Yes, Airplane Mode Can Speed Up Phone Charging — But Here’s Why It’s Usually Not Worth It

Even with modern smartphones offering longer battery life and faster charging than previous generations, many people still look for ways to recharge their devices as quickly as possible. One commonly suggested trick is enabling airplane mode before plugging in your phone.

The good news is that the method does work. Switching your phone to airplane mode while charging can slightly reduce the amount of time it takes to reach a full battery. However, the improvement is so small that many users may find the tradeoff of losing connectivity and most phone functions isn't worthwhile.

Airplane mode disables your device's wireless communications, including cellular service, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and the notifications that depend on those connections. While the feature was designed primarily for use during flights, it can also temporarily disconnect your phone from networks without turning it off completely.

Why Airplane Mode Only Offers A Small Charging Boost

Because airplane mode stops your phone from constantly communicating with wireless networks, it reduces background power consumption while charging. That allows more of the incoming power to replenish the battery instead of supporting active wireless functions.

The benefit, however, is relatively modest. Testing has shown that enabling airplane mode typically shortens charging time by only about 4 to 11 minutes, regardless of whether you're using an older smartphone or a newer, more power-efficient model.

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For users in situations where every minute matters, that small gain could be helpful. But it comes at the cost of temporarily giving up phone calls, messages, internet access, and other connected features, leaving only offline functions available during charging.

Airplane mode can also be useful when you're trying to preserve the remaining battery life while away from a charger, since disabling wireless radios reduces power consumption. For everyday use, though, features like Do Not Disturb or Focus Mode are often better options if your goal is simply to avoid interruptions.

Better Ways To Charge Your Phone Faster

If your priority is maximizing charging speed, upgrading your charging accessories will have a much greater impact than relying on airplane mode.

Many smartphones support high-speed charging but do not include the necessary power adapter in the box. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra does not ship with a power adapter, while Apple's iPhone 17 lineup supports wired charging speeds of up to 40W, with the iPhone 17 Air supporting up to 20W. Purchasing a charger that matches your phone's maximum supported charging speed allows you to take full advantage of its fast-charging capabilities.

Wireless charging can also be improved by using a Qi2-compatible charger if your phone supports the standard. Likewise, replacing an older USB-A-to-USB-C cable with a USB-C-to-USB-C cable—when supported by both your charger and device—can improve charging performance. Using high-quality cables from reputable manufacturers is also important, as cable quality can affect charging efficiency.

The Biggest Charging Slowdown Is Often You

One unexpected advantage of airplane mode is that it discourages people from constantly interacting with their phones while they're plugged in.

Every time you unlock your device to browse social media, check notifications, watch videos, or perform other tasks, the phone consumes additional power that could otherwise go toward charging the battery.

Instead of repeatedly waking the screen, consider checking incoming notifications from the lock screen or a paired smartwatch and only unlocking your phone when necessary. Minimizing phone usage while charging generally has a greater impact on charging efficiency than enabling airplane mode alone.

For those who frequently need extra battery while traveling, investing in a portable power bank is a far more practical solution than sacrificing connectivity by placing the phone in airplane mode during every charging session.