What is airplane mode? How to Change Airplane Mode on Android . Swipe down twice from the top of the screen to open the Quick Settings panel. We answer all your questions about this important Android feature.
Get an Android phone, iPhone, iPad, or even a Windows 10 PC and you’ll see an airplane mode toggle in the shortcut menu . But what is airplane mode and what does it actually mean? How can you use this to your advantage on your phone or PC?
We will answer all your questions about airplane mode and more.
What is Airplane Mode?
Airplane mode is a setting that can be used on almost all smartphones, laptops, and similar devices. When you enable Airplane mode, it stops all signal transmission from your device. When your phone is on, you will see an airplane icon in the status bar.
This feature is known as airplane mode because many airlines prohibit wireless devices on their aircraft, especially during takeoff and landing. There is some debate as to whether phones can interfere with radio equipment on airplanes, but many think it is best to go wrong to be careful.
What Does Airplane Mode Do?
Airplane mode disables all wireless functions of your phone or laptop, including:
- Cellular connection: You cannot make calls, send text messages, or use mobile data to access the internet.
- Wi-Fi: Your device will disconnect from existing Wi-Fi connections and won’t connect to new connections.
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth is a short-range connection that allows you to connect your phone to speakers, headphones and more. Airplane mode disables.
GPS is a little different. It does not transmit any radio waves, so depending on your phone, airplane mode may or may not turn off GPS. While offline map applications work without internet connection, features such as live traffic do not work in airplane mode.
How to Turn Airplane Mode On and Off on Android
Follow these steps to enable airplane mode on your Android device:
- Swipe down twice from the top of the screen to open the Quick Settings panel. Alternatively, you can swipe down once using two fingers.
- Look for the Airplane mode toggle in the grid . If you can’t see it, you may need to swipe sideways to access more icons.
- Your phone will enter airplane mode when you tap it.
Repeat these steps to disable airplane mode. Note that it may take some time for your phone to reconnect to Wi-Fi and cellular data after exiting airplane mode. If your phone doesn’t have this shortcut for some reason, you can change the airplane mode from Settings> Network & Internet> Airplane mode .
How to Change Airplane Mode on iPhone Or iPad
If you are an iPhone or iPad user, check out our guide to airplane mode on iPhone and iPad .

What is Airplane Mode on iPhone? We explain what Airplane Mode does, when you should use it, and how it’s useful.
How to Change Windows Airplane Mode
In Windows 10, you can change the Airplane mode from Action Center. Open to Win + to press keys or click on the notification balloon icon in the lower right corner of your screen, then the following Airplane mode found in the passage.

Does Airplane Mode Save Battery?
Yes, airplane mode definitely helps your device save battery life. Various radios in your phone use a lot of power. They regularly transmit app notifications over Wi-Fi, communicate with Bluetooth devices and base stations, and check your location.
All of these consume a lot of power, so disabling them all at once is a great way to keep your phone alive for longer. Since your phone does not work much in airplane mode, it should charge faster.
Can You Use Wi-Fi in Airplane Mode?
This depends on your device, but most modern phones allow you to use Wi-Fi even when in airplane mode. Wi-Fi turns off when you enable Airplane mode, but you can re-enable it manually.
On your Android device, swipe down from the top of the screen twice to open Quick Settings again, then tap Wi-Fi . Give it a few seconds and you will see the Wi-Fi turned on and connected (if your phone allows it). On iPhone, open Control Center and tap toggle Wi-Fi in the same way .
Many airlines now offer in-flight Wi-Fi so you can enable this feature and enjoy it if possible. If you are unsure, you should contact an airline employee before trying to connect. Airplanes only allow Wi-Fi above 10,000 feet, so be careful to keep Wi-Fi turned off during takeoff and landing.
Does Bluetooth Work in Airplane Mode?
This is a scenario similar to the above. Enabling airplane mode will disable Bluetooth, but you can turn it back on with the shortcut toggle on most phones and laptops. Airlines don’t care much about Bluetooth because its range is too short.
Enabling Bluetooth allows you to pair your Bluetooth headphones, keyboard or similar devices. You can do this to save battery while listening to music offline with Bluetooth headsets, even if you are not on the plane.
Does Airplane Mode Use Data?
No, because enabling airplane mode prevents your phone from connecting to your provider’s cell network. You will not use any data in airplane mode.
What Does Airplane Mode Do For Games?
If you love playing games on your phone but hate ads, airplane mode can help. Enabling airplane mode will hide ads in mobile games , as it disables all internet connections .
However, you will have to experiment with your favorites as this will not always work for games that are online.
Do Alarms Work in Airplane Mode?
Yes, the alarms sound normally even in airplane mode. They do not trust any internet connection. Open the Clock app on your device and switch to the Alarms tab to set your alarm normally .
Does Snapchat Work in Airplane Mode?
No. Because Snapchat relies on internet connectivity, it will not work in airplane mode at all.
Can You Receive Calls And Text In Airplane Mode?
No, because your phone is not connected to cellular service. If someone calls you and your phone is in airplane mode, it will arrive at your voicemail as if your phone was turned off. When you disable it, you will see the texts you receive while in airplane mode.
How to Listen to Music in Airplane Mode
Music streaming apps like Spotify, Google Play Music and the like will not work since you have no internet connection in Airplane mode. This means you have two options for listening to music in airplane mode.
First of all, if you subscribe to paid versions of these services such as Spotify Premium or YouTube Music Premium, you can download music to your mobile device. This allows you to listen to it even in airplane mode.
If you don’t want to pay for a premium streaming subscription, you can still listen to local music you have. To do this, you need to sync your music with your phone.
Flying High with Airplane Mode
We’ve answered some of the most common questions about airplane mode on your phone or laptop. In short, it allows you to turn off all wireless activity on your device, which is necessary on some flights and useful even on the ground.