What Happens When Someone Calls You on Airplane Mode?

Have you ever wondered what happens when a call comes in while Airplane mode is enabled on your phone? Well, if you receive a call while your phone is in Airplane mode, the call will either go to voicemail (if set up) or be forwarded to a designated number (if call forwarding is enabled). The person who dialed the number will receive a message indicating that the call cannot be completed as dialed. Furthermore, you will not receive any missed call notifications until you turn off Airplane mode.

What is Airplane Mode?

When activated, Airplane mode or flight mode is a setting that disables wireless communications on a device (such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc.). This includes turning off the device’s cellular network, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. The main objective of Airplane Mode is to comply with regulations that prohibit wireless device use during certain stages of flight, such as takeoff and landing. Some airlines also require that devices be set to Airplane mode for the duration of the flight to avoid interference with the aircraft’s navigation and communication systems. This feature is also useful for preserving battery life because it disables all wireless radios, which are among the most power-hungry components in a device. Now, let’s know how does Airplane Mode work.

How Does Airplane Mode Work?

When you enable Airplane mode on your device, the radio transmitters used for wireless communications are effectively turned off. This includes the cellular radio, which is used for phone calls and text messaging, as well as the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios, which are used to connect to the internet and other devices. In the case of cellular radio, it prevents the device from connecting to any mobile network, which means it can’t make phone calls, send texts, or use cellular data to access the internet. It disconnects the device from any existing Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connections and prevents it from scanning for and connecting to any available network or device. And this is how this feature helps to prevent the device from interfering with the aircraft’s navigation and communication systems. But what happens when someone calls you on Airplane mode? Let’s know about it in the next section and also disadvantages of Airplane mode.

Also Read: Is WiFi Calling Free?

Is Airplane Mode Necessary?

Yes, Airplane mode is necessary because it prevents radio signals from devices such as cell phones and laptops from interfering with the plane’s navigation and communication systems. It might not crash the aircraft, but the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other aviation authorities require it to ensure flight safety. Furthermore, Airplane mode can be useful in other situations where you want to conserve your device’s battery power or avoid receiving notifications or calls. This is how Airplane mode works and is useful, but let’s look at some of the disadvantages of Airplane mode.

Disadvantages of Airplane Mode

We have seen how Airplane mode is useful when it comes to saving your smartphone’s battery and how it prevents your smartphone or any device with this feature from interfering with the Airplane’s navigation system. But it does have some disadvantages as well, let’s look at some of them.

You will be unable to make calls, send texts, or access the internet while in Airplane mode.
Airplane mode also disables your device’s GPS, making it difficult to navigate or use location-based services.
You will also be unable to receive any notifications or updates while your device is in Airplane mode.
Some device features, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC, may be unavailable in airplane mode.
While in Airplane mode, some devices will be unable to charge wirelessly.

These are some disadvantages you might encounter while using the Airplane mode feature. But is Airplane mode safe? Let’s find out.

Is Airplane Mode Safe?

Yes, flying with Airplane mode turned on is considered safe. It is important to note, however, that disabling wireless communications may affect the functionality of certain apps or features on your device, and if you are unsure about using electronic devices in flight mode, you should check with your airline or the flight crew. Furthermore, even when the device is in Airplane mode, emergency services such as 911 can still be reached if necessary. So basically, Airplane mode is safe and does not have any major harmful consequences when turned on. Now, let’s learn what does Airplane mode do on iPhone.

What Does Airplane Mode Do on iPhone?

The main thing that Airplane mode does, irrespective of what operating system or platform the device is using, is that it disables all wireless communications on the device, including cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. This means that you will not be able to make or receive phone calls, send or receive text messages, or use the internet while in Airplane Mode.

When you enable Airplane mode on an iPhone, the cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth icons in the status bar will be greyed out, indicating that these features are not currently available.

How to Enable and Disable Airplane Mode?

Turning on Airplane mode is not a difficult task; you can do it easily by following the below mentioned steps whether you are using an iPhone or an Android device.

Option I: On iPhone

If you are using an iPhone, follow these steps:

1. Swipe down from the top of the screen to access the Control Center.

2. Tap the Airplane icon to enable Airplane mode.

Note: The airplane icon will turn orange to indicate that Airplane mode is on.

