{"id":5263,"date":"2025-05-20T14:18:11","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T14:18:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/?p=5263"},"modified":"2025-05-20T14:18:18","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T14:18:18","slug":"prevent-thieves-from-turning-on-your-phones-airplane-mode","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/prevent-thieves-from-turning-on-your-phones-airplane-mode\/","title":{"rendered":"Prevent Thieves from Turning On Your Phone\u2019s Airplane Mode: Stay One Step Ahead"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"digic-1522748769\" class=\"digic-bedfore-post digic-entity-placement\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4104817480020566\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-4104817480020566\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n<p>When your phone is stolen, one of the first things a thief may do is turn on <strong>airplane mode<\/strong>. This instantly disconnects your phone from the internet, blocks GPS, and stops tracking apps like <em>Find My Device<\/em> or <em>Find My iPhone<\/em>. Once airplane mode is active, your chances of recovering your phone drop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"463\" height=\"360\" data-src=\"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/How-to-Stop-Thieves-from-Turning-Off-Your-Phone-or-Using-Airplane-Mode.jpg\" alt=\"How to Stop Thieves from Turning Off Your Phone or Using Airplane Mode\" class=\"wp-image-5267 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/How-to-Stop-Thieves-from-Turning-Off-Your-Phone-or-Using-Airplane-Mode.jpg 463w, https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/How-to-Stop-Thieves-from-Turning-Off-Your-Phone-or-Using-Airplane-Mode-300x233.jpg 300w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 463px) 100vw, 463px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 463px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 463\/360;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>But with the right settings and tools, you can stop this from happening. This guide will walk you through <strong>how to block access to airplane mode<\/strong>, so you have a better shot at recovering your lost or stolen phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Do Thieves Use Airplane Mode?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Thieves often activate airplane mode to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cut off location sharing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prevent you from calling or tracking your device<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stop apps like Google Find My Device or Apple\u2019s Find My iPhone from working<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The faster they do this, the harder it becomes for you to find your phone.<\/p><div id=\"digic-2079745253\" class=\"digic-get-free-material digic-entity-placement\"><p>Get <a title=\"TikTok SEO Cheats\" href=\"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/download\/tiktok-seo-cheats\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>TikTok SEO Cheat<\/strong><\/a> here<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step-by-Step: How to Stop Access to Airplane Mode<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. <strong>Secure Your Lock Screen First<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Start by setting up strong lock screen security:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use a PIN, password, or pattern that\u2019s not easy to guess<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enable fingerprint or face unlock where available<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid common codes like 1111 or birthdays<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This makes it harder for anyone to access your phone without permission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. <strong>Disable Quick Settings Access on Locked Phones<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Both iPhones and Android phones allow limited control of settings from the lock screen\u2014including airplane mode. You can block this to make your phone safer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>iPhone Users:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to <strong>Settings > Face ID &amp; Passcode<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enter your passcode<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scroll down to <strong>\u201cAllow Access When Locked\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Turn <strong>off Control Center<\/strong> and <strong>USB Accessories<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"473\" height=\"1024\" data-src=\"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/How-to-Stop-Thieves-from-Turning-Off-Your-Phone-or-Using-Airplane-Mode1-473x1024.webp\" alt=\"How to Stop Thieves from Turning Off Your Phone or Using Airplane Mode1\" class=\"wp-image-5265 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/How-to-Stop-Thieves-from-Turning-Off-Your-Phone-or-Using-Airplane-Mode1-473x1024.webp 473w, https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/How-to-Stop-Thieves-from-Turning-Off-Your-Phone-or-Using-Airplane-Mode1-139x300.webp 139w, https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/How-to-Stop-Thieves-from-Turning-Off-Your-Phone-or-Using-Airplane-Mode1-768x1663.webp 768w, https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/How-to-Stop-Thieves-from-Turning-Off-Your-Phone-or-Using-Airplane-Mode1-709x1536.webp 709w, https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/How-to-Stop-Thieves-from-Turning-Off-Your-Phone-or-Using-Airplane-Mode1-scaled.webp 946w, https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/How-to-Stop-Thieves-from-Turning-Off-Your-Phone-or-Using-Airplane-Mode1-860x1862.webp 860w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 473px) 100vw, 473px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 473px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 473\/1024;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This stops anyone from swiping down to turn on airplane mode when your phone is locked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Android Users:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Different brands have slightly different menus, but the general steps are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to <strong>Settings > Lock Screen<\/strong> or <strong>Security<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Look for \u201cLock screen options\u201d or \u201cNotification access\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Disable <strong>Quick Settings access<\/strong> or \u201cPull down menu\u201d on the lock screen<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"680\" height=\"540\" data-src=\"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Settings-Lock-Screen-or-Security.webp\" alt=\"Settings &gt; Lock Screen or Security\" class=\"wp-image-5266 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Settings-Lock-Screen-or-Security.webp 680w, https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Settings-Lock-Screen-or-Security-300x238.webp 300w\" data-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 680px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 680\/540;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This blocks the swipe-down menu that includes airplane mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. <strong>Use Anti-Theft Apps with Extra Protection<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For Android users, some apps offer added features that protect your phone even further. One example is <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.harteg.crookcatcher&amp;hl=en-US\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CrookCatcher<\/a><\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It