What is airplane mode? What is it used for?

What does airplane mode do?

The airplane mode on your mobile phone is a feature that turns off all wireless connections, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (on most devices), and cellular connection. You might also know it as “flight mode” or “offline mode.”

When you turn on airplane mode, your device stops searching for wireless connections. This is important on a plane because it prevents interfering with the aircraft’s communication or navigation systems.

But don’t worry, turning airplane mode on doesn’t mean you’ll get bored out of your mind during the flight. You can still play offline games, listen to stored music, read preloaded books, and edit preloaded photos. And look at the bright side — you won’t be bothered by constant notifications! 

Plus, using airplane mode saves battery life because the phone isn’t consuming power trying to connect to wireless connections — a great trick when you need longer battery life.

Why do you need airplane mode?

Airplane mode on electronic devices like cell phones is there for safety reasons — it prevents signal interference with the aircraft’s navigation and communication systems. Don’t worry, a modern airplane will not fall to the ground because of electromagnetic interference, but there’s still a chance that multiple devices searching for wireless connections could cause problems. Better safe than sorry!

Right before taking off, flight attendants will ask you to turn on airplane mode on all your devices, including cell phones. This is a safety requirement set out in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) rules. You must keep your devices in airplane mode throughout the entire flight on any aircraft, unless the flight crew instructs otherwise. If you don’t, you might put the safety of everyone on the plane at risk, let alone get in trouble with the authorities. 

How to turn on airplane mode on different devices

It’s super easy to turn airplane mode on all your devices. A few taps on the screen, and you’re done!

How to turn on airplane mode on Apple devices

The process of turning on airplane mode is the same across iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches:

1. Swipe down from the top right corner on your iPhone or iPad or swipe up on your Apple Watch.

2. Tap the airplane icon, and all wireless functions will be turned off.

This will disable all cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connections so that you comply with in-flight rules. You can now play offline games or listen to preloaded music uninterrupted!

How to turn on airplane mode on Android devices

Android makes activating airplane mode easy peasy on all its cell phones, tablets, and smartwatches. A tap or two on the screen, and you’re ready for a safe take-off.

1. Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Quick Settings panel.

2. Tap the airplane mode icon. in the Quick Settings panel which is accessible by swiping down from the top of the screen.

You can also go to your device’s settings, look up the airplane mode there, and toggle it on.

How to turn on airplane mode on a Kindle

On e-readers like Kindles, you can turn on airplane mode under the wireless or connectivity settings. Or you can use the quick actions menu — simply swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the airplane mode icon. Your Kindle will disconnect from Wi-Fi and other networks.

It’s easy to forget your e-reader can connect to the internet, so make it a habit to enable airplane mode on your Kindle as soon as you board the plane. 

Airplane mode benefits beyond flights

Airplane mode isn’t just for flights. From saving battery life to reducing distractions, it will benefit you more than you know.

Saving battery life

Want to save battery life in a major way? Enable airplane mode! It turns off all forms of wireless communication, including Wi-Fi, cellular service, and Bluetooth. These activities consume a lot of power, so temporarily stopping them will help your device last longer before you need to recharge it.

When you put your device in airplane mode, it also stops background apps from running tasks that consume battery resources. It can be a lifesaver during long trips or when you have nowhere to charge your device.

Reducing distractions

Tired of all those annoying notifications? Turn on airplane mode and focus on whatever you are doing — you won’t be distracted by any incoming messages or notifications.

You don’t have to be on a plane to enable this useful feature. Use it in situations that require your undivided attention, like conferences, exams, or digital detox periods. By cutting off internet access and disabling pop-ups, you create a disturbance-free environment.

Why not give it a try? Switch to airplane mode when you need to focus to get more work done, and see what happens. You might even notice your concentration and productivity going up.

Limiting data usage

Airplane mode is your best friend if you have a limited data plan. By regularly activating this mode, you can control your data usage to stay within your data allowance. It might help you avoid unexpected phone bills for going over your data limit.

