Different devices, such as Android smartphones, Apple smartphones, or laptops, offer a wide range of accessibility options that you can change based on your usage and where you are using the device. There are also a lot of security features added to improve the performance and safety of the device as well as its users in different scenarios.
One such setting is the Airplane Mode which has been available on these devices for a very long time. Today, we will talk about the Airplane Mode available on smartphones and laptops and whether it can benefit you in various scenarios. To get all of the necessary information, make sure you check out the article until the end.
What is Airplane Mode?
Airplane Mode is a feature that you can find on most smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other devices that have wireless communication functions. When you turn ON Airplane Mode, you disable all the wireless signals from your device, such as cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. This means you cannot make or receive calls, send or receive messages, access the internet, or use any other apps requiring a network connection. However, you can still use some offline functions of your device, such as playing games, listening to music, watching videos, or taking photos.
Airplane Mode is named after its primary purpose: to prevent your device from interfering with the airplane’s communication and navigation systems. Many airlines and countries require you to turn ON the Airplane Mode or switch OFF your device during flights. This is to ensure the safety and security of the passengers and the crew. Similarly, some hospitals and other sensitive places may also ask you to use Airplane Mode or turn OFF your device to avoid interference with their equipment.
Does Airplane Mode Help With Battery Performance?
Yes, Airplane Mode can noticeably enhance the battery performance of your device. When you turn ON Airplane Mode, you disable the wireless communication functions of your device completely. These functions use a lot of energy and drain the battery faster when they are constantly searching for signals or networks. Turning on Airplane Mode stops this process and saves battery power. This can be useful when you are traveling, camping, or in an emergency situation where you need to conserve your battery.
However, you should also be aware that some offline functions of your device, such as playing games, watching videos, or taking photos, may also consume a lot of battery power. Therefore, you should also adjust the brightness, volume, and other settings of your device to optimize the battery performance further.
How to Enable Airplane Mode?
Enabling Airplane Mode is as simple as clicking on a toggle, whether you are using an Android smartphone, an Apple smartphone, or a laptop. To make the features easily accessible, it usually has a shortcut toggle available on most devices so that users can quickly enable or disable the Airplane Mode without much trouble. But if you are unsure how to enable Airplane Mode on your smartphone or laptop, check out the instructions below.
1. Android
- Swipe down from the top of the screen once or twice to open the quick settings menu.
- Tap the airplane icon to turn ON Airplane Mode. A confirmation message and a plane symbol are on the status bar.
- To turn OFF Airplane Mode, tap the airplane icon again.
2. iPhone
- Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen to open the control center.
- Tap the airplane icon to turn ON Airplane Mode. A confirmation message and a plane symbol are on the status bar.
- To turn OFF Airplane Mode, tap the airplane icon again.
3. Laptop
- Depending on your laptop model, you may have a dedicated key or button to enable or disable Airplane Mode. Look for a symbol of a plane on your keyboard or near your power button or with the shortcut combinations provided with the “fn” shortcut set.
- Alternatively, you can use the network icon on the taskbar to access Airplane Mode. Click the network icon and then click the airplane icon to turn ON Airplane Mode. You will see a confirmation message and a plane symbol on the taskbar.
- To turn OFF Airplane Mode, click the network icon and then click the airplane icon again.
What Services are Available During Airplane Mode?
As you may already know, Airplane Mode is made available to avoid the signal interference caused by laptops and smartphones when an airplane takes off or lands. It basically disables all the networking services to make it possible, including the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth as well. This means you cannot make or receive calls, send or receive messages, access the internet, or use any other apps requiring a network connection. However, there are some services that are available during Airplane Mode, depending on your device.
You can listen to music or podcasts that are stored locally on your device or downloaded from streaming platforms. You can also use wireless headphones or speakers that use Bluetooth by enabling Bluetooth manually after you enable Airplane Mode. You can also watch videos or movies that are saved on your device or downloaded from streaming platforms. You can also find the content you like on an in-flight entertainment system that offers movies, TV shows, games, and more, allowing you to keep your device turned OFF altogether.
How to Use Airplane Mode to Improve Battery Life?
By turning ON Airplane Mode, you basically stop multiple processes and save battery power. This can be useful when you are traveling, camping, or in an emergency situation where you need to conserve your battery. However, you should also be aware that there are a lot of offline functions on your device, such as playing games, watching videos, or taking photos, which may also consume a lot of battery power. Therefore, you should also adjust your device’s brightness, volume, and other settings to optimize the battery performance.
Here’s how you can use Airplane Mode effectively to save battery life.
- Turn on Airplane Mode when you are in an area with poor or no signal. This will prevent your device from wasting energy trying to connect to a network that is not available or reliable. You can turn ON Airplane Mode by swiping down from the top of the screen and tapping the airplane icon on your device.
- Turn off Airplane Mode only when you need to use the internet or make a call. Airplane Mode will block all the wireless services from your device, so you cannot access the internet, make or receive calls, send or receive messages, or use any other apps that require a network connection. To turn OFF Airplane Mode, just tap the airplane icon again or go to the settings menu and disable it.
- Use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth in Airplane Mode if they are available and allowed. Some airlines and devices offer in-flight services that allow you to use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth in Airplane Mode. For example, you may be able to access the internet, watch movies, listen to podcasts, or play games on your device using the airline’s Wi-Fi network. You may also be able to use wireless headphones or speakers using Bluetooth.
- Turn off push notifications and background activity for some apps. Some apps may send you notifications or run in the background even when you are not using them. This can use up your battery power. You can turn OFF push notifications by going to the settings menu and choosing Notifications. You can turn OFF background activity altogether by going to the settings menu and choosing Power & battery or Battery usage. Here, you can see which apps are using more battery in the background and change their settings accordingly.
Pros and Cons of Airplane Mode
Pros
- Battery Life: Airplane Mode helps your device’s battery last longer because it turns off functions that use considerable power.
- Reduce Distractions: Airplane Mode is a great tool for reducing distractions, as it stops incoming calls, messages, and notifications that can interrupt your focus.
- Faster Performance: Your device can run faster when in Airplane Mode because it’s not constantly searching for wireless connections, which can slow it down. Your device also doesn’t check for or download updates constantly, which can improve your device’s or apps’ performance.
- Saving Data: Airplane Mode also stops your device from using data in the background, helping you avoid those surprise charges for data in case you run out of your data plan.
Cons
- Unable to use calling and texting: When you turn ON Airplane Mode, your device won’t ring or vibrate because incoming calls and texts are blocked. This means that you may miss important calls or messages from your family, friends, or work.
- No Internet Access: Being in Airplane Mode means your device can’t connect to the internet, so any online activity is halted. You can’t access the web, email, social media, streaming services, or any other apps that require an internet connection, especially if you are using data and a WiFi network is unavailable nearby.
- Unable to use GPS: Some devices may also turn OFF GPS services in Airplane Mode, which might affect navigation or location-based apps. You may not be able to use maps, directions, weather, or other features that rely on GPS.
Airplane Mode – FAQs
Ans: Yes, Airplane Mode can improve charging speed to some extent. This is because when your phone is in Airplane Mode, it disables all the wireless communication functions of your device which in turn, reduces the strain on your battery. These functions use a lot of energy and drain the battery faster when they are constantly searching for signals or networks. Turning on Airplane Mode stops this process and saves battery power. However, the difference may not be very significant.
Ans: Yes, it is safe to keep the device in Airplane Mode for prolonged periods of time. However, you should also consider the drawbacks of the service as well as its advantages. Since the primary concern for many people is getting disconnected from the world, it may not be possible for many people to keep the Airplane Mode ON for a long period. It is especially difficult for those who handle business aspects via their smartphones and laptops, a lot of which cannot be done if they are disconnected from the internet.
Ans: Yes, it is okay to charge a device when in Airplane Mode. In fact, you can experience ever so slightly faster charging speed when you are charging your device on Airplane Mode. Since this functionality basically affects the connectivity features, it does not affect the charging performance. So, don’t have to worry about any adverse effects while charging your device on Airplane Mode.
Ans: Enabling Airplane Mode does not directly affect your battery’s lifespan. Its main function is to conserve battery power by minimizing energy-consuming activities.
Ans: Yes, activating Airplane Mode during charging has the potential to speed up the process slightly by directing more power toward charging without background processes running.
Conclusion
Airplane Mode is one of the most handy features available on laptops, smartphones, and tablets that lets you quickly disable all network communication services of your device with a single click. This is crucial when you are traveling via an Airplane where signal interference can affect the communication of the flight with the station, leading to unexpected problems. Therefore, you should always practice using Airplane Mode when you are traveling. Also, using Airplane Mode has some underlying benefits, such as increased battery life and a distraction-free journey. In this guide, you can learn all about Airplane Mode features and how to use it on different devices. You can also reach us via the comment section below in case you still have some doubts, and we will try to resolve it right away.
