Difference beetween disabling WiFi and Airplane mode?

Question

_{Saturday, June 10, 2017 12:41 AM}

I search the Internet.  Most web sites say that turning on the airplane mode, one still can access Wi-Fi.  The airplane mode only refers to phone calls etc.  Most of them are talking about mobile phones.

However, being a computer and no phone calls are involved, what could be the difference?  Does the airplane mode turn off the Wi-Fi and Ethernet networking as well?

Which one actually stops the network or Internet data flow?

All replies (7)

_{Tuesday, June 13, 2017 1:57 AM ✅Answered}

Hi ,

Typically, Wi-Fi off just turns off the Wi-Fi. Airplane mode disables all the wireless transmission functions, that includes Wi-Fi but also disables Bluetooth and other communication forms. Hope I am clear. The below is a similar case for your reference.
Windows 10 Wi-Fi vs Airplane Mode Security
https://security.stackexchange.com/questions/147689/windows-10-wi-fi-vs-airplane-mode-security
NOTE: This response contains a reference to a third party World Wide Web site. Microsoft is providing this information as a convenience to you. Microsoft does not control these sites and has not tested any software or information found on these sites.

Best regards

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help.
If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected].

_{Sunday, June 11, 2017 2:39 PM}

Does the airplane mode turn off the Wi-Fi and Ethernet networking as well?

Yes, it does.  WI-FI is disabled When I turn on airplane mode on my laptop

_{Sunday, June 11, 2017 7:35 PM | 1 vote}

**From my point of view **enabling airplane mode always disables Wi-Fi. However, on most devices, you can enable Wi-Fi after enabling airplane mode. Cellular signals will still be blocked, but Wi-Fi will be working so you can connect to that in-flight Wi-Fi network.

_{Monday, June 12, 2017 9:53 AM}

Airplane mode means no incoming or outgoing signal Wi-Fi or cellular. Wi-Fi off just turns off the network card for the phone. Not cellular service. You can have airplane mode on and then turn on the Wi-Fi

_{Tuesday, June 13, 2017 5:52 AM}

Thanks!

That's what confused me.

_{Tuesday, June 13, 2017 5:59 AM}

When in airplane mode, will it consume Internet or WiFi data?

What I want to know is whether the data is still consumed in the background.  It is very important as I am trying to minimize data consumption so as to minimize the cost of my Internet usage.

I suppose disabling WiFi will definitely stop all the Internet data consumption altogether except mobile data if it is not disabled.

_{Tuesday, June 13, 2017 6:28 AM}

Hi ,

When in airplane mode, it won't consume Internet or WiFi data, unless you manually turn on the Wi-Fi again after enabling airplane mode, as abhik143 and pankaj156 said. Based on my understanding, it will stop all the internet data consumption, you are right about that. 

Best regards

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help.
If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected].