
@@ -89,8 +88,8 @@ module.exports = function (config) {
             'ja',
             'km',
             'ko',
+            'ne',
             'nl',
-            'np',
             'pl',
             'pt-BR',
             'ro',
@@ -346,6 +345,7 @@ module.exports = function (config) {
             },
           },
         ],
+        ['expo-screen-orientation', {initialOrientation: 'PORTRAIT_UP'}],
       ].filter(Boolean),
       extra: {
         eas: {
diff --git a/lingui.config.js b/lingui.config.js
index da43e35615..fb81e5d9ec 100644
--- a/lingui.config.js
+++ b/lingui.config.js
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ module.exports = {
     'ja',
     'km',
     'ko',
+    'ne',
     'nl',
-    'np',
     'pl',
     'pt-BR',
     'ro',
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 5e1394c2cf..8eafdd6a19 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@
     "expo-media-library": "~17.0.3",
     "expo-navigation-bar": "~4.0.4",
     "expo-notifications": "~0.29.11",
+    "expo-screen-orientation": "^8.0.2",
     "expo-sharing": "^13.0.0",
     "expo-splash-screen": "~0.29.18",
     "expo-status-bar": "~2.0.0",
diff --git a/src/App.native.tsx b/src/App.native.tsx
index 780295ddce..d1d6b7213e 100644
--- a/src/App.native.tsx
+++ b/src/App.native.tsx
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import {
   initialWindowMetrics,
   SafeAreaProvider,
 } from 'react-native-safe-area-context'
+import * as ScreenOrientation from 'expo-screen-orientation'
 import * as SplashScreen from 'expo-splash-screen'
 import * as SystemUI from 'expo-system-ui'
 import {msg} from '@lingui/macro'
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@ import {s} from '#/lib/styles'
 import {ThemeProvider} from '#/lib/ThemeContext'
 import I18nProvider from '#/locale/i18nProvider'
 import {logger} from '#/logger'
-import {isIOS} from '#/platform/detection'
+import {isAndroid, isIOS} from '#/platform/detection'
 import {Provider as A11yProvider} from '#/state/a11y'
 import {Provider as MutedThreadsProvider} from '#/state/cache/thread-mutes'
 import {Provider as DialogStateProvider} from '#/state/dialogs'
@@ -77,6 +78,10 @@ SplashScreen.preventAutoHideAsync()
 if (isIOS) {
   SystemUI.setBackgroundColorAsync('black')
 }
+if (isAndroid) {
+  // iOS is handled by the config plugin -sfn
+  ScreenOrientation.lockAsync(ScreenOrientation.OrientationLock.PORTRAIT_UP)
+}
 
 /**
  * Begin geolocation ASAP
diff --git a/src/alf/util/navigationBar.ts b/src/alf/util/navigationBar.ts
index face869837..cb315f70a2 100644
--- a/src/alf/util/navigationBar.ts
+++ b/src/alf/util/navigationBar.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import * as NavigationBar from 'expo-navigation-bar'
+import * as SystemUI from 'expo-system-ui'
 
