Chromebooks do not have a single Airplane Mode button. To go completely offline, turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth from the system tray in the bottom-right corner, or press Search + W for Wi-Fi and Search + B for Bluetooth. If your Chromebook has built-in mobile data, switch that off too, and you are fully offline in about ten seconds.
Before you start
- Applies to: All Chromebooks running ChromeOS.
- You need: Nothing extra. Every setting used here is built in.
- Time: About ten seconds.
What does Airplane Mode actually do?
On a phone, Airplane Mode kills three things at once: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular. Your Chromebook has no magic button to do all three in one tap, but it lets you turn each one off on its own, and the whole process takes about as long as fastening your seatbelt.
How do I turn off Wi-Fi?
Click the time and battery area in the bottom-right corner of your screen. That is the system tray, the control panel for your Chromebook.
- Open the system tray, then click the Wi-Fi icon to toggle it off. The icon turns grey when it is disabled.
- You can also go to Settings, then Network, and flip the Wi-Fi toggle there.
Keyboard shortcut: Press Search + W to toggle Wi-Fi on or off instantly, no clicking required.
How do I turn off mobile data?
Most Chromebooks are Wi-Fi only, so you can skip this one. If your Chromebook has a built-in cellular LTE connection, you will see a Mobile data option in the same Network settings panel. Turn that off too.
On many Chromebooks, that entry is actually Instant Tethering, a feature that quietly connects your Chromebook to your phone’s hotspot when Wi-Fi is unavailable. If you see it, disable it. Otherwise your Chromebook will keep borrowing your phone’s connection.
How do I turn off Bluetooth?
- Back in the system tray, click the Bluetooth icon to turn it off.
- Or go to Settings, then Bluetooth, and flip the toggle there.
Keyboard shortcut: Press Search + B to toggle Bluetooth without touching the trackpad. With all radios off, your Chromebook is fully offline and ready for the flight.
Can you still use plane Wi-Fi?
Yes. Since you turned Wi-Fi off manually, you can turn it back on the moment in-flight Wi-Fi is available. Open the system tray, tap the Wi-Fi icon, and connect as you would anywhere else. The same goes for Bluetooth if you want your wireless headphones mid-flight.
Good to know
- Turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth does not affect your apps, keyboard, or screen. Everything local keeps working.
- Offline-capable apps like Google Docs and Google Slides keep working with no connection. Set them up before you board.
- ChromeOS remembers your Wi-Fi networks. Turn Wi-Fi back on after landing and it reconnects automatically.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Chromebook have an Airplane Mode?
No. ChromeOS has no single Airplane Mode toggle. You get the same result by turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, plus mobile data if your Chromebook has it.
What is the fastest way to go offline on a Chromebook?
Press Search + W to turn off Wi-Fi and Search + B to turn off Bluetooth. That disables both radios in seconds.
Related guides
- How to Rotate the Screen on a Chromebook
- How to Change Time on a Chromebook
- How to Lock Your Chromebook
A Chromebook may not have an Airplane Mode button, but turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth from the system tray gets you completely offline in seconds, with more flexibility than a single toggle would give you.
