Flight mode (or “air mode”) on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is not just a feature for traveling; it helps save battery power, speed up charging, avoid interference during important events or even eliminate network problems. But many users face difficulties: the button disappears from the curtain, the mode spontaneously turns off, then after the MIUI update everything works differently.
In this article, you’ll find all the current ways to turn on the Redmi Note 12/11/10 Pro, Redmi A2/A1, Redmi 9/10 and other models, from the classic swipe down to hidden commands for developers. And then we’ll take a look at 7 reasons why the mode may not turn on, and give you a checklist for fault diagnosis. If you’ve ever wondered why the phone is warming up in an airplane or how to speed up root-free charging, the answers are here.
What is a flight mode and why you need it on Xiaomi Redmi
Airplane Mode is a hardware-based shutdown of all wireless modules of the smartphone: cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and NFC. On Xiaomi Redmi, it works a little differently than on the “naked” Android, due to the shell MIUI:
- 📵 Disables radio modules physically (not only software), which reduces power consumption to 30%.
- ⚡ Faster charging: without active data transfers, the battery charges 15-20% faster.
- 🛫 Complies with airline regulations (although many aircraft already allow Wi-Fi in flight).
- 🔍 Helps diagnose problems: if in flight mode the phone stops warming up - the communication module is to blame.
On Redmi with MIUI 13/14 The flight mode has a hidden feature: when activated, the synchronization of time over the network automatically turns off, which can cause the clock to crash if you forget to leave the flight mode for a long time. 11 Pro 5G) in this mode, block access to SIM-map before rebooting is not a bug, but a “fix” of firmware.
Method 1: Enable through the notification panel (fastest)
It’s a standard method that works on all Redmis from the Note 4 to the Note 13 Pro+.
- Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
- If you see only 5-6 icons (brightness, Wi-Fi, etc.), make another swipe down and the full panel will open.
- Find the "Airplane" icon»** (🛩️) And you tap it, and the icon will change to orange or blue, which means the mode is activated.
Some firmware (e.g. MIUI Global 14.0.4) may have the icon hidden to return it:
Open the full notification panel|Stick on «⚙️ Edit" (or "Configure»)|Find the icon "Flight mode" in the list "Inactive»|Drag it up to the Active section»
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Important for Redmi with NFC: In flight mode, contactless payments (Google Pay, Mi Pay) will not work even if you manually turn on the phone. NFC It's a chipset-level constraint. Qualcomm/mediatek.
Method 2: Through system settings (if the icon is missing)
If the flight mode button has disappeared from the curtain (for example, after updating MIUI or resetting the settings), you can turn it on via the menu:
- Open the Settings. → Connections and Sharing (on some models - Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks).
- Scroll down to the "Flight Mode" block** and move the slider to the right.
- Confirm the action if a pop-up appears (on Redmi with two) SIM-The system will ask you if you want to disable both networks).
On the Redmi A1/A2 and other budget models, the path may be different:
Settings → System → Additional → Flight modeWhat to do if the settings do not have the option “Flight mode”?
Xiaomi Redmi with MIUI for Russia (RU version) automatically disables geolocation for all applications except system ones in flight mode, this is done to comply with local privacy laws.
Method 3: Voice Assistant (for MIUI 12 and later)
If you have Xiaomi (or Google Assistant) enabled, you can turn on the voice flight mode:
- 🎤 Say, “OK Google, turn on Flight Mode” (for Google Assistant).
- 🤖 Or: “Little AI, activate the aeromode”** (for Xiaomi assistant).
On the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ and later, the voice command will work even on a locked screen if the security settings have enabled the voice assistant on lock, but there is a caveat: if the phone is connected to Xiaomi Buds headphones, the command may not work due to a conflict of the Bluetooth module.
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To make the voice command work faster, add the phrase “turn on flight mode” to Settings → Voice Assistant → Quick commands.
Method 4: Through the Engineering Menu (for Advanced)
This method is suitable if standard methods do not work (for example, after a failed update).
- Open the phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##
- Select “Phone Information”** (or Phone Information).
On Redmi with Snapdragon chipset (like Redmi K50) after this step, you may need to reboot. On MediaTek (like Redmi 10C), the changes apply immediately.
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The engineering menu is the hidden part of Android where you can break the network. Don't change other settings unless you're sure they're there!
Why flight mode is not turned on: 7 reasons and solutions
If you are trying to activate the air mode, but nothing happens, check this table:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The button in the curtain is inactive (grey) | SystemUI service failure | Restart your phone or clear the SystemUI cache through Settings → Apps → Show everything → SystemUI → Storage |
| The mode is turned on, but immediately switched off. | Application conflict (e.g. DualSpace or Second Space) | Disable the second profile or remove conflicting apps |
| No "Flight Mode" item in the settings | Removed system utility AirplaneMode.apk | Restore the firmware via Fastboot or update MIUI |
| The mode is turned on, but Wi-Fi/Bluetooth remains active. | Firmware error (often on MIUI China) | Switch to MIUI Global or roll back to stable version |
A special case is Redmi with custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), which may not work properly due to the lack of proprietary Qualcomm drivers. Solution: install firmware with support for QTI Bluetooth and QTI Wi-Fi.
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If the flight mode is turned on, but the phone still catches the network, check if you have an application to circumvent restrictions (for example, Samsung Secret Codes or Network Signal Guru).
Frequent questions about flight mode on Xiaomi Redmi
This block contains answers to the questions that users ask most often.
Can I use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth in flight mode?
Why does the phone still warm up in flight mode?
How to turn on the flight mode if the sensor is not working?
Will SMS be in flight mode?
Bonus: Hidden chips of the flight mode on Xiaomi
Few people know, but the air mode on Redmi can be used for other purposes:
- 🔋 Accelerate charging: Enable flight mode and activate Turbo Charging in Settings → Battery: The battery will charge 50% in 20-25 minutes (tested on the Redmi Note 12 Pro)+ chargeable 120W).
- 🎮 Reduced ping in games: If you play over the mobile Internet, turn on flight mode, then manually activate only mobile data (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth must remain off.
- 📡 Network reset: If the phone is not catching the network, turn on flight mode for 30 seconds, then turn off. RIL (Radio Interface Layer).
Note: Redmi with MIUI 14, when you are in flight mode for a long time (more than 2 hours), automatically turns off synchronization of your Google account. To return it, you will have to manually go to Settings → Google Accounts → Synchronization.
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Flight mode on Xiaomi Redmi is not just for airplanes, it helps diagnose network problems, speed up charging and even improve the gaming experience. MIUI!