How to use Airplane Mode on a Mac: Easy Guide
Airplane Mode disables all wireless connections or radio signals on your Mac, which is why it is primarily suggested when you’re using a Mac while flying.
Beyond its primary use, there are other reasons to turn on Airplane Mode, including saving battery life, disabling Bluetooth and GPS tracking, avoiding distractions, or preventing your Mac from automatically connecting to potentially problematic insecure networks.
Discover how to use Airplane Mode on a Mac, troubleshoot issues with virtual machines (VMs), and improve productivity.
Ready to start using Airplane Mode on your Mac? Get started with Parallels Desktop with a 14-day free trial.
What is airplane mode?
Airplane mode (sometimes called flight mode) is a setting on smartphones, tablets, and laptops that temporarily turns off wireless communication signals on the device. When airplane mode is enabled, the device stops transmitting cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth signals, preventing it from connecting to mobile networks or nearby wireless devices.
This feature exists primarily for air travel safety. Airlines ask passengers to enable airplane mode so devices do not transmit radio signals that could potentially interfere with aircraft communication or navigation systems.
When airplane mode is turned on, you typically cannot make phone calls, send text messages, or use mobile data. However, most devices still allow you to use offline features like reading, listening to downloaded music, or playing games. In many cases, you can also manually turn Wi-Fi or Bluetooth back on if the airline allows it.
Airplane mode is not just useful during flights. Many people use it to save battery life, reduce distractions, or avoid roaming charges while traveling. By disabling wireless connections temporarily, it gives you a quick way to disconnect without turning your device off entirely.
How to turn on Airplane Mode in macOS
There are two different ways to turn on or enable Airplane Mode on a MacBook, whether from the Menu Bar or System Preferences.
How to use the Menu Bar to turn on Airplane Mode on Mac
- Click on the Wi-Fi symbol on the right side of your Menu Bar.
- Move the slider to the left so the bar turns white or select “Turn Wi-Fi off.”
- Open Wi-Fi settings and click on the Bluetooth symbol on the upper left side.
- Move the slider to the left so the bar turns white or select “Turn Bluetooth off.”
You’re in Airplane Mode!
How to turn on Airplane Mode in Mac’s System Preferences
- Click on the Apple symbol in the Menu Bar.
- Select System Preferences or System Settings.
- Click “Network”.
- Move the slider to the left so the bar turns white or select “Turn Wi-Fi off.”
- Click the back button, then click on the Bluetooth symbol.
- Select “Turn Bluetooth off.”
You are now in Airplane Mode!
How to turn off Airplane Mode in macOS
You can simply perform the previous steps in reverse to turn off Airplane Mode in macOS.
To disable Airplane Mode from the Menu Bar, go to the Wi-Fi symbol in the top right and select “Turn on Wi-Fi,” or move the slider to the right so the bar turns blue.
Perform the same steps for Bluetooth.
To disable Airplane Mode from System Preferences or Settings, open System Preferences and select Network.
Click on “Wi-Fi” and select “Turn on Wi-Fi” or move the slider bar to the right so it turns blue.
Do the same steps for Bluetooth.
You are out of Airplane Mode!
Pro tip: You can also turn off Wi-Fi before getting on a plane to connect and continue using your iPhone’s hotspot until takeoff.
Troubleshooting Airplane Mode on a Mac with VMs
If you are running virtual machines on your Mac, then turning off internet access or putting it in Airplane Mode follows the same processes as above.
The VMs have a virtual network interface card or NIC link linked to a virtual cable to a virtual network commutator that’s connected to the physical host network card or network adapter.
Here’s how to turn off the internet to your VMs or put your VMs in airplane mode:
H3: Option 1: Disconnect the virtual cable
Disconnect the virtual cable from the virtual NIC by clicking on the Devices -> Network -> Disconnect on the top Mac menu.
H3 Option 2: Use Parallels Desktop for Airplane Mode
If you have Parallels Desktop installed on your MacBook, you can use Parallels Toolbox for Mac -> Airplane Mode to turn off all wireless communications on your Mac.
When do you need to use Airplane Mode on a Mac?
While using Airplane Mode while you’re in the air is the most common use case and what this function was designed for, there are other times or reasons that Airplane Mode on a Mac can be useful.
When flying
You should use Airplane Mode on your Mac while flying on a plane. This mode prevents radio signals from your device from interfering with the plane’s navigation and radar equipment.
It’s also a legal requirement to use Airplane Mode on your Mac or other devices (such as iPhone, iPad, or another type of tablet or smartphone) while flying.
When reducing distractions
If you don’t need internet access to be productive, you can turn on Airplane Mode to remove distractions.
Airplane Mode is essential when traveling or working in sensitive environments
Airplane Mode is a useful option when you’re taking your Mac on a trip or working offline.
Airplane Mode is useful for protecting your MacBook from malicious actors using public Wi-Fi networks, maintaining battery life, and even boosting productivity.
Switch between macOS and Windows, keep your Mac secure by only connecting to trusted networks, and supercharge productivity with Parallels Desktop.
FAQ
Is there an airplane mode on a MacBook?
MacBooks do not have a dedicated airplane mode button like smartphones, but you can achieve the same effect by turning off wireless connections.
To simulate airplane mode on a MacBook, you simply turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which disables the device’s wireless communication. Once both are off, your Mac will not connect to the internet or nearby wireless devices, similar to airplane mode on a phone.
How do I put my computer on airplane mode?
Most laptops do not have a universal airplane mode setting unless they run Windows.
On a Mac, you can put your computer into an airplane-mode-like state by disabling wireless connections:
- Click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar.
- Select Turn Wi-Fi Off.
- Open Control Center and toggle Bluetooth Off.
Once both are off, your Mac will no longer send or receive wireless signals.
What is the shortcut for airplane mode on a Mac?
There is no built-in keyboard shortcut for airplane mode on macOS.
Because Macs do not include a dedicated airplane mode feature, the fastest way to achieve the same result is to turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth from the menu bar or Control Center. Some users create custom shortcuts or automation scripts, but macOS does not provide a default airplane mode shortcut.
Do I need to put my laptop on airplane mode?
Whether you need to enable airplane mode on a laptop depends on the airline and your device.
Airlines usually ask passengers to disable cellular or wireless transmissions during certain phases of a flight. Since most laptops do not have cellular radios, they typically only need Wi-Fi turned off when instructed.
Many airlines now allow Wi-Fi use during flights, so you may be able to re-enable Wi-Fi after takeoff if the aircraft offers onboard internet service.
Ready to start using Airplane Mode on your Mac? Get started with Parallels Desktop with a 14-day free trial.
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