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Think Airplane Mode is only useful when you're on a flight? Think again

There are a number of ways you can use the feature while your feet are on the ground.

PRACTICALLY EVERYONE KNOWS about Airplane Mode and what it does (the clue is in the title).

While many of us use it when we’re actually on a plane, the feature can come in handy for numerous other scenarios. Here are a few examples.

For a step above silent mode

When attending an event or meeting someone, we’re usually put our phones on silent mode so we’re not interrupted. But that’s no use if you’re constantly checking it for notifications or email updates, or if you think it’s vibrating when it’s not.

Switching it on airplane mode ensures that you won’t get any updates, allowing you to focus on that conversation or task you’re engaged with.

Conserve battery power

It’s been mentioned before here, but since Airplane Mode turns off phone signal, 3G/4G, Bluetooth and location services, it results in the phone using less power, and also allows it to charge faster.

On certain devices, Bluetooth can be reactivated while your phone is in Airplane mode, in case you connect other devices to your smartphone or tablet.

For using WiFi only

This is a specialised tip, but if you’re using a semi-reliable or unreliable WiFi connection, but need to avoid using mobile data, turning on Airplane Mode and then WiFi again means you will only be using WiFi when browsing the web or using apps.

Handy if your WiFi connection is inconsistent and causes you to use mobile data without realising it.

When watching videos/playing games

If you don’t want to be interrupted while playing a game or watching a video uploaded on your phone, or if a child is using your phone for that reason, it’s better to have Airplane Mode on to ensure they can watch/play uninterrupted.

Combine that with the previous WiFi tip and you can watch Netflix and YouTube without having to worry about interruptions.

Netflix Price Increase AP Photo / Elise Amendola AP Photo / Elise Amendola / Elise Amendola

Save photos without posting them online

Certain apps like Instagram only allow you to save photos when you post them on the app. If you want to edit a photo, but not publish it online, turning on Airplane Mode will allow you to edit and save it without anyone noticing. That way, you can edit it in a different app or upload it later.

For moments of peace and quiet

If you don’t want to be interrupted by messages or notifications for a few minutes, switching it on will give you some reprise from the outside world. At the very least, you won’t have to go through the guilt of letting your phone ring out.

Read: Here are the warning signs that will tell you an email is a phishing scam >

Read: Here’s how to turn your smartphone into a remote control >

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31 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute fergalreid
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    Aug 18th 2014, 10:25 AM

    Sometimes I’ll switch Airplane Mode on just to pretend that I’m going to my holidays.

    1422
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    Mute Rory Maccarthy
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    Aug 18th 2014, 10:39 AM

    Handy too if you’re giving it to a child so they can play games on it with out the fear they can call everyone in your phone book.

    309
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    Mute Deborah Carroll
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    Aug 18th 2014, 12:11 PM

    Unfortunately with some phones you can still ring the emergency services when it’s in airplane mode as I found out after giving my phone to my daughter with airplane mode turned on. She was demanding to talk to her Nana which I thought was really cute, until I heard a voice answering her – the emergency operator was not impressed.

    98
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    Mute Adam Murphy
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    Aug 18th 2014, 10:19 AM

    Airplane mode is also a great help if you’re unlucky enough to be stuck on 3 network and find yourself staring at a GPRS connection!!!!

    217
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    Mute Andy Pcooke
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    Aug 18th 2014, 11:37 AM

    Are people afraid to turn their phones off!!!

    206
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    Mute niall gallagher
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    Aug 18th 2014, 1:31 PM

    But this way u can avoid being disturbed while still having access to the phones other functions – alarm clock; phone notes; music etc. your phone also charges twice as fast when airplane mode is on. Handy!

    67
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    Mute Brian Delivers
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    Aug 18th 2014, 10:25 AM

    For shift workers to sleep… Uninterrupted

    200
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    Mute Itsthe Law
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    Aug 18th 2014, 10:37 AM

    My Nokia 6310i doesn’t have Airplane Mode mode or the Netflix.

    152
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    Mute yo
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    Aug 18th 2014, 10:55 AM

    Dose it take coins

    231
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    Mute Cpm
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    Aug 18th 2014, 11:03 AM

    It also has A and B buttons

    102
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    Mute yo
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    Aug 18th 2014, 11:22 AM

    Does it take coins

    20
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    Mute CAPITAINE ADEBAYO
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    Aug 18th 2014, 12:39 PM

    For gods sake…..

    DOES IT.TAKE.COINS?

