Can a phone be tracked when it's in airplane mode? Yes, your phone can be tracked when it's in airplane mode. While it does turn off Wi-Fi and cellular services, airplane mode doesn't turn off GPS (a different technology that sends and receives signals from GPS satellites).

The short answer is yes, you can still be tracked, but the method and "live" nature of the tracking change significantly. When you enable Airplane Mode in 2026, your device's cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth radios are typically disabled, which prevents your phone from "checking in" with cell towers or nearby Wi-Fi networks. However, GPS is a passive receiver and does not require a signal to be sent out; therefore, your phone continues to calculate its exact coordinates via satellite. While your location isn't being "broadcast" to others in real-time (apps like Life360 will show you as "Offline" or "Paused"), your phone still logs your location history locally. Once you reconnect to the internet, many apps—including Google Maps and Apple's "Find My"—will sync that stored data, revealing where you were while "offline." Furthermore, in 2026, many modern devices keep Bluetooth "Low Energy" active even in Airplane Mode to support accessories, which can allow for tracking via "mesh" networks like Apple's Find My network. To truly stop all tracking, you must manually turn off Location Services in your privacy settings or power the device down completely.