 import {isAndroid} from '#/platform/detection'
 import {Theme} from '../types'
@@ -9,10 +10,12 @@ export function setNavigationBar(themeType: 'theme' | 'lightbox', t: Theme) {
       NavigationBar.setBackgroundColorAsync(t.atoms.bg.backgroundColor)
       NavigationBar.setBorderColorAsync(t.atoms.bg.backgroundColor)
       NavigationBar.setButtonStyleAsync(t.name !== 'light' ? 'light' : 'dark')
+      SystemUI.setBackgroundColorAsync(t.atoms.bg.backgroundColor)
     } else {
       NavigationBar.setBackgroundColorAsync('black')
       NavigationBar.setBorderColorAsync('black')
       NavigationBar.setButtonStyleAsync('light')
+      SystemUI.setBackgroundColorAsync('black')
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/components/hooks/dates.ts b/src/components/hooks/dates.ts
index 92b715eafe..3da33a3ae9 100644
--- a/src/components/hooks/dates.ts
+++ b/src/components/hooks/dates.ts
@@ -63,8 +63,8 @@ const locales: Record<AppLanguage, Locale | undefined> = {
   ja,
   km,
   ko,
+  ne: undefined,
   nl,
-  np: undefined,
   pl,
   ['pt-BR']: ptBR,
   ro,
diff --git a/src/locale/__tests__/helpers.test.ts b/src/locale/__tests__/helpers.test.ts
index f10ac71d79..f4a3d1b5fa 100644
--- a/src/locale/__tests__/helpers.test.ts
+++ b/src/locale/__tests__/helpers.test.ts
@@ -12,5 +12,5 @@ test('sanitizeAppLanguageSetting', () => {
   expect(sanitizeAppLanguageSetting('en,foo')).toBe(AppLanguage.en)
   expect(sanitizeAppLanguageSetting('foo,en')).toBe(AppLanguage.en)
   expect(sanitizeAppLanguageSetting('vi')).toBe(AppLanguage.vi)
-  expect(sanitizeAppLanguageSetting('np')).toBe(AppLanguage.np)
+  expect(sanitizeAppLanguageSetting('ne')).toBe(AppLanguage.ne)
 })
diff --git a/src/locale/helpers.ts b/src/locale/helpers.ts
index 6ba1526e9a..a0d36421ac 100644
--- a/src/locale/helpers.ts
+++ b/src/locale/helpers.ts
@@ -153,10 +153,10 @@ export function sanitizeAppLanguageSetting(appLanguage: string): AppLanguage {
         return AppLanguage.km
       case 'ko':
         return AppLanguage.ko
+      case 'ne':
+        return AppLanguage.ne
       case 'nl':
         return AppLanguage.nl
-      case 'np':
-        return AppLanguage.np
       case 'pl':
         return AppLanguage.pl
       case 'pt-BR':
diff --git a/src/locale/i18n.ts b/src/locale/i18n.ts
index 167e36d354..e59a59f6e4 100644
--- a/src/locale/i18n.ts
+++ b/src/locale/i18n.ts
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ import {messages as messagesIt} from '#/locale/locales/it/messages'
 import {messages as messagesJa} from '#/locale/locales/ja/messages'
 import {messages as messagesKm} from '#/locale/locales/km/messages'
 import {messages as messagesKo} from '#/locale/locales/ko/messages'
+import {messages as messagesNe} from '#/locale/locales/ne/messages'
 import {messages as messagesNl} from '#/locale/locales/nl/messages'
-import {messages as messagesNp} from '#/locale/locales/np/messages'
 import {messages as messagesPl} from '#/locale/locales/pl/messages'
 import {messages as messagesPt_BR} from '#/locale/locales/pt-BR/messages'
 import {messages as messagesRo} from '#/locale/locales/ro/messages'
@@ -185,6 +185,10 @@ export async function dynamicActivate(locale: AppLanguage) {
       ])
       break
     }
+    case AppLanguage.ne: {
+      i18n.loadAndActivate({locale, messages: messagesNe})
+      break
+    }
     case AppLanguage.nl: {
       i18n.loadAndActivate({locale, messages: messagesNl})