If you travel abroad a lot, you might find it useful to turn on airplane mode on your phone to avoid roaming fees. Even with airplane mode active, you can still use offline features and connect to available Wi-Fi and cell service manually, saving your mobile data for important moments.

Faster charging

Turning on airplane mode on your device can speed up charging. This is great when time is of the essence and you need to charge your phone asap. With this mode activated, your phone is also consuming less energy because background activities that need internet connection are temporarily turned off. 

More privacy

Switching to airplane mode may boost your privacy because it turns off all wireless communication. This means hackers or snoopers can’t access your device or track your location through Wi-Fi networks. For example, if you’re in a public area like an airport, turning on airplane mode can prevent your phone from automatically connecting to untrusted networks. 

Disabling all wireless signals, airplane mode reduces the chances of external parties to intercept your data and access your device without permission. This is very useful when traveling to countries that monitor closely or if you need to keep your data confidential.

Airplane mode disadvantages

As great as airplane mode is, you wouldn’t want it on at all times. Some downsides of using airplane mode include:

Missed calls and messages

When your device is in airplane mode, all cellular connections are turned off. You won’t get cell phone calls or text messages, which can be a bummer if you’re expecting important ones.

No internet

Airplane mode turns off your cellular data and Wi-Fi. Unless you enable Wi-Fi manually, you won’t have internet access. This means you won’t be able to check your emails or browse the web.

App limitations

Many apps need internet connection to work. In airplane mode, these apps might not work as intended or at all, so you won’t be able to use certain features or access real-time info.

No GPS navigation

The GPS service itself is not turned off in airplane mode. But does the airplane mode turn off location sharing? No, it doesn’t. The lack of internet simply means your device will not update its location online. This can also affect navigation apps that need data to show maps and directions.

Missed updates

With no internet connection, your device won’t get software updates or app update notifications, which can mean delayed important fixes or security patches. 

Can I use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in Airplane mode?

Yes, you can use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in airplane mode but you’ll have to turn each of them on individually after you’ve enabled airplane mode. Just don’t do it during a flight if you haven’t received a clear permission to do so from the flight attendants.

You can turn on both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth while in airplane mode to have a wireless connection to access the internet or sync with other devices. You can also send and receive messages with airplane mode if you manually turn on Wi-Fi and use messaging apps like WhatsApp, Apple iMessage, WeChat, or Facebook Messenger.

Whether you can connect via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth during flight depends on the airline’s rules and the plane itself. Always check with the cabin crew or follow the pilot’s instructions about these features.

What if my phone is not in airplane mode during a flight?

If you don’t put your device in airplane mode during flight, you risk causing electronic interference and messing up the plane’s navigation systems.

However, aircraft are now strong enough to withstand electromagnetic interference from personal electronic devices. Thinking a few active mobile phones can crash an aircraft into the ground doesn’t hold water scientifically. Still, a large number of devices searching for a wireless network to connect to can disrupt communication with air traffic control. 

Flight attendants make sure all passengers put their phones and other devices in flight mode before takeoff. Using mobile devices without airplane mode can produce electromagnetic noise that interferes with pilot-to-air traffic control communications. That’s why the FCC has rules about using airplane mode. Following the rules makes for a smoother and safer flight for everyone on board.

Airplane mode myths

There are many myths about airplane mode. One common myth is that airplane mode disables GPS. In reality, GPS is a receive-only signal and doesn’t interfere with other devices so it’s still working even in airplane mode. However, your location won’t be updated to the current one unless your device reconnects to a network like Wi-Fi or cellular data.

Another myth is that airplane mode blocks all signals. While it disables cellular signal, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can still be used if turned on separately. That’s why some airlines allow passengers to use in-flight Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices.

Some people also think that airplane mode disables all functions of their device. This is not true — you can still use a lot of your phone’s features, such as camera, music player, and offline apps. Essentially, airplane mode disables your internet connection by turning off wireless communication, but the rest of your phone’s offline capabilities remain unaffected.