What does Airplane Mode do?

We all know you’re supposed to toggle on Airplane Mode when you get on a flight. But what does Airplane Mode actually do?

In short, turning on Airplane Mode, shuts off cellular connectivity which grants access to voice and data uses like GPS, calls, and messaging. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) bans cellular connectivity on flights because “its signals could interfere with critical aircraft instruments.”

Nowadays, many planes are equipped with WiFi systems, which enable cellphone use if you’re connected to the plane’s WiFi network. You can easily connect to the WiFi network without having to disable Airplane Mode. Airlines typically provide instructions on how to do this, so be sure to look into that the next time you fly.

With Airplane Mode on, you can still access apps and services on your phone that don’t require cellular connectivity. So if you’ve downloaded shows or games, you’re good to go.

Other uses of Airplane mode

Airplane Mode was designed for, duh, using your devices on an airplane without interference. But Airplane Mode can be a handy tool even when you’re not soaring through the air.

Saving battery life

Relying on your phone’s cellular connectivity can be a battery killer. If you’re connected to a WiFi network and therefore don’t need connectivity or if you desperately need to save your battery life, turning on Airplane Mode can help with this by cutting down on battery-draining apps and services that run in the background.

Just remember, if you’re not connected to WiFi you won’t receive calls, messages, and other updates that require WiFi or cell connectivity.

Lifehack: turning on Airplane Mode while you charge your phone can also charge it faster.

Saving data

Turning on Airplane Mode if you’re connected to WiFi is an easy way to cut down on cellular data usage. Sure, you could individually change the settings for every app to only run on WiFi, but this way turns of cellular functionality for all apps.

This is especially useful if you’re traveling abroad and don’t have an international roaming plan. Otherwise your phone company might charge you crazy international fees for data usage outside of the U.S.

When you need a break

Turning on Airplane Mode can also give you a much-needed break from all the pings and popups. It’s basically another way of enabling Do Not Disturb. While Do Not Disturb keeps your phone connected but silences notifications, Airplane Mode essentially turns your phone offline, so you don’t get notifications until you disable it.

So if you want to shut off the digital world for a while, Airplane Mode is your friend. Thankfully, alarms still work while in Airplane Mode.