When your Android phone remains stuck in Airplane mode—disabling all radios including cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth—you lose connectivity for calls, texts, and data. Before rushing to a service center, try these 12 practical fixes. Each section includes clear, numbered steps to diagnose and resolve the issue, restoring your phone’s normal connectivity.

What to do if Android phone shows “Airplane mode” stuck?

Toggle Airplane Mode Off and On

Why This Helps

A simple toggle can reset the phone’s radio modules and clear transient firmware bugs.

  • Swipe down twice from the top to open Quick Settings.
  • Tap the Airplane icon to turn it Off, wait 5 seconds, then tap it On, then Off again.
  • Observe indicator lights: cellular bars and Wi-Fi symbol should return within a few seconds.
  • If still stuck, proceed to deeper fixes.

Tip: On some phones, Airplane mode appears under Settings > Network & internet.

Restart Your Phone

Why This Helps

Rebooting clears system caches and restarts all radio and network services.

  • Press and hold the Power button until the power menu appears.
  • Tap Restart (or Reboot).
  • Wait for the device to fully power cycle.
  • Check Settings > Network & internet to see if Airplane mode remains off.

Note: If the restart fails to exit Airplane mode, move on to software resets.

Disable Airplane Mode in Settings

Why This Helps

Some phones require toggling Airplane mode within the Settings app rather than Quick Settings.

  • Open Settings → Network & internet (or Connections on Samsung).
  • Tap the Airplane mode toggle to Off.
  • Wait 10 seconds and verify that cellular and Wi-Fi toggles become active.

Clear System UI Cache and Data

Why This Helps

Corrupted cache in System UI or Settings can lock toggles in their last state.

  • Settings → Apps & notifications → See all apps.
  • Tap the three-dot menu → Show system.
  • Find System UI, tap Storage & cache → Clear cache.
  • If issue persists, tap Clear storage (resets UI settings).
  • Reboot and try disabling Airplane mode.

Warning: Clearing storage resets your notification and quick-setting customizations.

Reset Network Settings

Why This Helps

Resets all wireless and network configurations, often clearing stuck Airplane mode flags.

  • Settings → System (or General management) → Reset options.
  • Tap Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth (or Network settings reset).
  • Confirm by tapping Reset settings.
  • After reboot, re-enter Wi-Fi passwords and re-pair Bluetooth devices.
  • Ensure Airplane mode is off.

Note: This will remove all saved networks and paired devices; have credentials handy.

Test in Safe Mode

Why This Helps

Safe Mode disables all third-party apps, isolating whether an app is forcing Airplane mode.

  • Press and hold the Power button until the menu appears.
  • Long-press Power off until Reboot to safe mode prompt appears; tap OK.
  • In Safe Mode (watermark visible), go to Settings > Network & internet and toggle Airplane mode.
  • If it works, exit Safe Mode (restart normally) and uninstall recently installed apps—especially battery savers or network managers.

Common Culprits: VPNs, firewall apps, or “do not disturb” utilities that manage radios.

Update Android System and Carrier Services

Why This Helps

Software patches often include fixes for radio and connectivity bugs.

  • Settings → System (or About phone) → System update → Check for updates.
  • Install any available updates and reboot.
  • Settings → Apps & notifications → See all apps → Show system → find Carrier Services → update via Play Store if prompted.
  • Retest Airplane mode toggle.

Check for a Stuck Physical Switch

Why This Matters

Some phones (e.g., OnePlus) include a hardware slider or physical switch that controls silent/vibrate modes, which can interfere with radio toggles if stuck.

  • Inspect sides for any alert slider or button near the volume rocker.
  • Toggle the switch through all positions (Silent, Vibrate, Ring) several times.
  • Return to ring mode, then disable Airplane mode via software.

Insight: A malfunctioning alert slider can send conflicting signals to the system’s radio manager.

Reinsert the SIM Card

Why This Helps

A loose or unseated SIM card can cause the system to misinterpret network status and lock into Airplane mode.

  • Power off your phone.
  • Eject the SIM tray with the tool or paperclip.
  • Remove the SIM, inspect for damage or debris, and reinsert firmly.
  • Reinsert the tray, power on, and try toggling Airplane mode off.

Note: Ensure the SIM tray is fully flush; a half-ejected tray may signal the system to disable radios.

Factory Reset as a Last Resort

Why This Helps

A complete reset clears deep system errors that resist all other fixes.

Preparation

  • Backup contacts, photos, and app data via Settings > System > Backup or Google Drive.
  • Note Wi-Fi and carrier credentials.

Reset Steps

  • Settings → System → Reset options → Erase all data (factory reset).
  • Confirm and allow your phone to erase and reboot.
  • During setup, test toggling Airplane mode before restoring backups.

Warning: This will delete all personal data—use only if other methods have failed.

Inspect for Physical or Water Damage

Why This Matters

Damage to internal radio components—often from drops or moisture—can cause persistent Airplane mode.

  • Examine your phone’s water damage indicator (SIM tray area) for discoloration.
  • Check for screen cracks or bends near antenna lines.
  • If damage is evident, contact an authorized service center for diagnostic and possible antenna or logic-board repair.

Tip: Describe your troubleshooting steps to the technician to expedite diagnosis.

Use ADB Commands to Manually Toggle Radios

Why This Helps

For advanced users, ADB can directly control radio services, bypassing stuck UI toggles.

Prerequisites

  • Enable Developer options by tapping Build number seven times under Settings > About phone.
  • Enable USB debugging.

Steps

  • Connect your phone to a PC with Android Platform Tools installed.

In a command prompt, run:

arduino
CopyEdit

adb shell settings put global airplane_mode_on 0
adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.AIRPLANE_MODE --ez state false
  • Wait a few seconds and confirm radios return.
  • Run adb reboot if necessary.

Caution: Use ADB carefully; incorrect commands may destabilize your system.

Conclusion

A phone stuck in Airplane mode can cut you off when you need connectivity most. By systematically applying these 12 solutions—from basic toggles, restarts, and Safe Mode testing to software updates, SIM reseating, and ADB commands—you can resolve most stuck-Airplane-mode issues without professional help. If damage or deep firmware corruption persists, a factory reset or authorized repair may be required. With these troubleshooting steps, you’ll restore your Android’s radios and stay connected wherever you go.

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