Available on all smartphones, airplane mode cuts network connections, especially telephony. But it is not reserved for air travel and even has several advantages on a daily basis when you know how to use it.
Originally developed for air travel, airplane mode – also known as offline mode or standalone mode – is used to cut off all wireless connections on a phone. But it is not for all that reserved for travelers, and its use extends to other particular places such as hospitals or theaters. It even has many advantages on a daily basis, especially since although it effectively prohibits all telephone communication, it does not prevent occasional use of Wi-Fi to connect to the Internet or Bluetooth to listen to music or read. a video. Here’s everything you need to know to take advantage of it.
What is airplane mode?
Airplane mode – offline mode or standalone mode – is an operating mode that cuts off wireless connections on a mobile. More exactly, connections by radio frequencies, in other words, by electromagnetic waves. In general, it prohibits almost all wireless connections at once: telephone communications – therefore calls made or received as well as SMS -, Internet connections in 3G, 4G or 5G – data -, but also Wi -Fi, Bluetooth and sometimes GPS.
The primary purpose of this special mode is to block the waves, so as to avoid interference in places or situations sensitive to radio waves (airplanes, hospitals, laboratories, etc.). The mobile is then “cut off from the world”, which does not prevent it from being used independently for the rest, in particular with applications that do not require a connection (clock, audio or video player, game, etc.). In addition, even when you are in airplane mode, you can manually activate Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or even GPS to continue to enjoy other functions, including those requiring an Internet connection.
In fact, airplane mode is especially designed to cut telephone communications, connections during which the mobile is both transmitter and receiver of radio waves, with relatively high levels to be able to maintain the link with an antenna – Wi-Fi. and Bluetooth requiring less power because they are “local” connections, with a short range of action, and GPS is only used in reception, to retrieve information transmitted by satellites.
What are the advantages of airplane mode?
Airplane mode has several practical advantages. In the first place, since it cuts off telephone communications, it is a good way to not be disturbed by calls or messages. No risk of being challenged or tempted by a ringing or untimely notification. So it’s a great way to be quiet, even better than silent mode. This is why it is recommended for sleeping peacefully, at night or during a nap, so as not to disturb those around you during a show or a meeting or to isolate yourself during a meeting or a break.
Then, since it cuts off wireless communications – and in particular the search for relay antennas, which consume a lot of energy, in particular when traveling – the airplane mode saves the battery of the mobile by prolonging its autonomy. And in a very sensitive way. This is why, here again, it is recommended to use it as soon as you do not need to communicate, when you sleep or when you drive, for example.
Finally, as the airplane mode blocks the waves emitted by the mobile, it avoids avoiding permanent exposure to radio frequencies and, more generally, limits the electromagnetic interference that they can generate and which can be annoying or harmful in certain sensitive places. .
Airplane mode is therefore useful, even strongly recommended, in many situations, and not only during air travel or hospital consultations: periods of sleep or rest, meetings, meals and appointments, shows, etc. . All the more so, once again, since it does not prevent the use of the mode independently, to check the time, listen to music, have fun with a game. Or even to occasionally activate the Wi- Fi to access the Internet, update, view and write emails and messages, etc. You can even leave the airplane mode and only activate the GPS to use a guidance application, provided you have downloaded maps before. And it is a good idea to put it into action when the battery is reaching its limits, to save some energy in the event of an emergency call.
There are two very easy ways to switch to airplane mode on an Android mobile.
- Press for several seconds the on-off button, and then, on the options screen that appears, tap airplane mode icon (the button with an airplane silhouette).
- Swipe down from the top of the screen with one finger. In the options that appear, tap airplane mode icon to activate it.
- Whichever method you choose, an airplane icon appears at the top of the screen, in place of the telephone network connection bars, to indicate that airplane mode is active and that you cannot make a call.
- To return to normal operation, and re-establish all wireless connections, perform the same operations and deactivate airplane mode by pressing his icon. The airplane icon disappears at the top of the screen, the phone connection is restored, and you can again make and receive calls.
On iPhone, like on iPad, there are also two very easy ways to switch to airplane mode.
- Open Device Settings and simply select airplane mode in the list.
- Swipe down from the top of the screen on the right to bring up the quick settings pods, then tap the airplane mode button (the icon with an airplane silhouette) to activate it.
- Whichever method you choose, an airplane icon appears at the top of the screen, in place of the telephone network connection bars, to indicate that airplane mode is active and that you cannot make a call.
- To return to normal operation, and re-establish all wireless connections, perform the same operations and deactivate airplane mode by pressing his icon. The airplane icon disappears at the top of the screen, the phone connection is restored, and you can again make and receive calls.