What is airplane mode?
Airplane mode is a setting that disconnects your device from mobile networks without turning the device off. You might also know it as “flight mode” or “offline mode.” It’s available on smartphones and tablets, as well as many laptops, smartwatches, and e-readers.
If you’re a first-time flyer, look for the airplane icon in your phone’s Quick Settings panel or the Control Center. Tapping it enables airplane mode, and a similar icon usually appears in the status bar to confirm it’s on.
Although airplane mode is sometimes called “offline mode,” you don’t have to stay offline. You can usually turn Wi-Fi back on while the cellular connection stays off.
What is airplane mode used for?
Airplane mode shuts off your phone’s cellular transmitter so you can keep using the device during a flight. Regulators restrict airborne cellular use over concerns about interference with aircraft systems and mobile networks on the ground.
In the US, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidance tells passengers to use portable electronic devices in airplane mode or with their cellular connection disabled. The cabin crew will explain which devices and connections you may use on your flight.
Airplane mode doesn’t replace other onboard instructions. You may still need to put away your laptop during takeoff and landing, even with its wireless connections disabled. Airplane mode is also useful on the ground, as covered in the section on other uses below.
What does airplane mode do?
Airplane mode turns off your device’s cellular connection. What happens to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth depends on your device and its settings.
Connection | What happens in airplane mode |
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Cellular | Your phone disconnects from mobile networks. Calls, SMS messages, and cellular data become unavailable. On a dual-SIM phone, both lines are affected. |
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Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi usually turns off, but you can turn it back on without turning airplane mode off. Some devices remember your choice the next time you activate airplane mode. |
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Bluetooth | Bluetooth may stay on. Apple devices leave it enabled by default, while Android behavior varies by device and saved preferences. |
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GPS | GPS usually stays on because your device only receives satellite signals and doesn’t transmit anything. |
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If you want to connect wireless headphones to your device, check the Bluetooth setting after enabling airplane mode, but keep in mind that permission to use Bluetooth on a plane depends on the airline’s rules.
What happens when your phone is in airplane mode?
With airplane mode enabled, you can continue using downloaded content and offline tools, while internet-based features need a Wi-Fi connection.
Downloaded entertainment remains available. You can read preloaded books, listen to saved podcasts, or play offline games. Before boarding, confirm that your downloads are complete and that the apps you want to use support offline access.
Your camera and everyday tools still function. You can take photos, edit saved images, write notes, and use apps like the calculator, notes, and clock. Alarms and locally scheduled reminders will still sound.
Maps may provide offline directions. If you want to navigate offline or in airplane mode, download a map of the area in advance. With GPS reception, compatible navigation apps can show your position and provide offline directions. Available routes and transport options vary by app, and live traffic requires internet access.
Online apps need Wi-Fi or mobile. Email, web browsing, and messaging apps can connect if you turn on Wi-Fi and join a network with internet access. Our guide explains which airplanes have Wi-Fi and what to expect on board.
Calls and texts need an alternative connection. Regular calls and SMS messages won’t reach you over the cellular network. If you connect to Wi-Fi, you can use apps such as WhatsApp or Messenger to send messages and make or receive calls. Your carrier may also support regular calls and SMS messages over Wi-Fi calling.
Your phone may still record location information while offline, including location tags on photos if that setting is enabled. Learn how airplane mode affects location sharing before relying on it to stop location updates.
What happens when your phone is not in airplane mode?
When you turn airplane mode off, your phone can reconnect to available mobile networks, provided the relevant SIM line is enabled.
Cellular services can resume. Calls and SMS messages become available once your phone reconnects to a supported network.
Apps can retrieve new content. Emails and online messages may arrive once an internet connection is available. Downloads and backups resume only when the conditions in their settings are met. For example, a backup configured to use Wi-Fi won’t resume over mobile data.
Other settings remain separate. Turning airplane mode off doesn’t necessarily enable mobile data, data roaming, or a SIM line you previously disabled.
Reconnection may take a moment. Your phone needs to find and register on a network, particularly after arriving in another country. If there’s no coverage or your plan is inactive, turning airplane mode off won’t restore service.
If your phone can’t reach your carrier, you may see “No Service” or “SOS” instead of normal signal bars. Our troubleshooting guide explains why your phone might show “SOS” instead of acquiring a connection.
Other uses for airplane mode
Airplane mode can also help you save battery, limit mobile data use, or cut down on interruptions when you’re not flying.
Conserving battery power. Searching for and maintaining a cellular connection consumes power, especially in weak-signal areas. Airplane mode can reduce that drain, although screen brightness and app activity still affect battery life.
Reducing interruptions. With cellular service and Wi-Fi disabled, incoming calls and online messages won’t interrupt you. Alarms and offline notifications can still appear. For quiet time without disconnecting, use the “Do Not Disturb” or “Focus” modes instead.
