You have probably seen the little aeroplane icon on your phone and wondered what it actually does — and whether you only need it on a flight. The short answer is: it turns off all your wireless connections at once, and it is useful in more situations than you might think.
What Aeroplane Mode Turns Off
When you switch on aeroplane mode, your phone stops:
- Connecting to your mobile network (so you cannot make calls or use mobile data)
- Sending or receiving text messages
- Using Wi-Fi
- Using Bluetooth
On most phones you can turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth back on individually after enabling aeroplane mode — so you can still use wireless headphones or connect to the plane’s Wi-Fi, for example.
When to Use It on a Plane
Airlines ask you to use aeroplane mode because your phone constantly searches for phone towers, and that signal could interfere with onboard instruments. It is a safety precaution, not just a rule for the sake of it. Many airlines now offer their own in-flight Wi-Fi, which you can connect to after turning aeroplane mode on and then switching Wi-Fi back on.
Other Useful Times to Switch It On
You do not have to be 30,000 feet in the air to benefit. Here are a few everyday situations where aeroplane mode helps:
- You are in a weak signal area. When your phone has one bar of signal, it uses a lot of battery hunting for a better connection. Aeroplane mode stops that drain.
- Your phone needs to charge quickly. Switching to aeroplane mode while plugged in means the phone is not busy with radio signals, so it charges noticeably faster.
- You want no interruptions. Meetings, a movie at home, or bedtime — aeroplane mode is a simple do-not-disturb that goes a step further than silent mode.
- A child is using the phone. If you hand your phone to a child for a game, aeroplane mode stops unexpected calls and prevents accidental in-app purchases that require a network.
How to Turn It On
On most phones, swipe down from the top of the screen to open your quick settings panel. You will see an aeroplane icon there. Tap it once to turn it on; tap again to turn it off. You can also find it in your main Settings app.
Does It Damage Your Phone?
Not at all. You can switch aeroplane mode on and off as often as you like with no harm to the phone. It is just a shortcut that toggles your wireless radios, nothing more.
Now that you know what it does, you might find it more useful than you expected — not just on flights, but whenever your battery is struggling or you simply want a bit of peace.