Things to Do on a Plane Without Wi-Fi

No Wi-Fi and hours to kill. Almost everything below works in airplane mode, but only if you set it up on the ground.

8 things that work offline

1. Sort your camera roll. No notifications, nowhere to be: the best time to clear screenshots, copies and blurry shots. On iPhone, Photos → Collections → Utilities → Duplicates merges copies (iPhone, Android).
2. Watch downloaded shows. Download at home and play one in airplane mode. Some plans and titles can't be downloaded.
3. Listen offline. A playlist plus two long podcast episodes. Podcasts download free; music often needs a paid plan.
4. Read. Download the e-book, don't just add it to your library. For articles, turn on Automatically Save Offline in Safari's settings and add them to your Reading List.
5. Play an offline game. Plenty of games quietly need a connection for ads or log-in. Test them in airplane mode first.
6. Download maps and a language. Offline maps in Apple Maps or Google Maps, a downloaded language in Apple Translate or Google Translate. Directions work when you land without data.
7. Make room for the trip. Delete finished downloads and apps you never open: Settings → General → iPhone Storage. More in iPhone storage full.
8. On the way home, pick the best trip photos. Go day by day, keep the best shot of each moment, delete the near-identical rest.

Turn the sorting into a game

Picmori (our app) turns your gallery into a pixel-art adventure where every level is made from your own photos. Swipe right to keep, left to let go. The map, chapters, swiping, deleting and music all work offline. Free, no ads, iPhone and Android.

Good to know: buying Premium needs a connection. Photos stored only in iCloud show a smaller copy offline, and their videos play once you're back online. You confirm deletions at the end; on Android they are permanent, so back up first.

App Store · Google Play

Quick questions

Which apps work in airplane mode?

Apps that keep their content on your phone. Think downloaded shows, music and podcasts, e-books, offline maps, a downloaded language, notes, many games and your photos. Feeds and streaming need a connection.

Does Picmori work without an internet connection?

Yes. The map, the chapters made from your photos, swiping, deleting, rewards and the music all work offline. Only buying Premium needs a connection.

Is it safe to delete photos in airplane mode?

On iPhone, deleted photos wait in Recently Deleted for 30 days. With iCloud Photos, the change reaches your other devices once you are back online. On Android, back up first.