Hey guys! Ever wished your iPhone could automatically switch to airplane mode at certain times? Maybe you want to avoid distractions during work or save battery life overnight. Well, you're in luck! Automating airplane mode on your iPhone is totally doable, and I'm here to show you how. It's a neat trick that can make your digital life a little smoother. Let's dive in!

Why Automate Airplane Mode?

Before we get into the how, let's quickly cover the why. You might be wondering, "Why should I even bother automating airplane mode?" Good question! There are several benefits to consider:

• Battery life: Airplane mode turns off all wireless communication, which can significantly reduce battery drain. If you know you won't need to be connected for a period of time, like while you're sleeping, automating airplane mode can help your battery last longer.
• Focus and productivity: Constant notifications can be a major distraction. By automatically enabling airplane mode during work hours or study sessions, you can minimize interruptions and stay focused on the task at hand.
• Reduced exposure to radiation: Some people are concerned about the potential health effects of prolonged exposure to electromagnetic radiation from smartphones. While the science is still debated, automating airplane mode during periods of inactivity can offer peace of mind.
• Avoid roaming charges: When traveling internationally, turning on airplane mode can prevent your phone from connecting to foreign networks and incurring expensive roaming charges. Automating this ensures you don't accidentally get hit with a hefty bill.
• Better sleep: Turning on airplane mode before bed prevents notifications and calls from disturbing your sleep. Automating this ensures you consistently get uninterrupted rest.

These are just a few of the reasons why automating airplane mode can be a useful trick. Now that you know the benefits, let's get into the different methods you can use to set it up.

Method 1: Using the Shortcuts App

The Shortcuts app is your best friend when it comes to automating tasks on your iPhone. It's a powerful tool that allows you to create custom workflows and trigger them based on various conditions. Here’s how you can use it to automate airplane mode:

1. Open the Shortcuts App: If you don't have it already, you can download it for free from the App Store.
2. Create a New Automation: Tap on the "Automation" tab at the bottom of the screen, then tap the plus (+) icon in the top right corner.
3. Choose a Trigger: Select "Create Personal Automation." You'll see a list of different triggers you can use. The most common triggers for airplane mode are:
   • Time of Day: This allows you to set a specific time for airplane mode to turn on or off. For example, you can set it to turn on at 11 PM and turn off at 7 AM.
   • When Arriving/Leaving: This allows you to set airplane mode to turn on or off when you arrive at or leave a specific location. For example, you can set it to turn on when you arrive at work and turn off when you leave.
   • Before I Travel: This trigger can be useful if you frequently travel and want to automatically enable airplane mode before takeoff.
4. Configure the Trigger: Follow the on-screen instructions to configure the trigger you selected. For example, if you chose "Time of Day," you'll need to set the time and frequency (daily, weekly, etc.).
5. Add the Airplane Mode Action: Tap "Add Action" and search for "Airplane Mode." Select the "Set Airplane Mode" action.
6. Set the Action State: Choose whether you want to turn airplane mode on or off when the trigger is activated. You can create two separate automations – one to turn it on and one to turn it off.
7. Disable "Ask Before Running": This is crucial for true automation. If you leave this enabled, your iPhone will ask for confirmation every time the automation is triggered. Toggle it off to make the automation run silently in the background.
8. Test Your Automation: Before relying on your automation, test it to make sure it's working as expected. You can manually trigger the automation by tapping the "Run" button in the Shortcuts app.

Example: Automating Airplane Mode at Night

Let's say you want to automatically turn on airplane mode every night at 11 PM and turn it off at 7 AM. Here's how you would set that up using the Shortcuts app:

• Create the "Turn On" Automation:
  • Open the Shortcuts app and create a new personal automation.
  • Choose the "Time of Day" trigger and set the time to 11:00 PM. Choose "Daily" for the frequency.
  • Add the "Set Airplane Mode" action and set it to "Turn On."
  • Disable "Ask Before Running."
• Create the "Turn Off" Automation:
  • Open the Shortcuts app and create another new personal automation.
  • Choose the "Time of Day" trigger and set the time to 7:00 AM. Choose "Daily" for the frequency.
  • Add the "Set Airplane Mode" action and set it to "Turn Off."
  • Disable "Ask Before Running."

