Yes, you can play games in airplane mode, as long as the game runs on the phone itself. Airplane mode switches off the phone's radios, so games that need a server stop working, while games that keep their levels and rules on the device carry on as usual. This guide explains what airplane mode really turns off, which games keep working, and how to check a game in one minute, using Zertyzzle, our crystal-merge puzzle game as an example.
What airplane mode actually does
On most phones, airplane mode switches off:
- mobile data and calls, the connection to the cellular network;
- Wi-Fi, at least at first;
- Bluetooth, at least at first.
On many phones you can switch Wi-Fi or Bluetooth back on by hand while airplane mode stays on, for example to use onboard Wi-Fi or wireless headphones where the airline allows it. The exact behaviour varies by phone brand and Android version.
The consequence for games is simple: anything that needs a server to move forward stops, and anything that runs locally keeps going.
Which games keep working
- Solo games with levels on the phone: puzzles, card games, logic grids, many casual games. They have everything they need installed.
- Games that save locally: your progress is written on the phone, so it survives airplane mode and restarts.
- Games with online features kept apart: the single-player part works, while leaderboards, duels and the shop wait for the network.
Which games stop
- Online multiplayer by nature: a human opponent needs a connection.
- Games that check a server on every move or before each level.
- Games that stall waiting for an ad or an account and can't continue without it. Our guide to offline games with no ads explains that pattern.
A one-minute test
- Install the game and open it once with a network, so it can load its data.
- Switch on airplane mode and fully close the game, then reopen it.
- Play a complete level, up to the result.
- Close it again and reopen it to check that your progress is kept.
If the game passes, it is safe for a flight, a tunnel or a trip abroad. The full method is in our guide to offline mobile games, and the page on offline games for a plane turns it into a pre-flight checklist.
What about games on a plane?
Airplane mode is also the setting you use in flight, but the rules about when you may use your phone depend on the airline and the country, so follow the crew's instructions. Airplane mode itself is not a limitation for a game that plays offline: it is the best way to be sure the game doesn't need a network.
How Zertyzzle behaves in airplane mode
In airplane mode, you keep the 120 adventure levels in 12 nebulae and Zen mode, and your progress stays on the phone. Friend duels, teams, the weekly Rift, leaderboards, the shop and online saving need internet and wait for the connection; a score that can't be sent right away goes out when it returns. Details are on our offline puzzle game page, and the guide to the game modes explains which modes need a connection.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play any game in airplane mode?
No. Only games that run on the phone itself. Online games stop as soon as the connection is cut.
Do I lose my progress in airplane mode?
Not if the game saves locally. Progress is kept on the phone, and an online save catches up when the connection returns.
Can I turn Wi-Fi back on in airplane mode?
On many phones, yes: airplane mode switches the radios off, and you can switch Wi-Fi or Bluetooth back on by hand. Follow the airline's rules when flying.
Does airplane mode save battery?
It stops the phone searching for a signal, which usually saves some power, especially where coverage is weak. The screen remains the biggest consumer.
Can I play Zertyzzle in airplane mode?
Yes. The levels and Zen mode play without a connection. Duels, teams, the weekly Rift, leaderboards, the shop and online saving need internet.
Is Zertyzzle available on Android?
Yes, on Google Play, from the Zertyzzle page. The iPhone version is coming soon.