Does turning on airplane mode turn off Wi-Fi?

When you first turn on your Android phone's Airplane mode, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are turned off. You can change this setting to keep your wireless connections on, so you stay connected to devices like your smartwatch or Bluetooth earbuds. You can also turn your wireless connections off again.



Yes, by default, activating Airplane Mode will immediately disable all wireless signals on your device, including cellular data, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. This is a safety protocol designed to prevent radio interference with aircraft communications. However, on most modern smartphones and tablets in 2026, you can manually re-enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth while remaining in Airplane Mode. This is particularly useful for using in-flight Wi-Fi services or wireless headphones without accidentally activating your cellular roaming. Some newer operating systems even "remember" your choice; if you frequently turn Wi-Fi back on after enabling Airplane Mode, the device may stop turning it off automatically in the future.

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You can use airplane mode to avoid roaming charges when travelling. You won't be able to send or receive text messages or phone calls, or use data services, but you could connect to a Wi-Fi network to check your email or browse the internet.

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Do pilots know if your phone isn't on airplane mode? Well, sort of. “The flight attendants or the pilots are not going to get an indicator that says 13A has their cell phone on,” Laurie says. “But if there's enough people that they still have it on, and they're encountering that interference, then, yes.”

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In flight, this means the cell radio is using full-power to attempt the connection… therefore draining precious battery power. So, the next time you're in the air, save yourself some headaches…and battery power. Just switch your device to airplane mode and then turn it off for takeoff and landing.

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