What happens if someone calls and your phone is on airplane mode?

Understanding the Impact of Airplane Mode on Incoming Calls

When you activate airplane mode on your phone, it effectively disconnects the device from all wireless networks, including cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Consequently, various functionalities of the phone are disabled, including the ability to make or receive calls and send or receive messages.

Behavior of Incoming Calls When Airplane Mode is Active

When airplane mode is active and an incoming call is initiated, the following occurs:

• The call is silently rejected by the phone. This means that the caller receives no indication that their call has been rejected.
• The caller experiences only the standard ring-back tone before potentially reaching your voicemail, assuming one is configured.

No Disturbance to Your Phone

While the caller is unaware of their call being rejected, your phone remains undisturbed. This means that:

• You will not receive any sound or vibration alerts indicating an incoming call.
• The call will not appear in your call history or missed call log.

Implications for Callers

For the caller, the experience is similar to trying to call a disconnected or unavailable number. They may continue to hear the ring-back tone, but their call will ultimately be unsuccessful. If the recipient has voicemail configured, the caller may eventually be redirected to that service.

Additional Considerations

• Some emergency calls may be able to bypass airplane mode restrictions, depending on the network and device.
• If you need to make an urgent call while in airplane mode, you may be able to disable it temporarily and then re-enable it after the call is complete.
• Airplane mode can be a useful tool for avoiding distractions or interruptions during meetings, flights, or other situations where you need to be undisturbed.