       await Promise.all([
@@ -193,10 +197,6 @@ export async function dynamicActivate(locale: AppLanguage) {
       ])
       break
     }
-    case AppLanguage.np: {
-      i18n.loadAndActivate({locale, messages: messagesNp})
-      break
-    }
     case AppLanguage.pl: {
       i18n.loadAndActivate({locale, messages: messagesPl})
       await Promise.all([
diff --git a/src/locale/i18n.web.ts b/src/locale/i18n.web.ts
index 83e4acce08..ac32a54728 100644
--- a/src/locale/i18n.web.ts
+++ b/src/locale/i18n.web.ts
@@ -80,12 +80,12 @@ export async function dynamicActivate(locale: AppLanguage) {
       mod = await import(`./locales/ko/messages`)
       break
     }
-    case AppLanguage.nl: {
-      mod = await import(`./locales/nl/messages`)
+    case AppLanguage.ne: {
+      mod = await import(`./locales/ne/messages`)
       break
     }
-    case AppLanguage.np: {
-      mod = await import(`./locales/np/messages`)
+    case AppLanguage.nl: {
+      mod = await import(`./locales/nl/messages`)
       break
     }
     case AppLanguage.pl: {
diff --git a/src/locale/languages.ts b/src/locale/languages.ts
index 9e804b11e1..710ad264e1 100644
--- a/src/locale/languages.ts
+++ b/src/locale/languages.ts
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ export enum AppLanguage {
   ja = 'ja',
   km = 'km',
   ko = 'ko',
+  ne = 'ne',
   nl = 'nl',
-  np = 'np',
   pl = 'pl',
   pt_BR = 'pt-BR',
   ro = 'ro',
@@ -62,8 +62,8 @@ export const APP_LANGUAGES: AppLanguageConfig[] = [
   {code2: AppLanguage.ja, name: '日本語 – Japanese'},
   {code2: AppLanguage.km, name: 'ភាសាខ្មែរ – Khmer'},
   {code2: AppLanguage.ko, name: '한국어 – Korean'},
+  {code2: AppLanguage.ne, name: 'नेपाली – Nepali'},
   {code2: AppLanguage.nl, name: 'Nederlands – Dutch'},
-  {code2: AppLanguage.np, name: 'नेपाली – Nepali'},
   {code2: AppLanguage.pl, name: 'Polski – Polish'},
   {code2: AppLanguage.pt_BR, name: 'Português (BR) – Portuguese (BR)'},
   {code2: AppLanguage.ro, name: 'Română – Romanian'},
diff --git a/src/locale/locales/np/messages.po b/src/locale/locales/ne/messages.po
similarity index 99%
rename from src/locale/locales/np/messages.po
rename to src/locale/locales/ne/messages.po
index c6317b16b9..1f8eabf368 100644
--- a/src/locale/locales/np/messages.po
+++ b/src/locale/locales/ne/messages.po
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ msgstr ""
 "Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8\n"
 "Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit\n"
 "X-Generator: @lingui/cli\n"
-"Language: np\n"
+"Language: ne\n"
 "Project-Id-Version: Nepali localization for bluesky-social-app\n"
 "Report-Msgid-Bugs-To: Divyaswor Makai Shrestha <makaidivyaswor@gmail.com>\n"
 "PO-Revision-Date: \n"
diff --git a/src/view/com/lightbox/ImageViewing/index.tsx b/src/view/com/lightbox/ImageViewing/index.tsx
index 96f78a709e..7018d753a2 100644
--- a/src/view/com/lightbox/ImageViewing/index.tsx
+++ b/src/view/com/lightbox/ImageViewing/index.tsx
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ import {
   useSafeAreaFrame,
   useSafeAreaInsets,
 } from 'react-native-safe-area-context'
+import * as ScreenOrientation from 'expo-screen-orientation'
 import {StatusBar} from 'expo-status-bar'
 import {FontAwesomeIcon} from '@fortawesome/react-native-fontawesome'
 import {Trans} from '@lingui/macro'
@@ -60,11 +61,12 @@ import ImageItem from './components/ImageItem/ImageItem'
 