    193
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    Mute Itsthe Law
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    Aug 18th 2014, 1:39 PM

    It only takes Punts,

    84
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    Mute John Hagin Meade
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    Aug 18th 2014, 3:23 PM

    But the Nokia 6310i has a battery charge that’s good for up to 17 days! My digital camera doesn’t make phone calls so I don’t want my phone to take pictures! When I’m out I don’t want anything to do with the internet. I’m happy with 10,000 minutes of calls to any network or landline for just €15 per month.

    39
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    Mute Genius
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    Aug 18th 2014, 4:41 PM

    €15 per month who are you with John,I want in

    21
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    Mute John Hagin Meade
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    Aug 18th 2014, 5:27 PM

    TescoMobile (http://www.tescomobile.ie/) offer what they say is unlimited calls OR texts (NOT BOTH) for €15 per month if you register your Tesco Clubcard or €20 if you don’t have a Clubcard (which you can get for FREE anyway) The unlimited, under “Fair Usage policy” means not more than 10,000 minutes per month, or 5 1/2 hours a day to any Irish network or landline for 30 days. An interesting point is that your €15 still remains in your account to use for Roaming or international calls (which by the way are around 1c or 2c per minute to landlines in most countries. You can, of course, PORT your current mobile number over to the TescoMobile service easily. Note, I don’t have any connection to Tesco in any way whatsoever other then being a VERY happy customer of the service.

    38
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    Mute Loop De Loop
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    Aug 18th 2014, 8:27 PM

    That sounds pretty good. Do you have a data allowance too?

    7
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    Mute Garreth OMahony
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    Aug 18th 2014, 10:34 PM

    For €25 I get 10000 calls,10000 texts and 15g of data on Tesco mobile sim only 30 day contract. They are on the o2 network and so far has been very reliable. And very easy to port your own number over to

    19
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    Mute Loop De Loop
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    Aug 19th 2014, 12:26 AM

    That sounds like a good deal alright. Better than what I’m on at the moment by far. Thanks for that, will have to check them out …

    5
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    Mute Colin O Donnell
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    Aug 18th 2014, 10:22 AM

    What a ridiculous and misleading article! Turning off the phones data would do half of the things mentioned and if you really want no phone calls or text messages either then why is flight mode better than the off button?

    81
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    Mute Simon Barnes
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    Aug 18th 2014, 10:40 AM

    Flight mode is so you can play games or listen to music on the plane. Not much use for anything else. Specially if your going to keep turning it on to see if you’ve missed a call or had a FB update.

    41
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    Mute Jñr
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    Aug 18th 2014, 10:46 AM

    I’ll give you a clue @Colin , the answer to your question is in the Article …. read it again SLOWLY this time .

    97
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    Mute Cpm
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    Aug 18th 2014, 11:05 AM

    Absolutely OUTRAGEOUS. Colin. I feel a good, strongly-worded, letter to the editor, or your local MP, is the correct course of action in this scenario.

    78
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    Mute Andy
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    Aug 18th 2014, 11:55 AM

    Brilliant for hiding from the world on a Sunday morning when you’re feeling a little fragile ;)

    47
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    Mute Neil Dinnen
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    Aug 18th 2014, 2:21 PM

    Also very handy for travelling on the Underground system in London or Subway in New York, basically in any subterranean environment. Switching to airplane mode will save battery power. If you don’t the phone will be constantly searching for a signal / wifi / bluetooth signal and drain power at a fast rate.

    46
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    Mute Sam Bartell
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    Aug 18th 2014, 12:50 PM

    Ah flight mode, the closest thing to a holiday this year

    42
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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    Aug 18th 2014, 10:33 AM

    Well you can still do things with airplane mode on that you can’t when the device is turned off. Not just Netflix you can list to music too or play games ( in offline mode) . I find airplane mode great on my sons iPad to be honest for saving his mobile data and to stop him going online when he shouldn’t like in the middle of hospital appointments but he can still access his music while going asleep. He doesn’t know how to turn off airplane mode but is aware of mobile data Off on button It also stops you getting Skype calls and this is important when the impoverish

    32
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    Mute Cpm
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    Aug 18th 2014, 11:06 AM

    I gave you a thumbs-up because you’re a chick.

    57
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    Mute Will Derbylight
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    Aug 18th 2014, 11:43 AM

    The mode, when switched on, makes battery charging faster.

    27
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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    Aug 18th 2014, 10:34 AM

    Sorry hit reply too soon , when student runs out f credit but wants to beg over wifi lol

    22
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    Mute Mark Genocchi
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    Aug 18th 2014, 7:50 PM

    Aeroplane mode lol

    3
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