Can you use internet on airplane mode

(Last Updated On: November 18, 2022)

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Key Highlights

  • Are you aware of how to utilize your mobile device’s internet while it is in flight or airplane mode?
  • One cannot make or receive calls when their phone is in flight mode, and they are also unable to access the internet
  • Since having access to the internet is now a must, we’ll show you how to utilize it on your phone even when it’s in flight or airplane mode

Amongst all the gadgets, smartphones make it to the top in terms of popularity and usage in this fast-paced lifestyle. The usage isn’t entirely limited to communication. We now rely on these mobile devices for our entertainment and even for professional tasks. And smartphones have improved the connectivity aspects for improved internet usage experience. Faster speeds are now achieved with modern-day’s smartphone technologies and developments in the telecom sector. The 5G network is the latest hype that all the smartphone companies have looped in for their new-generation products.

Not just mobile internet, Wi-Fi connectivity has also evolved over the last few years. You can see smartphones enabled with the latest Wi-Fi technologies allowing for a fast browsing experience and smoother high-resolution video playback at OTT platforms. The availability of both Wi-Fi and mobile internet is a common feature across Android and iOS devices nowadays. The usability factor is also the same across all devices.

You can either use mobile internet or Wi-Fi to get connected to the online space. The latter comes in handy in regions when you don’t have good mobile net connectivity or are running out of data balance. It also helps you get connected to the internet when you toggle on the Airplane mode on your smartphones.

But what if you come across situations where you need to deliberately toggle on the Airplane mode and need to use the internet, but Wi-Fi is also unavailable (since that’s the workaround most are aware of). Well, you would be surprised to know that most smartphones would allow you to use mobile internet even if the Airplane mode is on. Don’t worry if you aren’t aware of the procedure, it isn’t super tricky. Take a look below:

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Step To Use Internet In Airplane Mode Via Wi-Fi

Step 1: This is the easiest way to use the internet when your smartphone’s Airplane mode is on. Just drag down the notification bar on your respective devices and click on the ‘Wi-Fi’ option.

Step 2: Click on the desired network you want your handset to connect. If the network is already saved on your device it will connect automatically, otherwise, enter the network SSID and password for authentication. That’s all you need to do to toggle on the Wi-Fi when the Airplane mode is on.

Steps To Use Internet (Mobile Data) In Airplane Mode

Step 1: Make sure you have toggled on the Airplane mode on your respective devices.

Step 2: Open the dialer app and dial *#*#4636#*#*.

Step 3: A testing page will open up with three different options namely “Phone information1”, “Phone infirmation2”, and “Wi-Fi” information. Select the Phone information 1 or 2 depending on the SIM whose mobile data you want to use in Airplane mode.

Step 4: Once you click on the Phone info 1 or 2, another settings page will open up where you need to scroll down to the Mobile Radio Power option. Toggle this on along with the VoLTE provisioned and Video Calling provisioned placed right below the Mobile Radio Power option.

Step 5: Scroll further down to the “More” tab. Click on it.

Step 6: You will see another option “Enable Data Connection”. Tap on it and voila, you can now start browsing the internet even with the Airplane mode on.

Can you use internet on airplane mode
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Airplane mode disables all of your device's wireless communication methods, like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Cellular connections. Airplane mode is designed to prevent signals from phones, laptops, or other mobile devices from interfering with the aircraft's systems.

Airplane mode disables a device’s cellular radio, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth—all the wireless transmission functions. But many airplanes now offer in-flight Wi-Fi, and cellular access may be coming to planes soon—so where does that leave airplane mode?

Even if you never fly, airplane mode offers a quick way to disable many of your device’s battery-draining radios. It can extend your device’s battery life as long as you don’t need any of those wireless radios.

Whatever device you’re using—an Android phone, iPhone, iPad, Windows tablet, or whatever else—airplane mode disables the same hardware functions. These include:

  • Cellular: Your device will stop communicating with cell towers. You won’t be able to send or receive anything that depends on cellular data, from voice calls to SMS messages to mobile data.
  • Wi-Fi: Your phone will stop scanning for nearby Wi-Fi networks and attempting to join them. If you’re already connected to a Wi-Fi network, you’ll be disconnected.
  • Bluetooth: Airplane mode disables Bluetooth, a wireless communication technology most people associate with wireless headsets. But Bluetooth can be used for many other things, including keyboards and mice.
  • GPS: Airplane mode also disables GPS-receiving functions, but only on some devices. This is a bit confusing and inconsistent. In theory, GPS is unlike all the other technologies here — a device with GPS turned on is only listening to GPS signals it receives, not transmitting any signals. However, some aircraft regulations do not allow the use of GPS-receiving functions for whatever reason.