 type Rect = {x: number; y: number; width: number; height: number}
 
+const PORTRAIT_UP = ScreenOrientation.OrientationLock.PORTRAIT_UP
 const PIXEL_RATIO = PixelRatio.get()
 const EDGES =
   Platform.OS === 'android' && Platform.Version < 35
     ? (['top', 'bottom', 'left', 'right'] satisfies Edge[])
-    : (['left', 'right'] satisfies Edge[]) // iOS or Android 15+, so no top/bottom safe area
+    : ([] satisfies Edge[]) // iOS or Android 15+ bleeds into safe area
 
 const SLOW_SPRING: WithSpringConfig = {
   mass: isIOS ? 1.25 : 0.75,
@@ -102,6 +104,9 @@ export default function ImageViewRoot({
   'use no memo'
   const ref = useAnimatedRef<View>()
   const [activeLightbox, setActiveLightbox] = useState(nextLightbox)
+  const [orientation, setOrientation] = useState<'portrait' | 'landscape'>(
+    'portrait',
+  )
   const openProgress = useSharedValue(0)
 
   if (!activeLightbox && nextLightbox) {
@@ -140,6 +145,20 @@ export default function ImageViewRoot({
     },
   )
 
+  // Delay the unlock until after we've finished the scale up animation.
+  // It's complicated to do the same for locking it back so we don't attempt that.
+  useAnimatedReaction(
+    () => openProgress.get() === 1,
+    (isOpen, wasOpen) => {
+      if (isOpen && !wasOpen) {
+        runOnJS(ScreenOrientation.unlockAsync)()
+      } else if (!isOpen && wasOpen) {
+        // default is PORTRAIT_UP - set via config plugin in app.config.js -sfn
+        runOnJS(ScreenOrientation.lockAsync)(PORTRAIT_UP)
+      }
+    },
+  )
+
   const onFlyAway = React.useCallback(() => {
     'worklet'
     openProgress.set(0)
@@ -154,11 +173,21 @@ export default function ImageViewRoot({
       aria-modal
       accessibilityViewIsModal
       aria-hidden={!activeLightbox}>
-      <Animated.View ref={ref} style={{flex: 1}} collapsable={false}>
+      <Animated.View
+        ref={ref}
+        style={{flex: 1}}
+        collapsable={false}
+        onLayout={e => {
+          const layout = e.nativeEvent.layout
+          setOrientation(
+            layout.height > layout.width ? 'portrait' : 'landscape',
+          )
+        }}>
         {activeLightbox && (
           <ImageView
-            key={activeLightbox.id}
+            key={activeLightbox.id + '-' + orientation}
             lightbox={activeLightbox}
+            orientation={orientation}
             onRequestClose={onRequestClose}
             onPressSave={onPressSave}
             onPressShare={onPressShare}
@@ -174,6 +203,7 @@ export default function ImageViewRoot({
 
 function ImageView({
   lightbox,
+  orientation,
   onRequestClose,
   onPressSave,
   onPressShare,
@@ -182,6 +212,7 @@ function ImageView({
   openProgress,
 }: {
   lightbox: Lightbox
+  orientation: 'portrait' | 'landscape'
   onRequestClose: () => void
   onPressSave: (uri: string) => void
   onPressShare: (uri: string) => void
@@ -221,7 +252,7 @@ function ImageView({
     const openProgressValue = openProgress.get()
     if (openProgressValue < 1) {
       opacity = Math.sqrt(openProgressValue)
-    } else if (screenSize) {
+    } else if (screenSize && orientation === 'portrait') {
       const dragProgress = Math.min(
         Math.abs(dismissSwipeTranslateY.get()) / (screenSize.height / 2),
         1,
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index df8572a289..27c3b4fad6 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -10621,6 +10621,11 @@ expo-pwa@0.0.127:
     commander "2.20.0"
     update-check "1.5.3"
 
+expo-screen-orientation@^8.0.2:
+  version "8.0.2"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/expo-screen-orientation/-/expo-screen-orientation-8.0.2.tgz#69139a1967557a331188d36b4dd615a0e220c2a0"
+  integrity sha512-YsY7Oumlv1WsHLQVgl1f+vAiMZfzUPGyVF2xc7jxmHKtM+jMzIflDl2qKLGfoB0S9Pgg6Z8V4+c+A8wlCURw4A==
+
 expo-sharing@^13.0.0:
   version "13.0.0"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/expo-sharing/-/expo-sharing-13.0.0.tgz#fbc46f4afdaa265a2811fe88c2a589aae2d2de0f"