The short answer
Airplane mode (flight mode or aeroplane mode on many Android phones) is a single switch that stops your phone transmitting. It disconnects you from the mobile network and turns off wi-fi and Bluetooth, all at once.
It was designed for flights, where airlines ask you to stop your phone trying to connect to masts on the ground. It’s just as useful on the ground, for saving battery, for some quiet, and as a quick fix when the signal gets stuck.
Everything that doesn’t need a connection carries on: your photos, downloaded music and films, offline maps, alarms and the camera.
What it switches off, and what it doesn’t
| Feature | In airplane mode |
|---|---|
| Mobile network (calls, texts, mobile data) | Off, on every line, until you turn airplane mode off |
| Wi-fi | Off by default; you can turn it back on |
| Bluetooth | Off by default; you can turn it back on |
| GPS location | Generally still works on iPhone, but maps need offline downloads without data |
| Apps, camera, alarms, downloaded media | Work as normal |
On a phone with two lines, such as your own SIM and a travel eSIM, airplane mode switches off both. When you turn it off, each line reconnects with the settings it had before.
Turning wi-fi and Bluetooth back on
This is the part most people don’t know: airplane mode is a starting point, not a lock. Once it’s on, you can switch wi-fi and Bluetooth back on individually, and the mobile connection stays off.
- iPhone: open Control Center and tap the wi-fi or Bluetooth icon, or use Settings › Wi-Fi and Settings › Bluetooth.
- Android: pull down Quick Settings and tap wi-fi or Bluetooth. Wording varies by manufacturer.
iPhone remembers your choice. If you turn wi-fi back on during airplane mode, it stays on the next time you use airplane mode, so your headphones and the plane’s wi-fi work as soon as you switch it on.
On the plane, and in-flight wi-fi
Airlines ask passengers to use airplane mode so that hundreds of phones aren’t all searching for ground networks at once. Rules vary by airline and country, so follow what the crew tell you.
In-flight wi-fi works with airplane mode on: switch wi-fi back on, join the airline’s network and follow its sign-in page. Bluetooth headphones work the same way. Because the mobile radio stays off, the plane’s wi-fi is the only thing you’re paying for, and your carrier isn’t involved.
Airplane mode + wi-fi to avoid roaming
This is the oldest travel trick there is, and it still works. With airplane mode on and wi-fi switched back on:
- your phone can’t connect to a foreign mobile network, so it can’t roam;
- apps that run over the internet, such as WhatsApp, iMessage, FaceTime, email and maps, keep working on hotel, café or airport wi-fi;
- wi-fi calling may let you make and receive calls on your own number, if your carrier supports it abroad. Check with them first.
The catch is obvious: you’re only online where there’s wi-fi. Maps in a new city, a ride-hailing app on the street, or a boarding pass at the gate all need data away from a hotspot. That gap is what a travel eSIM fills, at a price you know in advance rather than your carrier’s daily roaming rate. eSIM vs roaming compares the two with live prices.
Landing with a travel eSIM
Airplane mode is the cleanest way to hand over from your home line to a travel eSIM, because nothing connects until you’re ready. Do the setup before you fly, on wi-fi:
- Install the eSIM at home. It needs internet to download. The install guide has the steps.
- Set mobile data to the travel lineand keep your own line for calls and texts. On iPhone, that’s Settings › Cellular › Cellular Data. The guide to switching lines explains each setting.
- Turn data roaming off on your home line and on for the travel line.
- Turn airplane mode on for the flight.
When you land, switch airplane mode off. The travel eSIM connects to a local partner network and carries your data, while your home line stays reachable for calls and texts without using roaming data. Plans typically start counting down on first data use at the destination, not when you install.
If the eSIM shows “Searching” or SOS after landing, toggle airplane mode on and off once. Forcing the phone to register again fixes most slow connections.
Live prices for some of the most-searched destinations:
- eSIM for United States — from €1.83
- eSIM for United Kingdom — from €1.24
- eSIM for France — from €1.05
- eSIM for Spain — from €1.24
- eSIM for Italy — from €1.24
- eSIM for Greece — from €1.24
- eSIM for Japan — from €1.11
- eSIM for Thailand — from €2.22
Other times it’s useful
- Fixing a stuck signal.Turning airplane mode on and off forces the phone to find and register with a network again. It’s the first fix for “No Service”, “Searching” and SOS.
- Saving battery. A phone in weak signal works hard to stay connected. Airplane mode stops that, which helps on a long day with no charger.
- Peace and quiet. No calls or texts get through. Focus modes and Do Not Disturb are more selective if you still want some people to reach you.
- Lending your phone to a child.Games and downloaded videos work; calls, purchases that need the internet and surprise data use don’t.
How to turn it on
- iPhone: open Control Center (swipe down from the top-right corner on recent models) and tap the plane icon, or go to Settings › Airplane Mode. An orange plane appears in the status bar.
- Android: swipe down for Quick Settings and tap Airplane mode or Flight mode, or find it under Settings › Network & internet (Settings › Connections on Samsung).
Turn it off the same way.
Want data that works when you switch airplane mode off? Browse eSIM plans by country or the Europe regional plans, and check how much data you need before you buy.