That's it! Now your iPhone will automatically switch to airplane mode at 11 PM and turn it off at 7 AM every day. Pretty neat, huh?

Method 2: Using Do Not Disturb

While not exactly airplane mode, Do Not Disturb offers a similar level of interruption-free operation. It silences calls, alerts, and notifications, allowing you to focus or rest without distractions. You can schedule Do Not Disturb to turn on and off automatically, providing a convenient way to minimize interruptions.

1. Access Do Not Disturb Settings: Open the Settings app on your iPhone, then tap on "Focus," then tap on "Do Not Disturb."
2. Schedule Do Not Disturb: Toggle the "Turn On Automatically" switch. You can then set a start and end time for Do Not Disturb to be active.
3. Customize Do Not Disturb: Under "Allowed Notifications," you can customize which calls and notifications are allowed to come through even when Do Not Disturb is enabled. This can be useful if you want to allow calls from certain contacts or allow time-sensitive notifications.

Benefits of Using Do Not Disturb:

• More granular control: Do Not Disturb allows you to customize which notifications are allowed to come through, whereas airplane mode completely blocks all wireless communication.
• Easier to set up: Scheduling Do Not Disturb is simpler than creating automations in the Shortcuts app.

Limitations of Using Do Not Disturb:

• Doesn't save battery: Do Not Disturb doesn't turn off wireless communication, so it doesn't save battery like airplane mode does.
• Doesn't prevent roaming charges: Do Not Disturb doesn't prevent your phone from connecting to foreign networks, so it's not a substitute for airplane mode when traveling internationally.

Method 3: Combining Focus Modes and Automation

For even greater control, you can combine Focus Modes with the Shortcuts app. This allows you to create custom Focus Modes that automatically enable airplane mode when they are activated. Here’s how to do it:

1. Create a Custom Focus Mode: Go to Settings > Focus and tap the plus (+) button to create a new Focus Mode. Give it a name (e.g., "Work Focus") and customize the allowed notifications and calls.
2. Create an Automation to Enable Airplane Mode: In the Shortcuts app, create a new personal automation with the "Focus" trigger. Choose your custom Focus Mode as the trigger and set the action to "Set Airplane Mode" to "Turn On."
3. Create an Automation to Disable Airplane Mode: Create another automation with the "Focus" trigger. Choose your custom Focus Mode as the trigger, but this time select the option to trigger when the Focus Mode is turned off. Set the action to "Set Airplane Mode" to "Turn Off."

Benefits of Combining Focus Modes and Automation:

• Context-aware automation: You can trigger airplane mode based on your current activity or context, as defined by your Focus Mode.
• Customizable notifications: You can still receive important notifications while airplane mode is enabled by customizing the allowed notifications in your Focus Mode.

Troubleshooting Tips

Sometimes, automations don't work as expected. Here are some troubleshooting tips to help you fix any issues:

• Check your trigger: Make sure your trigger is configured correctly. For example, if you're using the "Time of Day" trigger, make sure the time is set correctly and the frequency is set to "Daily" if you want it to run every day.
• Verify the action: Double-check that the action is set correctly. Make sure you've selected the correct action (e.g., "Set Airplane Mode") and that the action state is set to the desired value (e.g., "Turn On" or "Turn Off").
• Ensure "Ask Before Running" is disabled: This is the most common cause of automations not working. If "Ask Before Running" is enabled, your iPhone will ask for confirmation every time the automation is triggered, which defeats the purpose of automation.
• Restart your iPhone: Sometimes, a simple restart can fix minor software glitches that may be preventing automations from working correctly.
• Update to the latest iOS version: Make sure your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS. Apple often releases updates that fix bugs and improve performance, which can help with automation issues.
• Delete and recreate the automation: If all else fails, try deleting the automation and recreating it from scratch. This can sometimes resolve underlying issues that are preventing the automation from working.

Conclusion

Automating airplane mode on your iPhone can be a real game-changer for battery life, focus, and overall convenience. Whether you choose to use the Shortcuts app, Do Not Disturb, or a combination of both, the possibilities are endless. So go ahead, experiment with these methods and find the setup that works best for you. You'll be surprised at how much easier your digital life can become! Happy automating!