detects when someone tries to access the power menu or notification bar<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It instantly shuts off the screen<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It snaps a photo of the thief and sends it to your email with GPS location<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>CrookCatcher can be found on the Google Play Store, and while it may not work on every device, it\u2019s free and worth trying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Read also:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/how-to-use-photopea-as-a-free-alternative-to-photoshop-full-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to Use Photopea as a Free Alternative to Photoshop (Full Guide)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/use-google-drive-to-scan-and-sign-documents\/\">How to Use Google Drive to Scan and Sign Documents<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/15-best-movies-for-entrepreneurs\/\">15 best movies for entrepreneurs to watch<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/amvca-2025\/\">AMVCA 2025: Full Winners List and Highlights from Africa\u2019s Biggest Night in Film and TV<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/how-to-find-all-accounts-linked-to-my-email-address-free\/\">How to find all accounts linked to my email address free<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/how-to-hide-important-apps-on-your-phone-using-built-in-settings\/\">How to Hide Important Apps on Your Phone Using Built-In Settings<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/how-to-read-deleted-whatsapp-messages\/\">How to Read Deleted WhatsApp Messages<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/4-ways-to-get-ai-home-monitoring-for-free\/\">4 Ways to Get AI Home Monitoring for Free<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/how-to-use-your-phone-as-a-cctv-camera\/\">How to Use Your Phone as a CCTV Camera<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/nigerian-celebrities-who-started-with-nothing-from-street-to-stardom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nigerian Celebrities Who Started With Nothing: From Street to Stardom<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/the-truth-about-loan-apps-in-nigeria-what-you-need-to-know-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Truth About Loan Apps in Nigeria: What You Need to Know<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/how-cloud-computing-is-helping-nigerian-businesses-scale-and-make-more-money\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How Cloud Computing Is Helping Nigerian Businesses Scale and Make More Money<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/cybersecurity-measures-for-nigerian-businesses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cybersecurity Measures for Nigerian Businesses<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/agritech-in-nigeria-why-its-becoming-the-next-big-investment-opportunity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Agritech in Nigeria: Why It\u2019s Becoming the Next Big Investment Opportunity<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. <strong>Turn On Google Find My Device or Apple Find My iPhone<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before anything happens, make sure tracking features are enabled:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>For Android:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to <strong>Settings > Security > Find My Device<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensure it\u2019s turned <strong>on<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can track your device anytime at <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/android.com\/find\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">android.com\/find<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>For iPhone:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to <strong>Settings > [Your Name] > Find My > Find My iPhone<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Turn on <strong>Find My iPhone<\/strong>, <strong>Enable Offline Finding<\/strong>, and <strong>Send Last Location<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Track your phone at <a>icloud.com\/find<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These tools let you locate your phone, lock it, and erase it remotely if needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. <strong>Keep Your Phone\u2019s Software Updated<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Updates fix bugs and security issues that could be used to bypass your settings. Make sure you\u2019re running the latest version of your phone\u2019s operating system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>On iPhone: <strong>Settings > General > Software Update<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>On Android: <strong>Settings > System > Software Update<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Regular updates protect you from new threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. <strong>Stay Smart in Public Spaces<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes the best way to prevent phone theft is just by being cautious:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Keep your phone in zipped bags or front pockets<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don\u2019t leave it on tables in public areas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use phone straps or anti-theft cases when commuting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A stolen phone is stressful, but being prepared helps you respond better. Blocking access to airplane mode gives you more time to act and track your device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>To recap:<\/strong><\/p><div id=\"digic-2711837554\" class=\"digic-content_2 digic-entity-placement\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4104817480020566\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-4104817480020566\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"in post\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Lock your phone with a strong passcode<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Block control center and quick settings access when locked<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Install anti-theft tools like CrookCatcher<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep tracking apps active<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stay updated and cautious<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These steps only take a few minutes but can make all the difference in recovering your device and protecting your personal information.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When your phone is stolen, one of the first things a thief may do is turn on airplane mode. This instantly disconnects your phone from the internet, blocks GPS, and stops tracking apps like Find My Device or Find My iPhone. Once airplane mode is active, your chances of recovering your phone drop. But with [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5267,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-5263","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-uncategorized"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5263","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5263"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5263\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5268,"href":"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5263\/revisions\/5268"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5267"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5263"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5263"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digiconceptng.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5263"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}