Have you ever wondered what exactly the flight mode does on mobile phones? If you fly by plane, do you know what to do and how you can spend your flight hours happily with your phone?
If you have an Android phone or iPhone or iPad or even a Windows 10 PC and you want to travel by plane, you'll be forced to either turn it off completely or put it in flight mode. But what is flight mode and what does it mean? How can you use it throughout your trip? Let's go see.
What is flight mode?
Flight mode is a setting available on almost all smartphones, laptops and similar devices. When you activate the flight mode, any signal transmission from your device stops and you will see an airplane icon in the status bar of your phone.
This feature is known as flight mode because many airlines prohibit wireless devices on their planes, especially during takeoff and landing. There is some debate about whether phones could interfere with radio equipment on airplanes, but most people think it's better if we're overreacting. themesecurity.
What does flight mode do?
It turns off virtually all the wireless functions of your phone or laptop, such as:
- Connection to mobile antennas: You cannot make calls, send text messages, or use data to access the Internet.
- Wi-Fi: Your device will be disconnected from any existing Wi-Fi connection and will not connect to new ones. It will turn off Wi-Fi completely.
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth is a short-range connection that lets you connect your phone to headphones, speakers and more. The flight function deactivates it.
GPS is a little different. It does not transmit radio waves, so depending on your phone, flight mode may turn it off, but it may not. While offline map applications operate without an Internet connection, other features, such as online traffic, will not work in flight mode.
How to enable flight mode on Android
To enable flight mode on your Android device, follow these steps:
1. Swipe down twice at the top of the screen to fully open the Quick Settings panel.
2. Look for the icon that represents an airplane. If you do not see it, you may need to drag it sideways to access more icons.
3. Touch it and your phone enters flight mode.
Repeat these steps to turn off flight mode. Keep in mind that it may take a few seconds for your phone to reconnect to Wi-Fi and your phone provider to get your phone back to normal operation.
If your phone for some reason does not have this shortcut, you can turn it on from Settings> Wireless & Networks> Flight Mode.
In Windows 10, you can enable flight mode through the Action Center. Press Win + A and click on the airplane icon in the lower right corner of the screen.
Does flight mode save battery?
Yes, it definitely helps your device save battery life. With half the functions off, your phone consumes less power. Similarly, because your phone does not consume in flight mode, it should also charge faster.
Can you use Wi-Fi?
It depends on your device, but most modern phones allow you to use Wi-Fi even when in flight mode. When you turn it on, Wi-Fi will turn off, but you can turn it on again, manually.
On your Android device, swipe down twice from the top of the screen to re-open Quick settings and then tap the Wi-Fi icon . Give it a few seconds and you'll see Wi-Fi turn on and connect (if your phone allows it).
Many airlines now offer in-flight Wi-Fi, so you can turn it on. If you are unsure, you should contact an airline employee before attempting to connect. Planes only allow Wi-Fi over 10.000 feet (approximately 3.000 meters), so be sure to turn off Wi-Fi during takeoff and landing.
Does Bluetooth work?
This is a similar scenario to the above. Enabling flight mode turns off Bluetooth, but on most phones and laptops you can turn it on again via the shortcuts. Airlines are not very interested in Bluetooth because their range is very small.
Enabling Bluetooth allows you to pair it with Bluetooth headphones, the keyboard ή παρόμοιες συσκευές. Ακόμη και όταν δεν βρίσκεστε σε αεροπλάνο, μπορείτε να ακούτε μουσική, χωρίς σύνδεση στο διαδίκτυο, μέσω ακουστικών Bluetooth.
Does the flight mode use data?
No, because enabling flight mode prevents your phone from connecting to an antenna on your ISP. You cannot use the data.
What about toys?
If you enjoy playing games on your phone but hate the ads, Flight Mode can help. Because it disables all internet connections, it will also hide mobile game ads.
However, this will not work for games that are always online, so you should try first if your favorite game can work offline.
The alarm clock operates;
Yes, the alarm will sound normally, even in flight mode. It does not rely on any internet connection. Open the Clock application on your device and set the alarm clock to your liking.
Can you receive calls and sms?
No, because your phone has no connection to the mobile service. If someone calls you and your phone is in flight mode, their call will reach your answering machine, as if your phone were switched off. You will see the sms when you return your phone to normal operation.
How to listen to music
Since you do not have an internet connection, music streaming applications such as Youtube etc will not work. This means that you have two options for listening to music on an airplane.
Initially, if you subscribe to the paid versions of these services, such as YouTube Music Premium, you can pre-download music to your mobile device. This will allow you to listen to the tracks whenever you want.
If you do not want to pay for a streaming subscription, you can listen to local music that you already have on your phone. You will either need to sync your music in the cloud with your phone or simply connect it wired to a computer and copy your music tracks to it.
Briefly
These are some of the most commonly asked questions about flight mode on your phone or laptop. In short, this feature puts an end to all wireless activity on your device, which is required by some airlines and may seem practical even on the ground.
If you are planning to make a long flight, we recommend that you download music, videos and games to your phone so that you do not depend on an internet connection.