4. To turn it off, you can follow step 1 and tap again on the Airplane icon to disable it.

Also Read: How to Record Call on iPhone Without App for Free

Option II: On Android

If you are using an Android smartphone, then follow these steps:

1. Swipe down from the top of the screen to access the Quick Settings or Notification tray.

2. Look for the Airplane mode icon; it may be represented by an airplane or an icon with a small airplane.

3. Tap on the Airplane mode icon to enable it. The icon will change color (e.g. blue) to indicate that Airplane mode is on.

airplane mode

4. To turn it off, simply follow steps 1 and 2, then tap on the Airplane mode icon to disable it.

Can You Use Wifi on Airplane Mode iPhone?

You have learned that enabling Airplane mode on your device will disable all wireless communications on the device, including cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. But can you use Wifi on Airplane Mode iPhone? Yes, you can use Wi-Fi on an iPhone when it is in Airplane mode. Airplane mode disables an iPhone’s cellular and Bluetooth connections but leaves Wi-Fi enabled, allowing you to connect to Wi-Fi networks and use Wi-Fi-dependent apps while even in Airplane mode.

Should Airplane Mode be On or Off on iPhone?

Should Airplane mode be on or off on iPhone? Well, it depends on the situation where it is useful to turn it on or off. Airplane mode should be turned on when you are on an airplane or in any other situation where you are required to turn off your cellular and wireless communications. This will prevent your phone from interfering with the airplane’s navigation and communication systems and conserve your phone’s battery life.

It should be turned off when you want to use cellular and wireless services, for example, to make a phone call, send a text message, or connect to the internet.

What Happens When Your Phone is on Airplane Mode?

In this article, you have come to know what happens when someone calls you on Airplane mode, now let’s see what happens when your phone is on Airplane mode.

The following features are typically disabled when your phone is in Airplane mode:

Your phone will be unable to make or receive phone calls, send or receive text messages, or use cellular data to connect to the internet.
Wi-Fi networks will be inaccessible to your phone. (Unless you are using an iPhone)
Your phone will be unable to connect to any Bluetooth devices.
Your phone will be unable to connect to GPS/location services.
Other features, such as NFC or Mobile HotSpot, can also be disabled.

It is important to note that even if your phone is in Airplane mode, you may still be able to use previously downloaded apps that do not require an internet connection.

What Does Airplane Mode do on Android?

We will learn what does Airplane mode do on Android? Airplane mode on an Android device functions similarly to how it does on an iPhone. When you enable Airplane mode, the following features are usually turned off:

Cellular connection
Wi-Fi connection
Bluetooth
GPS
NFC
Mobile HotSpot

Just like iPhone, it is important to note that even if your phone is in Airplane mode, you may still be able to use previously downloaded apps that do not require an internet connection.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Does location work in Airplane mode?

Ans. Since Airplane mode disables all wireless communication on the device, location services, such as GPS, do not function. However, if the device has a built-in GPS receiver, the GPS satellites may still be able to determine the device’s location. Furthermore, some apps may be able to determine the device’s location even when the device is in airplane mode by using Wi-Fi, but this is less accurate than GPS.

Q2. Does Airplane mode stop viruses?

Ans. Airplane mode does not stop viruses from infecting a device. It simply disables the device’s wireless communication, such as cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Viruses can be acquired in a variety of ways, such as by opening malicious email attachments, visiting infected websites, or downloading infected files. Even if a device is in Airplane mode, a virus can still infect it if it is already on the device or if it is introduced to the device via another means, such as a USB drive. To keep your device virus-free, keep your operating system and security software up to date, and exercise caution when opening email attachments or clicking on links from unknown sources.

Q3. What do callers hear when in airplane mode?

Ans. When a phone is in Airplane mode, its wireless communication is disabled, so no calls or messages can be made or received. If someone attempts to call an airplane-mode phone, they will either hear the call go directly to voicemail (if the phone can receive voicemail) or hear a message indicating that the call cannot be completed. Similarly, attempting to send a message to a phone in Airplane mode will result in a message indicating that the message was not delivered.

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So, you have learned what happens when someone calls you on Airplane mode, and this article has provided you with almost everything related to Airplane mode, what it is, how it works, disadvantages of airplane mode and more. We hope this article has helped you with what you were looking for and cleared all your doubts regarding Airplane mode. But if you have any queries or suggestions, you can always leave a comment in the comment section down below.

What Happens When Someone Calls You on Airplane Mode?