All the ways to manage Airplane mode on Windows 10

On Windows 10, Airplane mode is a feature to quickly disable all wireless devices (such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), Global Positioning System (GPS), and cellular) with a single option when you are flying in a plane or at a location that prohibits the use of radios signals.

Airplane mode can also help save battery life since the wireless devices won’t have to use additional power to scan, connect, and transmit signals to nearby networks or cellular towers.

Whether you are about to embark on a flight or want to save battery, Windows 10 includes at least six ways to enable or disable Airplane mode using a dedicated key on the keyboard, options available on the desktop, Settings app, Lock screen, or even using Command Prompt.

In this Windows 10 guide, we will walk you through the steps to enable or disable Airplane mode on a laptop or desktop computer.

How to enable Airplane mode on Windows 10

On Windows 10, you can enable Airplane mode in at least six different ways, including using Action Center, network flyout, Settings app, Lock screen, and even with Command Prompt.

Function key

Some computers, such as laptops, include a dedicated hardware key to enable or disable Airplane mode. If this is the case, you can simply press the Function key + Airplane key to turn on the feature.

Action Center

To enable Airplane mode via Action Center, use these steps:

1. Click the Action Center button.

   Quick note: The Action Center button is located on the bottom-right side of the screen. Alternatively, you can use the Windows key + A keyboard shortcut.

2. Click the Expand option (if applicable).

3. Click the Airplane mode button to turn on the feature.

   

   Source: Windows Central

Network flyout

To turn on the feature from the network flyout, use these steps:

1. Click the Network button in the notification area.
2. Click the Airplane mode button to turn it on.

   

   Source: Windows Central

Settings

To disable all wireless communications through the Settings app, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Network & Internet.
3. Click on Airplane mode.
4. Turn on the Airplane mode toggle switch.

   

   Source: Windows Central

5. (Optional) Under the “Wireless devices” section, you can enable devices like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth separately.

Lock screen

To disable Wi-Fi, cellular, and Bluetooth connections, use these steps:

1. Start the device.
2. Click the network icon in the bottom-right corner of the Lock screen.
3. Turn on the Airplane mode toggle switch.

   

   Source: Windows Central

Command Prompt

Although there is no command-line tool to manage the Airplane mode states, you can still use Command Prompt to enable the feature by using a command to modify the Registry.

Warning: This is a friendly reminder that editing the Registry is risky, and it can cause irreversible damage to your installation if you don’t do it correctly. It’s recommended to make a full backup of your PC before proceeding.

To enable Airplane mode with Command Prompt, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to enable Airplane mode on Windows 10 and press Enter:

   reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\RadioManagement\SystemRadioState /ve /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

   

   Source: Windows Central

4. Restart the computer.

Once you proceed with one of the methods outlined above, the Airplane mode feature will enable on Windows 10 disabling all wireless communications.

How to disable Airplane mode on Windows 10

You can always disable Airplane mode to enable all the wireless communications using the approach to turn on the feature.

Function key

If your device has a dedicated key, press the Function key + Airplane key to turn off the feature.

Action Center

To disable Airplane mode on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Click the Action Center button.

   Quick note: The Action Center button is located on the bottom-right side of the screen. Alternatively, you can use the Windows key + A keyboard shortcut.

2. Click the Expand option (if applicable).

3. Click the Airplane mode button to turn off the feature.

   

   Source: Windows Central

Network flyout

To enable all wireless communications, use these steps:

1. Click the Network button (with the airplane icon) in the notification area.
2. Click the Airplane mode button turn it off.

   

   Source: Windows Central

Settings

To disable Airplane mode to connect to the internet and use Bluetooth devices, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Network & Internet.
3. Click on Airplane mode.
4. Turn off the Airplane mode toggle switch.

   

   Source: Windows Central

Lock screen

To turn off Airplane mode from the Lock screen, use these steps:

1. Start the device.
2. Do not sign in.
3. Click the network icon in the bottom-right corner of the Lock screen.
4. Turn off the Airplane mode toggle switch.

   

   Source: Windows Central

Command Prompt

To re-enable Wi-Fi, cellular, and Bluetooth with command-line, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to disable Airplane mode and press Enter:

   reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\RadioManagement\SystemRadioState /ve /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

   

   Source: Windows Central

4. Restart the computer.

After you complete the steps, Airplane mode will be disabled, and all wireless devices will be enabled again on Windows 10.

How to fix Airplane mode problems on Windows 10

Although Airplane mode works well for the most part, sometimes, you may come across problems. For example, you may not be able to turn it on or off, or the feature may appear grayed out.

If you cannot get the feature to work, try these troubleshooting steps:

• Restart the computer and then press the function key combo that turns the feature on or off (if applicable). Sign in and toggle the option on or off to see whether it makes a difference. Or restart the device, and from the Lock screen, try to enable or disable the feature.
• Shut down the device, unplug all the peripherals and power cord, and wait for about a minute. If you have a laptop, remove the battery (if possible). Then reconnect the power, start the device, and try enabling or disabling the feature. If Airplane mode works again, then continue reconnecting the remaining peripherals.
• If the Airplane mode option is grayed out, you may be able to use the Command Prompt instructions outlined above to enable or disable the feature.
• Alternatively, you can also try resetting the network settings or updating the network adapter driver to get Airplane mode working again.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources: