Google Pixel Phones Have an Improved Airplane Mode

Since its introduction on smartphones, airplane mode has gone a long way. Google is now upgrading Android's Airplane mode by ensuring that Wi-Fi remains connected when the mode is activated. A major perk is that you may not even need the most recent version of Android 13 to enable this function.

Although initial reports say that this functionality is only available in the Android 13 QPR1 beta and stable updates, a Pixel support post suggests that devices running Android 11 or later are eligible.

How to Use Updated Airplane Mode

To activate this feature, you do not go through loops of steps; it is enabled by default. The only catch is that you must be connected to Wi-Fi when you enable Airplane mode to use the function. Don't worry, connecting to Wi-Fi when in Airplane mode will enable the function as well. Thanks to the new feature you can even use phonecopy apps to share files on flight without interruptions.

If you're already connected to Wi-Fi, your Pixel phone will give you a system push message reminding you that if you keep Wi-Fi on in Airplane mode, it will remain on the next time you're in airplane [SIC] mode. If you touch the notice, you'll be sent to the Pixel support website that explains how WiFi connections function in Airplane mode on a Pixel phone.

It's an easy workaround if you don't want your phone to remain connected to Wi-Fi when in Airplane mode. Simply switch off Wi-Fi on your Pixel phone, and it will default back to turning off Wi-Fi when you activate Airplane mode.