Anybody flying on a commercial flight is well aware of the Airplane mode. But if you still have questions, you have come to the right place. In this guide, you will learn what Airplane mode is and whether it is essential.
What is Airplane Mode, and What Happens When This Mode is Enabled?
Flight mode or Airplane mode is a smartphone/laptop/tablet setting that temporarily disables Wi-Fi and signals, even as the rest of the device remains functional. When the setting is turned on, you will see the airplane icon in your device’s status bar.
The Airplane mode feature is called so because most airlines prevent using wireless devices on their planes during takeoff and landing.
- Go to the Control Center on your iPhone to find the airplane mode icon. Access it by swiping down from the top right or up from the button, according to the model and age of your phone. Then, tap the Airplane mode to turn it on. Follow the same steps if you are using an iPad.
- On your Android phone, the Airplane mode can be activated by swiping down from the top of the screen. This will open the Settings panel and see the airplane icon. Click the icon to activate this setting.
- To turn on Airplane mode Mac, you must individually disable Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other settings. There’s no designated setting to disable all the settings in one click.
When your wireless device is put in Airplane mode, your device will stop receiving radio signals that enable you to receive or send messages or calls, access web-based email like Gmail, access websites, or download data. But the text messages or websites already downloaded or any other information stored offline on your device will be accessible. This may include offline music, movies, or games saved to your device.
What Are the Uses of Airplane Mode?
Airplane mode is mainly used to decrease interference on commercial flights. However, this is not the only reason to use this setting. Some other uses of this feature are mentioned below:
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For troubleshooting
Do you need any help with your Wi-Fi or cellular connection? The simplest way to fix this is by toggling the problematic setting off and turning it back on again. This is similar to rebooting your phone but saves you time and effort.
Next time you face any connectivity issues, turn on Airplane mode for a few seconds and then turn it off.
Conserving Battery
Airplane mode helps devices conserve battery by turning off the most critical components that drain the battery. For instance, Wi-Fi, cellular data, and Bluetooth take up a lot of power, which can quickly drain your device’s battery. Disabling these settings ensures your phone is kept alive for a long time. You can also turn on Airplane mode when charging your phone, so it charges faster.
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Data saver
Are you on a metered cellular plan? You can conserve data by turning on Airplane mode. However, when this mode is turned on, you won’t be able to send text messages or download data over cellular. You cannot even make calls.
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Keeps distractions at bay
If you want to work uninterrupted, you can turn on Airplane mode. This will ensure that you are distracted by random calls or messages.
Is it Possible to Connect to Wi-Fi While in Airplane mode?
This depends on your device. However, most modern smartphones and wireless devices allow users to turn on Wi-Fi in Airplane mode.
When Airplane mode is switched on, Wi-Fi will be turned off. But you can manually turn it on.
If you are using an Android phone, you can turn on Airplane mode by swiping down from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings. Then, turn on Airplane mode. Once again, go to Quick Settings and tap the Wi-Fi icon. You will get connected to the nearby Wi-Fi network, and you can do all your web-based tasks but not receive text messages or calls that are not Internet-based.
If you are an iPhone user, go to the Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner or swiping up from the bottom. Next, tap the Airplane mode to turn it on and then go to the Control Center again. This time, tap on the Wi-Fi icon.
Several airlines also offer in-flight Wi-Fi that you can connect to while on the plane. You can check with an airline employee before trying to turn on Wi-Fi. Typically, planes allow Wi-Fi when above 10,000 feet. But you must turn off Wi-Fi during landing and takeoff.
The Bottom Line
You need to know these things about Airplane mode so you can use the feature to the fullest and not only when traveling on a commercial flight. So find this setting on your device and see what it can do for you.
