Airplane mode on iPhone: what still works
· Avinash Kumar
Flight Mode Chat runs on iPhone and iPad. The app interface is in English.
Airplane Mode turns off the cellular radio, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. You can then turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth back on individually in Control Center, and iPhone remembers that choice for next time.
| Feature | In Airplane Mode |
|---|---|
| Calls and SMS | No |
| Mobile data | No |
| iMessage, WhatsApp | Only with Wi-Fi |
| AirPods, Apple Watch | Yes, with Bluetooth on |
| AirDrop | Yes, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on |
| GPS | Yes; maps need offline downloads |
| Bluetooth chat apps | Yes, with Bluetooth on |
| Downloaded music, films | Yes |
“Not Delivered”
That red message means your phone tried and found no network. It’ll retry once you’re back online.
Messaging someone next to you
If they’re nearby, a Bluetooth chat app like Flight Mode Chat works with Airplane Mode on and Bluetooth on. It can’t reach anyone outside Bluetooth range.
Looking
Looking for something like this and worked as expected :))
★★★★★ App Store review, United Kingdom, 7 August 2025, Savana07 · App Store
Questions people ask
- Why does iMessage say Not Delivered?
- Because there is no network. It will retry when you have Wi-Fi or data.
- Does iPhone remember Bluetooth in airplane mode?
- Yes. If you turn Bluetooth back on in Airplane Mode, iPhone remembers next time.
Flight Mode Chat
Encrypted chat with people nearby over Bluetooth, with no internet or cell signal.
Keep reading
Also available in: Deutsch · Español (Latinoamérica) · Français · Italiano · 日本語