Airplane mode in Windows helps you to immediately disconnect all wireless communications from your device. Airplane mode is capable of turning off all the connections your device has established without wires and via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC) etc.

Today, we came around a strange issue regarding Airplane mode. In this case, user turned on Airplane mode on his device but he was unable to turn it off. In other words, his Windows 10 stuck in Airplane mode, declining all the possibilities to make to re-connect the system to wireless communication. Clicking on Airplane mode button in Action Center doesn’t do anything. Also, rebooting multiple times makes no differences in situation.

FIX Windows 10 Stuck In Airplane Mode

So how to come out of this weird situation? Well, I found two solutions for it. One is using a dedicated keyword combination, while other utilizes manipulating the registry. Both the fixes are mentioned here.

FIX : Windows 10 Stuck In Airplane Mode

FIX 1 – Using Keyword Combination

This problem can be easily solved by pressing Fn key i.e. function key and radio tower symbol key simultaneously. In case if your laptop is manufactured by Dell, you may also try pressing Print Screen (Prt Sc) key along Fn key and see if it helps.

FIX Windows 10 Stuck In Airplane Mode

The availability of radio tower symbol key might vary from keyboard to keyboard but the key exists essentially. By pressing this keyboard combination, I believe you will be able to exit Airplane mode. If this doesn’t helps, try FIX 2.

FIX 2 – Using Registry Manipulation

Registry Disclaimer: The further steps will involve registry manipulation. Making mistakes while manipulating registry could affect your system adversely. So be careful while editing registry entries and create a System Restore point first.

1. Press W8K + R and put regedit in Run dialog box to open Registry Editor (if you’re not familiar with Registry Editor, then click here). Click OK.

Windows 10 Registry Editor

2. In the left pane of Registry Editor, navigate to following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control

FIX Windows 10 Stuck In Airplane Mode

3. Right click on Control registry key and select Find. In the Find prompt, type RadioEnable and click Find Next.

FIX Windows 10 Stuck In Airplane Mode

4. Now Registry Editor will search for the value and you’ll be taken to the RadioEnable values one by one. All you need to do is to change RadioEnable registry DWORD (REG_DWORD) values from 1 to 0.

FIX Windows 10 Stuck In Airplane Mode

5. Changing the RadioEnable DWORD quite easy. Double click on the DWORD and input the Value data as 0. Click OK.

FIX Windows 10 Stuck In Airplane Mode

After changing all the RadioEnable DWORD values from 1 to 0 under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control, you may close Registry Editor and reboot machine. The problem should solve after restarting device.

Hope this helps!

97 Comments

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  • Simon

    Thank you, thank you, thank you.
    On my surface book i had to search for Radio instead of RadioEnable and the find EnableWOW.

  • Simon

    Do I now replace the 0 with a 1 again?

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Is it already set to 0? Have you checked next values?

  • Michael Hickey

    I have the dell inspiron 17 5000 series and I’m having the airplane mode problem. It wont turn off. I tried to follow these steps but I cant find the RadioEnable and I rea the comments about the “search for Radio instead of RadioEnable and the find EnableWOW.” This did not work either since I cant find the EnableWOW.. Please help me.

  • Stephen Tomkinson

    Thank you so very much!

    While trying to print my screen and not remembering which keystrokes to use, I hit ctrl-prt scr, then fn-prt scr, and then alt-prt scr. I saw on the screen that a screen print had been captured and thought that all was well.

    I did not connect the fact that I had turned on airplane mode with my attempt to print screen.
    Anyway, fn-prt scr was the culprit, and was the cure just now.

    My computer’s back with all this glorious capabilities. That’s a trick I’ll never forget.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad the issue is resolved 😀

  • Daniele

    hi I cannot find an radioenable. Please advise.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Go ahead with FIX 1.

  • Peter Chiswell

    None of these fixes work and the Dword value is already ‘0’

  • Jonathan

    Has there been any development on this? I have tried multiple fixes that updated root issues and still has not fixed the connection.

  • Roy Claxton

    My Dell desktop is stuck in airplane mode. I changed all RadioEnable entries to 0 and restarted. But sadly, it’s still stuck.

  • Roy Claxton

    I should have added that I have downloaded latest adap or drivers on my laptop and installed them on the desktop. In Device Manager, all are said to be performing normally. Yet nowhere else on the system does it detect them. It’s like there is no hardwear in the chassis.

  • Ka Ren

    Fix 1, is working with Dell computer.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Awesome 😎

  • v marlar

    Did not work on Windows 10 Toshiba. Need help

  • Karen

    Thank you! It worked! My Toshiba laptop had a bit of trouble rebooting afterwards, but seems good now with wireless working!

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad we could help 😎

  • Rod

    Neither fix worked for my Dell.

