Just like smartphones, notebooks (and even PCs) also support an airplane mode, or sometimes known as flight mode, in which all wireless connections are cut off. Originally, this mode was intended to prevent signals from phones or computers from interfering with sensitive on-board electronics. But this is no longer a risk in modern airplanes.
Nowadays, flight mode is more for the benefit of the users themselves. It allows them to block disruptive calls and notifications, avoid expensive roaming charges abroad and, by switching off network functionality, put their phone or notebook into power-saving mode.
In flight mode, Windows prevents all wireless communication with the outside world. You can activate this mode in the Windows “Settings”, among other places.
Sam Singleton
There are several ways to activate airplane mode on a Windows notebook. Many devices have a dedicated function key; simply check your keyboard or the manual. Alternatively, click on the combination of the network icon and volume control in the bottom right corner of the taskbar to open the settings window. Click on the button for airplane mode. Or open “Settings” in the Start menu, go to “Network and Internet” and then set the switch for “Airplane mode” to “On”. Here’s another tip: if you click on the “Airplane mode” entry at this point, you can specifically disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in the next window.
Finally, you can also activate flight mode on the Windows login screen: if you click on the network icon there, a button for switching flight mode on and off will appear.
This article originally appeared on our sister publication PC-WELT and was translated and localized from German.