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Can you use internet on airplane mode

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When airplane mode is enabled, you’ll often see an airplane icon in your device’s notification bar, which appears on the top bar on Android devices, iPhones, and iPads. You can still use devices on the aircraft—even during takeoff and landing—as long as airplane mode is enabled. You don’t have to power them off.

Why is Airplane Mode Necessary?

Can you use internet on airplane mode

Regulations in many countries prohibit the use of devices that transmit signals on commercial aircraft. A typical phone or cellular-enabled tablet is communicating with several cell towers and attempting to maintain a connection at all times. If the towers are far away, the phone or tablet has to boost its signal so it can communicate with the towers. This sort of communication could interfere with an airplane’s sensors and potentially cause issues with sensitive navigation equipment. That’s the concern that brought these laws about, anyway. In reality, modern equipment is robust. Even if these transmissions do cause problems, your plane won’t fall out of the sky because a few people forgot to enable airplane mode!

A more demonstrable concern is that, as you’re traveling very quickly, all the phones on the plane would be constantly handing off from cell tower to cell tower. This would interfere with the cellular signals people on the ground receive. You wouldn’t want your phone to do this hard work, anyway—it would drain its battery and it wouldn’t be able to maintain a signal properly, anyway.

Use Airplane Mode to Save Battery Power

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Airplane mode is useful even when you’re on the ground, offering an excellent way to save battery power on your device. The radios on a device use a large amount of power, communicating with cell towers, scanning for and connecting to nearby Wi-Fi networks, waiting for incoming Bluetooth connections, and occasionally checking your location via GPS.

Can you use internet on airplane mode

Turn airplane mode to disable all those radios. Bear in mind that this will block incoming phone calls and SMS messages on a phone, but it can be a great battery-saving tip if you really need that last bit of juice. It’s especially useful on a tablet when you’re just using your tablet as an offline eReader anyway.

You Can Enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in Airplane Mode

Can you use internet on airplane mode

Wi-Fi is allowed on some airplanes. In fact, many airplanes now offer in-flight Wi-Fi. Enabling airplane mode always disables Wi-Fi. However, on most devices, you can re-enable Wi-Fi after turning on airplane mode. Other radio signals are still blocked, but you’ll at least be able to connect to Wi-Fi networks.

Some devices also allow you to enable Bluetooth when airplane mode is enabled. Whether this is allowed depends on your airline and the regulatory agency in charge.

Cellular Signals May Be Offered on Airplanes Soon

Cellular signals may be coming soon to airplanes, too. The US FCC is looking at changing rules to allow cellular signals on planes flying above 10,000 feet. This is usually explained in the media as “allowing cell phone calls on planes,” but it’s more than that. The ruling would also allow texting and any service that uses cellular data. In fact, the US DOT is considering banning cell phone calls on planes. The end result is that you’d be able to text and use cellular data on a plane, but not place voice phone calls. Honestly, that would end up being pretty obnoxious to the people around you, anyway.

Can you use internet on airplane mode

You wouldn’t normally be able to connect to cell towers on the ground, but an airplane that allowed cellular radios would be equipped with “picocells.” These are small cellular base stations to which phones in the plane would connect just like they would any other cell tower. The picocell then beams their signal to a communications satellite, which in turn beams the signal back to a base station on the ground where it can connect to Earth’s cellular networks.

Because the transmitter on the plane is so close to the phones on the plane, the devices can communicate at their lowest transmitting power level. Phones on the plane won’t boost their signal and attempt to contact cell towers on the ground, so this “eliminates the potential for interference,” according to FCC chairman Tom Wheeler.


Even if cellular signals were allowed on airplanes, and even if every airplane on Earth were equipped with a picocell, airplane mode would still be necessary. Airplanes that allow WI-Fi do so only above 10,000 feet, and the US FCC’s proposed regulations would only allow cellular signals above 10,000 feet, as well. Airplane mode would still be necessary during takeoff and landing—or just if you wanted to get some shut-eye and save your phone’s precious battery life.

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How do you get internet on airplane mode?

Step 1: This is the easiest way to use the internet when your smartphone's Airplane mode is on. Just drag down the notification bar on your respective devices and click on the 'Wi-Fi' option. Step 2: Click on the desired network you want your handset to connect.

Can you use internet on a plane in airplane mode?

Use flight or airplane mode. Most phones have an airplane mode that can be turned on to help conserve battery life and data. If you stay on airplane mode, you won't interfere with a cellular radio connection and disturb the flight crew. However, you will still be able to connect to in-flight wifi.

Can you be on airplane mode and use Wi

Use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in Airplane Mode If the airline allows it, you can use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth while in Airplane Mode. You just need to turn them on separately.