What Is “Airplane Mode” and When Should You Use It?
What Is Airplane Mode — and Why Should You Care?
You’ve probably spotted it before: the tiny airplane symbol in your phone’s settings or quick-access menu. Tapping it turns on Airplane Mode — a feature that, despite its name, can be useful far beyond the airport. At TechPals, we get a lot of questions like: “Do I really need to use Airplane Mode on a flight?” or “Why did my phone stop getting texts when I turned it on?” This post will clear it all up.
Whether you’re troubleshooting your connection, saving battery, or flying at 30,000 feet, understanding how Airplane Mode works can help you use your phone more effectively.
What Exactly Happens When You Turn On Airplane Mode?
Airplane Mode disables your phone’s wireless radios — the parts of your phone that send and receive signals. That includes:
Cellular service: Your phone stops connecting to your carrier’s network, so no calls, texts, or mobile data will go through.
Wi-Fi: Your phone disconnects from all Wi-Fi networks.
Bluetooth: It pauses all Bluetooth connections (like wireless headphones or keyboards).
GPS (sometimes): On some phones, Airplane Mode may also limit GPS functionality, though many phones allow location services to stay on.
So why is this a default feature on every phone? Because it was originally designed to comply with airline safety regulations, which required passengers to disable wireless transmissions during flights to prevent interference with aircraft systems.
These days, airplanes are better shielded and some flights offer in-flight Wi-Fi — but most airlines still ask passengers to turn on Airplane Mode before takeoff.
When to Use Airplane Mode — Even If You’re Not Flying
Even if you’re not 30,000 feet in the air, Airplane Mode can still come in handy. Here are a few times you might want to turn it on:
1. To Save Battery Life
When your phone is running low on battery, and you don’t need to make calls or check your email, turning on Airplane Mode is a great way to stretch your remaining power. Disabling cellular and background data helps your phone conserve energy, especially in low-signal areas where it’s working hard to stay connected.
2. To Stop Notifications
Need a moment of peace without putting your phone in Do Not Disturb mode? Airplane Mode shuts down incoming calls, texts, and notifications without affecting your alarm or offline apps like notes, camera, or downloaded books and podcasts. It’s a quick way to hit pause without turning off your phone completely.
3. To Troubleshoot a Connection Problem
Sometimes, your phone gets stuck trying to connect — to Wi-Fi, to Bluetooth, or to your mobile network. A quick toggle of Airplane Mode can act as a reset button for all wireless connections. Turn it on for a few seconds, then turn it off again — it often fixes dropped signals or slow connections without a full restart.
4. For Better Focus
Using Airplane Mode is a popular productivity trick. Want to work without distractions? Flip on Airplane Mode while reading, writing, or relaxing. You’ll still be able to use your apps, take photos, or listen to downloaded music — just without the digital interruptions.
5. To Protect Your Privacy While Traveling
If you're in a new place and don’t want your phone connecting to random, unfamiliar networks (or if you're concerned about roaming charges), Airplane Mode is a smart move. You can always toggle Wi-Fi or Bluetooth back on manually if you need them.
Want help testing this out or checking what works while it’s enabled? TechPals is here for you — just visit techpals.org and we’ll walk you through it.
Can You Still Use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth in Airplane Mode?
Yes — and this is one of the most helpful features of modern phones. While Airplane Mode shuts off all wireless signals by default, you can manually turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth back on without disabling Airplane Mode itself.
This is especially useful on flights that offer in-flight Wi-Fi or if you want to use Bluetooth headphones or a keyboard during your trip. Here’s how to do it:
On iPhone: After turning on Airplane Mode, open the Control Center (swipe down from the top-right), and tap the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth icons to turn them back on individually.
On Android: Swipe down to open the quick settings menu, and do the same — just tap the icons again.
This lets you stay connected in ways that comply with airline rules. And if you’re on the ground, it’s also helpful when you want to stay disconnected from cellular networks but still use wireless accessories.
If you're unsure which radios you can safely reactivate, TechPals can walk you through it step-by-step — techpals.org is just a click away.
How to Turn On (or Off) Airplane Mode
Turning Airplane Mode on or off takes just a second — and it’s something every smartphone user should know how to do.
On iPhone:
Control Center: Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen. Tap the airplane icon. When it turns orange, it’s on.
Settings app: Open the Settings app and toggle Airplane Mode at the top.
On Android:
Quick Settings: Swipe down from the top of the screen. Look for the airplane icon and tap it to turn it on.
Settings menu: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Airplane Mode (exact names may vary slightly depending on your device).
To turn it off, simply tap the icon again.
Can’t find the icon or aren’t sure what it’s doing to your apps? We’ve helped hundreds of people figure it out — visit techpals.org and we’ll get you squared away.
What Happens to Your Apps and Messages While It’s On?
Once Airplane Mode is enabled, any apps that rely on the internet — like email, Safari or Chrome, weather apps, or social media — will stop working until you reconnect. You also won’t receive any phone calls or text messages.
However, offline apps and features still work perfectly:
You can take photos or videos
Read saved notes or ebooks
Play music you’ve already downloaded
Use your calendar or calculator
Access offline maps (if previously downloaded)
Once you turn Airplane Mode off and reconnect to Wi-Fi or cellular data, all missed messages, calls, and app updates will come through.
Final Thoughts
Airplane Mode is more than just a travel feature — it’s a quick, easy tool that gives you control over your phone’s connections. Whether you’re flying, troubleshooting a problem, saving battery, or just need a little digital peace, it’s worth knowing how to use it.
Not sure if you turned it off after a flight? Wondering why you’re not getting texts? Or curious what else you can do with this setting? TechPals is here to help with all things tech — including the settings you might not think about every day.
Visit techpals.org for friendly support, step-by-step walkthroughs, and helpful answers. Even your Tech Pals have forgotten to turn Airplane Mode off before — we get it. Let’s figure it out together.
