An aerosol generating device comprising: a housing defining a compartment for receiving an aerosol generating substrate, the compartment having an open end, a closed end and a longitudinal axis extending between the open and closed ends (20, 22); a stationary heater positioned adjacent to an outer surface of the aerosol generating substrate and arranged to heat a portion of the aerosol generating substrate positioned adjacent to the heater; a support element in the compartment for supporting the aerosol generating substrate, the support element including a plurality of circumferentially spaced first engaging formations; a capture element fixed to an inner surface of the compartment, the capture element including a plurality of circumferentially spaced second engaging formations; a release element movable in the compartment along the longitudinal axis upon actuation by a user, the release element including a plurality of circumferentially spaced third engaging formations; wherein: the support element is rotatable about the longitudinal axis to provide indexed rotational movement of the aerosol generating substrate in the compartment to sequentially position portions of the outer surface of the aerosol generating substrate adjacent to the heater; the support element is movable in the compartment along the longitudinal axis between first and second positions and is biased to the first position, the first and second engaging formations (48, 52) cooperate when the support element is in the first position to prevent rotational movement of the support element in the compartment, and the first and second engaging formations (48, 52) do not cooperate when the support element is in the second position to allow rotational movement of the support element in the compartment; and upon actuation of the release element by a user, the third engaging formations are configured to engage the first engaging formations to move the support element from the first position to the second position to disengage the first and second engaging formations (48, 52) and thereby permit indexed rotational movement of the support element, and corresponding indexed rotational movement of the aerosol generating substrate, in the compartment. a housing defining a compartment for receiving an aerosol generating substrate, the compartment having an open end, a closed end and a longitudinal axis extending between the open and closed ends (20, 22); a stationary heater positioned adjacent to an outer surface of the aerosol generating substrate and arranged to heat a portion of the aerosol generating substrate positioned adjacent to the heater; a support element in the compartment for supporting the aerosol generating substrate, the support element including a plurality of circumferentially spaced first engaging formations; a capture element fixed to an inner surface of the compartment, the capture element including a plurality of circumferentially spaced second engaging formations; a release element movable in the compartment along the longitudinal axis upon actuation by a user, the release element including a plurality of circumferentially spaced third engaging formations; wherein: the support element is rotatable about the longitudinal axis to provide indexed rotational movement of the aerosol generating substrate in the compartment to sequentially position portions of the outer surface of the aerosol generating substrate adjacent to the heater; the support element is movable in the compartment along the longitudinal axis between first and second positions and is biased to the first position, the first and second engaging formations (48, 52) cooperate when the support element is in the first position to prevent rotational movement of the support element in the compartment, and the first and second engaging formations (48, 52) do not cooperate when the support element is in the second position to allow rotational movement of the support element in the compartment; and upon actuation of the release element by a user, the third engaging formations are configured to engage the first engaging formations to move the support element from the first position to the second position to disengage the first and second engaging formations (48, 52) and thereby permit indexed rotational movement of the support element, and corresponding indexed rotational movement of the aerosol generating substrate, in the compartment. the support element is rotatable about the longitudinal axis to provide indexed rotational movement of the aerosol generating substrate in the compartment to sequentially position portions of the outer surface of the aerosol generating substrate adjacent to the heater; the support element is movable in the compartment along the longitudinal axis between first and second positions and is biased to the first position, the first and second engaging formations (48, 52) cooperate when the support element is in the first position to prevent rotational movement of the support element in the compartment, and the first and second engaging formations (48, 52) do not cooperate when the support element is in the second position to allow rotational movement of the support element in the compartment; and upon actuation of the release element by a user, the third engaging formations are configured to engage the first engaging formations to move the support element from the first position to the second position to disengage the first and second engaging formations (48, 52) and thereby permit indexed rotational movement of the support element, and corresponding indexed rotational movement of the aerosol generating substrate, in the compartment.