Airplane Mode Stuck On in Windows 11 How to Fix It

Airplane Mode Stuck On in Windows 11: How to Fix It

Airplane mode turns off every wireless radio in the PC: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile broadband. When it gets stuck on, won't switch off, is greyed out, or keeps turning itself back on, you lose Wi-Fi completely. Here's how to fix it, starting with the quickest checks. The steps work on Windows 11 and, with small menu differences, Windows 10.

Fix 1: Turn It Off in Settings

The Quick Settings button sometimes fails when Settings still works.

1. Open Settings > Network & internet > Airplane mode.
2. Turn Airplane mode off.
3. On the same page, make sure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth under Wireless devices are on.

Fix 2: Check the Keyboard Key or Wireless Switch

Many laptops have a key with an aeroplane or antenna icon, often on a function key (you may need to hold Fn). A few older models have a physical wireless switch on the side or front edge. Press the key once, or slide the switch to on, and wait a few seconds.

If airplane mode keeps coming back on its own, a stuck key can be the cause. Check the key isn't jammed, and test with an external keyboard if you have one.

Fix 3: Restart Properly

1. Save your work and choose Start > Power > Restart (a restart does a full reload, unlike shut down with Fast Startup on).
2. If that doesn't help, shut down, unplug the charger, wait 30 seconds, and start the laptop again.

Fix 4: Start the Radio Management Service

Windows uses the Radio Management Service to switch radios on and off. If it's stopped, the airplane mode switch may be greyed out or do nothing.

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc and press Enter.
2. Find Radio Management Service.
3. If it isn't Running, right-click it and choose Start.
4. Double-click it and set Startup type to Manual or Automatic (whichever it was, but not Disabled). Click OK.
5. Try the airplane mode switch again.

Fix 5: Check the Wi-Fi Adapter in Device Manager

1. Right-click the Start button and choose Device Manager.
2. Expand Network adapters.
3. If your Wi-Fi adapter shows a down-arrow icon, right-click it and choose Enable device.
4. If it shows a yellow warning, right-click it, choose Uninstall device (leave the driver-deletion box unticked) and restart. Windows reinstalls it.
5. If there is no Wi-Fi adapter at all, click Action > Scan for hardware changes.

If the adapter keeps disappearing, download the current Wi-Fi driver for your exact model from the laptop maker's support site. Avoid driver-updater programs.

Fix 6: Update the Laptop Maker's Hotkey Software

On many laptops the airplane key is handled by the maker's own utility or driver, which sometimes appears in Device Manager under Human Interface Devices with a name referring to wireless or radio buttons. If it's outdated or broken, the key can turn airplane mode on without your say-so.

• Install the latest system utilities and chipset drivers for your model from the laptop maker's support page, or use the maker's own update app if one came with the laptop.
• Then install waiting updates in Settings > Windows Update, including Advanced options > Optional updates if drivers are listed there.

Fix 7: Turn Off Power Saving on the Adapter

Windows can turn the Wi-Fi adapter off to save power, and on some models it doesn't wake properly afterwards.

1. In Device Manager > Network adapters, double-click your Wi-Fi adapter.
2. Open the Power Management tab (if there is one).
3. Untick Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power. Click OK.

Fix 8: Check the BIOS/UEFI Wireless Setting

Some laptops let you disable wireless in the firmware setup. If Wi-Fi vanished after a BIOS update or reset, check it there. Open Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now, then Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings. Look for a wireless or WLAN option and make sure it's enabled. Don't change other settings you're unsure about; exit without saving if in doubt.

Fix 9: Network Reset

If Windows still won't let the radios back on:

1. Open Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset.
2. Click Reset now and confirm. The PC restarts.

You'll need to reconnect to Wi-Fi with its password, and VPN software may need setting up again.

Still Stuck?

If airplane mode is off but Wi-Fi still won't connect, see laptop Wi-Fi not connecting. If Bluetooth has gone missing too, follow Bluetooth disappeared from Windows. And if Wi-Fi connects but pages won't load, the Wi-Fi connected but no internet guide is the next stop.

If none of these help and the adapter keeps vanishing from Device Manager, the Wi-Fi card itself may be failing. A USB Wi-Fi adapter is a quick way to test that before paying for a repair.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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