Preventing roaming charges. Airplane mode stops your phone from connecting to a mobile network abroad and will prevent data roaming and charges associated with it.
Controlling mobile data consumption. Airplane mode stops cellular data use on every SIM line. If you only want to save data while remaining available for regular calls and texts, disable mobile data instead.
Reducing power consumption while charging. Airplane mode can reduce the power your phone consumes, particularly in weak-signal areas. It doesn’t increase the charger’s output and may make little noticeable difference to charging time.
Troubleshooting a lost connection. Turn airplane mode on briefly, then off to prompt your phone to reconnect to the network. This can help resolve a temporary connection problem, but it won’t fix an outage or renew an expired plan.
You might also wonder whether disconnecting your phone offers more privacy. Airplane mode stops cellular communication, but it doesn’t turn off every location feature or erase stored data. If you turn Wi-Fi back on, airplane mode won’t add any protection to that connection.
What happens if your phone is not in airplane mode during a flight?
If you leave airplane mode off during a flight, your phone may keep trying to connect to mobile networks on the ground. At cruising altitude, those attempts can drain your battery without giving you a usable connection.
Forgetting to switch airplane mode on doesn’t put the aircraft in immediate danger, but you should still follow the cabin crew’s instructions. The moment you notice your phone’s cellular connection is still on, turn airplane mode on.
If the airline permits in-flight Wi-Fi, you can enable Wi-Fi separately afterward. Access to in-flight Wi-Fi doesn’t mean you’re also allowed to use cellular service — keep your cellular connection off unless the crew specifically says an onboard cellular service is available and permitted.
How to turn airplane mode on and off on different devices
On most devices, you can enable airplane mode through a Quick Settings panel or the Settings menu. After turning it on, check Wi-Fi and Bluetooth separately rather than assuming both are disabled.
How to turn on airplane mode on Apple devices
On an iPhone or iPad:
Open the Control Center. On an iPhone with Face ID, swipe down from the top-right corner. On an iPhone with a Home button, swipe up from the bottom edge. On an iPad with a recent version of iPadOS, swipe down from the top-right corner.
Tap the airplane icon to enable airplane mode.
Tap the icon again to turn airplane mode off.
You can also open “Settings” and use the “Airplane Mode” toggle.
On an Apple Watch running watchOS 10 or later, press the side button to open the Control Center, then tap the airplane icon. On older versions, swipe up from the watch face to open the Control Center.
Macs don’t have a dedicated airplane mode setting. Use the Control Center or the Settings app to turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth individually when necessary.
How to turn on airplane mode on Android devices
On most Android phones and tablets:
Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Quick Settings menu. You may need to swipe down again to display all the controls.
Tap the airplane mode icon to enable it.
Tap the icon again to turn airplane mode off.
Alternatively, open the main settings app on your Android phone and search for “Airplane Mode.” Some manufacturers may call it “Flight mode.” If the shortcut is missing from the Quick Settings menu, you can usually add it by editing the settings panel.
On many Wear OS smartwatches, swipe down from the watch face and tap the airplane icon. The exact steps depend on the manufacturer.
How to turn airplane mode on and off on Windows laptops and Kindle e-readers
On a Windows laptop with an airplane mode setting, open the device’s Settings menu, select “Network & Internet,” and choose “Airplane Mode.” Use the toggle to turn it on or off.
On most Kindle e-readers, swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Quick Settings menu, then tap “Airplane Mode.” Don’t forget to download your books beforehand so you can read without a connection!
How does airplane mode affect devices with an eSIM?
An eSIM loses its mobile network connection in airplane mode, just like a physical SIM card would. The eSIM itself stays installed on your phone, ready to reconnect the moment you turn airplane mode off. Airplane mode doesn’t pause an active plan or extend its expiration date, though, so the clock keeps ticking on your data plan.
If you’re preparing for an upcoming trip and weighing your connectivity options, the benefits of an eSIM include being able to install a mobile data plan before departure without opening your SIM card tray and swapping plastic cards. If you keep your home SIM on your phone, though, you’ll need to choose which line it uses abroad. Before turning airplane mode off at your destination, adjust these settings:
Select your travel eSIM as your mobile data line.
Turn off automatic data switching if your phone offers it.
Disable your home SIM line to prevent it from using cellular services abroad. Turning off data roaming alone doesn’t necessarily prevent charges for calls or texts.
Turn on data roaming for your travel eSIM. Many travel eSIMs, including the Saily eSIM, need it to connect to local networks.
If you haven’t chosen a travel data plan yet, Saily offers prepaid mobile data plans for 200+ destinations. You can set everything up in the Saily eSIM app before you leave, so there’s no need to install or tinker with anything after landing. Just turn off airplane mode — your plan will activate automatically when your phone connects to a supported local network at your destination.
