macOS Airplane Mode: How to Turn It On

To turn on Airplane Mode on a Mac, open Control Center from the menu bar and click the Airplane Mode icon (a small airplane). This instantly disables Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and any other wireless radios. The same toggle turns it off when you’re ready to reconnect.

What Airplane Mode Actually Does on a Mac

Unlike iPhones and iPads, macOS doesn’t have a single system-wide Airplane Mode setting buried in System Settings. Instead, the feature lives in Control Center, which Apple introduced in macOS Big Sur (11.0) in 2020. When you activate it, macOS turns off all wireless hardware at the software level—Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and, on models with cellular connectivity, the mobile data modem. It also disables AirDrop, Handoff, Instant Hotspot, and other continuity features that rely on those radios.

It’s important to note that Airplane Mode on a Mac is not a separate hardware switch like the one on older iPhones. It’s a convenience toggle that groups existing wireless controls. You can achieve the same result by manually turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in System Settings, but Airplane Mode does it in one click and remembers your previous state when you turn it off.

How to Turn On Airplane Mode (Step by Step)

Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar—it looks like two toggle switches side by side. It’s always on the right side of the screen, near the clock.
In the Control Center panel, look for the Airplane Mode tile, usually at the top of the list. If you don’t see it, click the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth tile to expand the panel; the Airplane Mode toggle may be hidden there.
Click the Airplane Mode icon. It will turn orange or blue (depending on your accent color) to indicate it’s active. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth icons in the menu bar will gray out.
To turn it off, open Control Center again and click the same icon. Your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth will automatically return to their previous states.

If you prefer keyboard access, you can add Airplane Mode to the menu bar itself. Go to System Settings > Control Center and choose “Always Show in Menu Bar” next to Airplane Mode. Then you can toggle it with a single click without opening the full panel.

What Happens to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth When You Toggle It

When you turn on Airplane Mode, macOS disconnects from the current Wi-Fi network and turns off the Wi-Fi radio. Bluetooth is also disabled, which means your Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, AirPods, or other Bluetooth peripherals will stop working. This can be surprising if you’re using a Bluetooth keyboard—you may need to plug in a wired keyboard or use the built-in keyboard on a MacBook to turn Airplane Mode off again.

One common misconception is that Airplane Mode turns off the cellular modem on Macs with cellular capability (like some iPad models with macOS, though Apple doesn’t currently sell a Mac with cellular). In practice, on the Macs that support it, the toggle does disable the cellular data connection. However, because most Macs don’t have cellular, the main effect is on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Another detail: Airplane Mode does not turn off the Ethernet port on a Mac mini or Mac Studio. If your Mac is connected via Ethernet cable, that connection stays active. This is actually useful—you can keep a wired internet connection while disabling wireless radios, which is often what you want in sensitive environments.

Why You’d Use Airplane Mode on a Mac

Most people think of Airplane Mode for flights, but on a Mac it has several practical uses:

Battery saving: Turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can extend battery life on a MacBook, especially when you’re away from networks and don’t need peripherals.
Focus and productivity: Disabling wireless connections stops notifications, email syncing, and other distractions without putting the Mac to sleep.
Troubleshooting: If your Wi-Fi is acting up, Airplane Mode is a quick way to reset all wireless connections without restarting the Mac.
Privacy: In a meeting or public place, you can ensure your Mac isn’t broadcasting or connecting to unknown networks.
Compliance: On an airplane, flight crew may ask you to disable wireless radios. Airplane Mode does that in one step.

Common Problems and Fixes

Sometimes Airplane Mode doesn’t behave as expected. Here are a few issues and how to resolve them:

Airplane Mode icon is missing: If you don’t see Airplane Mode in Control Center, your Mac may be running an older macOS version (pre-Big Sur). Update to macOS 11 or later, or manually turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in System Settings.
Wi-Fi turns back on automatically: Some users report that Wi-Fi re-enables itself after a few minutes. This can happen if a system service (like Location Services) requests Wi-Fi. To prevent this, go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and disable Location Services for system services, or turn off Wi-Fi networking under System Services.
Bluetooth devices don’t reconnect after turning off Airplane Mode: This is usually a temporary glitch. Turn Bluetooth off and on again in Control Center, or restart your Mac.
Airplane Mode doesn’t disable Bluetooth: On some older macOS versions, the toggle only affected Wi-Fi. Make sure your Mac is updated to the latest macOS version.

Airplane Mode vs. Turning Off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Manually

There’s no functional difference in the end result—both methods disable the same radios. However, Airplane Mode is a single toggle that affects both, and it remembers your previous state when you turn it off. If you manually turn off Wi-Fi but leave Bluetooth on, then turn off Airplane Mode later, Wi-Fi comes back but Bluetooth stays as it was. Airplane Mode is also faster when you need to disable everything quickly.

One nuance: if you turn on Airplane Mode and then manually turn on Bluetooth (for example, to use AirPods), the Airplane Mode icon remains active but Bluetooth is now on. This is the same behavior as on iPhone. When you turn off Airplane Mode, Wi-Fi reconnects as before, and Bluetooth stays on because you explicitly enabled it.

How to Turn It Off (and What to Expect)

To turn off Airplane Mode, open Control Center and click the Airplane Mode icon again. Your Mac will automatically reconnect to the Wi-Fi network it was using before, provided the network is still in range. Bluetooth devices will also re-pair automatically, though it may take a few seconds. If you were using a Bluetooth keyboard and it doesn’t reconnect, you may need to press a key or click the mouse to wake it.

If you want to keep Wi-Fi off but turn Bluetooth on (or vice versa), you can do that from Control Center or System Settings while Airplane Mode is active. The Airplane Mode toggle will stay on, but the individual radio you enabled will work normally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Airplane Mode turn off the Mac’s Wi-Fi completely?

Yes, it turns off the Wi-Fi radio, so the Mac disconnects from any network and stops scanning for new ones. However, some system services like Location Services may briefly turn on Wi-Fi to determine your location, even when Airplane Mode is on. To prevent this, disable Wi-Fi networking in Location Services settings.

Can I use Bluetooth devices while Airplane Mode is on?

Yes, you can manually turn Bluetooth back on after enabling Airplane Mode. This is useful for using AirPods or a Bluetooth keyboard during a flight. Just open Control Center and click the Bluetooth icon; it will turn on independently while Airplane Mode remains active.

Why doesn’t my Mac have an Airplane Mode option?

If you’re running macOS Catalina (10.15) or earlier, Airplane Mode isn’t available. It was introduced in macOS Big Sur (11.0). You can update your Mac to a newer macOS version for free, or manually turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in System Settings.

Does Airplane Mode save battery on a MacBook?

Yes, disabling Wi-Fi and Bluetooth reduces power consumption, which can extend battery life. The effect is more noticeable on older MacBooks or when you’re in an area with weak Wi-Fi signals, as the radio doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain a connection.

Will Airplane Mode affect my Ethernet connection?

No, Airplane Mode only affects wireless radios. If your Mac is connected to the internet via an Ethernet cable, that connection remains active. This is useful for desktop Macs in offices or homes where you want to disable Wi-Fi but keep a wired connection.

How do I add Airplane Mode to the menu bar?

Go to System Settings > Control Center and find the Airplane Mode section. In the dropdown next to “Airplane Mode,” select “Always Show in Menu Bar.” You’ll then see the airplane icon in the menu bar for one-click access.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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