What does airplane mode actually turn off?
Airplane mode switches off your phone's radios: cellular, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. You can turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth back on by themselves, but cellular stays off until you turn airplane mode off. GPS usually keeps working, because it only receives signals.
With cellular off, your phone can't talk to any cell tower, so it leaves no new trace in your carrier's records. But if you turn Wi-Fi back on, apps can still send messages and sync photos over the internet.
GPS is receive-only: satellites broadcast signals and your phone listens. Most modern phones leave it working in airplane mode, though maps may not load without data, and apps can still record your position and upload it later. Turning off location is a separate setting.
- Want no tower contact but still need Wi-Fi? Turn on airplane mode, then turn Wi-Fi back on
- Want apps to stop tracking where you are? Turn off location too
- Many phones remember which radios you re-enabled and do it again next time
How secure is your phone overall? Take the 2-minute checkup →
Airplane Mode & Radios
From the Cellular Networks course. Flip the switches yourself and see which radios go dark.
Try it on the simulated phone Read the full lesson
The reading is free. The hands-on lab is part of Pro.