Does Airplane Mode Save Battery? Detailed Explanation
You’ve probably tried pretty much everything to keep your phone’s battery from dying if it is on the verge of dying. It’s possible that you’ve heard that airplane mode conserves battery. Or, to charge your phone more quickly, put it in flight mode. But is it really true? Or is it just a rumor that we have a tendency to believe?
Yes, using Airplane mode will help you conserve battery life by preventing your device from constantly pinging and looking for nearby cell towers. However, using airplane mode has a cost. You won’t be able to use the internet or communicate with other devices. Additionally, it stops your device from making or receiving text messages. Please read this article to learn more about airplane mode.
How Does Airplane Mode Work?
On cellular radio devices, the “Airplane Mode” setting or feature turns off all wireless connections, including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. An airplane icon will appear in the status bar of your device once it is turned on.
It comes by different names, including “flight mode”, “standalone mode”, and “offline mode”.
Cellular signals may interfere with radio communication between the cockpit and air control, which is why using cellular data while in flight is prohibited by airlines, hence the name “airplane mode.” (Other wireless devices are completely secure, such as AirPods.
To activate airplane mode, you don’t need to be on a plane. When you want to stop communicating with the outside world, you can turn on this setting. Additionally, you can turn on flight mode to conserve battery life.
Airplane mode is not just a smartphone setting, as most people believe. It is accessible on all gadgets that use radio frequency signal transmission technologies, such as tablets and laptops, or devices with cellular radios.
What Happens In Airplane Mode?
The operation of airplane mode is simple. The setting will turn off all wireless features, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and your cellular service, when it is turned on.
In case you were unaware, even when you are not actively using your phone, it is constantly looking for nearby cell towers. A number of radios on your device are also used to communicate with other devices.
Your device will stop looking for cell towers and sending RF signals when you put it in airplane mode. Here is a list of functions that stop working when airplane mode is on:
- Bluetooth: When you put your phone or laptop into airplane mode, all Bluetooth connections and pairings, including those to speakers, keyboards, and headphones, are terminated. The good news is that you can use Bluetooth on some devices without affecting cell signals, even when airplane mode is activated.
- Airplane mode will disable all Wi-Fi connections and prevent you from using your device to access the internet. You can manually switch Wi-Fi on and off with airplane mode activated, just like Bluetooth.
- Cellular Features: When airplane mode is activated, your cellular network is turned off. You won’t be able to place calls, send texts, or use mobile data, and the network bars will have a diagonal line across them. Airplane mode must be turned off before cellular functions can be activated.
- Most devices keep their GPS active even when they are in airplane mode to help them determine their precise location. This shouldn’t be a problem because GPS does not use cell tower data. However, some devices have GPS-connected map applications that need a cellular network to display additional location information. If so, you might need to manually turn off GPS and enable airplane mode.
How Can Airplane Mode Reduce Battery Life?
A battery-saving tip is to enable airplane mode in addition to being a safety precaution. To conserve battery life while you are not flying, switch your phone or mobile device to airplane mode. As you are already aware, your phone is constantly looking for cell towers to ensure a strong signal wherever you are.
It will send a series of signals to the cell tower once it connects to one. The battery in your phone will eventually run out of power due to this process. By stopping your device from transmitting RF signals to nearby cell towers, airplane mode conserves battery life.
Your device will stop looking for Bluetooth connections as well as Wi-Fi networks when it is in airplane mode.
The installed apps won’t be able to connect to servers or other devices, and the device won’t use GPS to update your location. Eventually, the battery life of your device will be prolonged by all these actions. You may be interested in How To Save Battery On Chromebook?
For Battery Conservation, Should I Use Airplane Mode?
There are times when using airplane mode will help your phone’s battery last longer. You might put your phone in airplane mode for a while to conserve battery power if, for example, you’re out and about without your charger and you anticipate receiving an important call later in the day.
If I Activate Airplane Mode, Will My Phone Charge More Quickly?
The network antenna, which consumes a lot of power, is turned off when airplane mode is activated, as was previously mentioned. Since airplane mode does not use hardware that requires a lot of power, charging your phone while it is in this mode will cause it to use less power, allowing for a faster charging time.
It is best to keep in mind, though, that when your phone is in airplane mode, you won’t be able to send or receive texts or calls.
Can I Use Bluetooth And Wifi In Airplane Mode?
Yes, even with your phone in airplane mode, you can use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. These services must be turned on again if you want to use them because turning on the feature automatically disables them.
However, you won’t be able to use anything connected to your phone’s mobile network. The battery life of your phone is not as good when using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth while it is in airplane mode as it is when these features are disabled.
Turn On Airplane Mode On iPhone
Your iPhone can be easily put into airplane mode. You can accomplish this in two different ways.
Using Control Center
- To access Control Center, swipe down from the right side of the camera on your screen.
- In the network and connectivity section (the square box with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mobile data), look for the airplane icon.
- Toggle airplane mode with a tap on the icon.
Using Settings
- Unlock your phone.
- Launch the Settings app.
- Airplane mode is an option that is located at the top of the list, just below your Apple ID information.
- Turn on Airplane mode by clicking the button next to it.
Turn On Airplane Mode On Android
Similar to the iPhone, there are two ways to activate airplane mode on an android device.
Using The Quick Settings
- If you can’t see the notification bar on your phone while it’s locked, unlock it.
- To access the quick settings of your notification bar, swipe down (or up, depending on your phone’s settings).
- Look for the icon that features an airplane. Some phones might also have a bigger toggle button with the icon and the text “Airplane Mode.”
- Toggle airplane mode with a tap on the icon.
- You can see that in addition to your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth being disabled if they are turned on, your mobile data will also be disabled.
Using Settings
- Go to Settings after unlocking your phone.
- Open it by looking for Network & Internet. Some phones may have the “Connection & Sharing” option instead.
- Locate Airplane mode in the list and activate it.
What Can I Do On My Phone When Airplane Mode Is On?
Airplane mode still allows you to use the camera on your phone and access your pictures. You can still use the calculator or turn on the flashlight. The clock’s features, including an alarm, stopwatch, and timer, can also be used. You can watch any shows or movies that you have downloaded to your phone. You can also play downloaded games that aren’t web-based.
Conclusion
In conclusion, you can safely activate airplane mode to preserve your battery until you can charge it if you are low on power and do not anticipate using your mobile network. There is no setting called “airplane mode” that is exclusive to flying. To conserve battery life, use it whenever you’d like. Just make sure it’s during a time when it’s acceptable to be a little less connected.
