Does Airplane Mode Turn Off Location Sharing?

Whether you’re flying to a city for vacation or accidentally pressed the button when trying to turn your flashlight on, everyone has seen airplane mode’s effects on their phone. Generally, cellular service and WiFi are disabled once the mode is activated, but how does it affect location sharing?

Does Airplane Mode Turn Off Location Services?

Airplane mode won’t turn off your phone’s internal GPS system, but it can impact the location-sharing services you download. Since these apps aren’t a pre-built feature on your phone, they often require cellular service or WiFi to work properly. However, it will impact your location sharing, as you will not be able to share over WiFi or cellular data.

Can Your Location Be Tracked When Airplane Mode is Turned On?

Your phone has a built-in GPS that is still visible and can be tracked when in Airplane mode for emergency purposes because it is based on satellites. Any other location-sharing apps you might have are generally disabled and won’t work during airplane mode, and instead will display your last known location.

It’s a good idea if you use a platform like Life360 to let others know you’ll be traveling and won’t be able to share your live location with them until after you’re off the plane. 

Can Someone See Your Location on Airplane Mode with WiFi?

If your phone is only in airplane mode, anyone who has access to your GPS can see your location. One way to ensure your location is hidden from others and third parties is to disable the GPS feature on your iPhone or Android. 

Download Life360 to Stay in the Know While Traveling

If you aren’t currently using a location-sharing service and want to try one, Life360 is offering free membership to new customers. Download the app today and start sharing your location.