  • Kriti

    Hi..

    i got Lenovo G50-70
    Tried the option of setting RadioEnable to 0 and it does not work.
    Meanwhile even tried updating driver files and it is still stuck on airplane mode.

    Any other suggestions, apart from reinstalling the OS again????

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ You may opt for Refresh, which won’t affect your data: https://www.kapilarya.com/reinstall-windows-10-without-affecting-personal-files

  • Lisa

    I just tried these and it’s still not working and after calling Microsoft I have to wait 24 hours or pay $100!!!

  • Elizabeth Watlington

    All these fixes do not work on toshiba A205-S4557 or my other toshiba P205-S6237

  • Mayank

    Neither of the fixes work for me. Using HP laptop with Win 8.1 and when I opened the regedit the key value was already at 0. Problem persists with airplane mode toggling on and off. Very irritating. Please help.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Try Refresh. it won’t affect your data.

  • Cecil

    Thank you, the regedit worked, it still toggled a couple times after rebooting but seems to be working now

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad you sorted the issue, finally 😊

  • Kevin ONeill

    Doesn’t work on surface pro 2. Terrible machine. I’ll NEVER buy another one. This one is going in the trash.

  • Tammi

    I have a toshiba laptop with windows 10. I’ve tried all of the above. Nothing seems to help fix the problem to get it out of airplane mode. Anything else I can try?

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Try performing in-place upgrade, see if it helps: https://www.kapilarya.com/how-to-repair-windows-10-using-in-place-upgrade

  • Anthony

    I couldn’t find “radioenable” in my windows 10 registry but I could find “turn flight mode on or off” in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT. Is that the same thing?

  • Techy

    Doesn’t work on my system

  • sfsdf

    way to complicated for this old man.

  • dddd

    Fix1 worked on HP thanks a million

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Happy to help you 😎

  • Barrie

    The keyboard solution fixed it. thx

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to help 😊

  • Lauren

    You are brilliant!!! you need a hug, and a high five!!! Thank you!!!

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Thanks for your feedback Lauren 😎

  • Pam Gamer

    Fix #2 worked for me…after restarting, I was then able to turn airplane mode off! Thank you so much!

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to help Pam 😊

  • John Lazar

    Hi Kapil–

    I have a Dell Latitude E6430 and am using Windows 10. Currently the computer is stuck in Airplane mode. I tried both solutions above without any luck. Can you offer any other suggestions? This problem has been around for several years, has there ever been a final solution by Microsoft or Dell?

    Thanks John

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Thanks John for your comment. You may try Network Reset next. Also make sure you’re on latest version.

  • Erin Turo

    Tried both fixes and neither worked. Airplane mode button is still gray and stuck on. Refreshed and restarted with no change. Looking for recommendations.

  • Carlisle

    I turn on my HP and it locks in password mode. It show an airplane mode in a box in lower right. Will not take a password. My HP began running a windows update a couple of days ago and now I have this problem. I can not get past the window asking for password and have no option to get the system out of airplane mode. Help!

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Follow this guide to access Advanced Recovery Options: https://www.kapilarya.com/how-to-access-advanced-recovery-options-in-windows-10

    Then opt for Reset and make sure you choose to keep files and settings.

  • Joe Peace

    I tried all options including ResEdit and Bios changes. Nothing will turn off airplane mode.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Try Network Reset: https://www.kapilarya.com/how-to-reset-network-settings-to-default-in-windows-10

  • Bob

    Tried but would not work. Received the response when changing 1 to 0 in Radio Enable that I could not edit Radio Enable-error writing value new content. Whatever that means.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Take ownership of registry key first: https://www.kapilarya.com/how-to-manually-take-ownership-of-registry-key-in-windows-10

  • Heba

    Hello,nothing worked with me and I hope you.can help me please,seems like stuck on airplane mode and can’t find the airplane button in it’s normal place;they both disappear,also can’t find the WiFi button and the computer can’t even accept the internet connection through the Ethernet .the computer can’t accept or fell any connection.please help

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Try Network Reset and see if that helps you: https://www.kapilarya.com/how-to-reset-network-settings-to-default-in-windows-10

  • Ernest De matteis

    Tried both and still frozen in on position. I have a cell inspiring 17 if that makes any difference.

  • Jim Anderson

    I tried both recommended fixes, as well as several other suggestions, and none of them has worked. Airplane mode on my ASUS laptop is still locked, neither WiFi nor Ethernet is displayed in Network & Internet and there are no Wireless devices shown. Thanks for trying to help anyway.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Jim, can you try Network Reset and see if it helps you!

  • Deanna

    This absolutely fixed my problem. Thank you!

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to help Deanna 😊

  • Krishna

    There is not RadioEnabled Option available in my Laptop.
    My LatTop is : HP 240G3 Notebook

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ In that case, try Network Reset and see if that solves it.

  • matus

    Thank you!! the first one worked right away… but it was after half an hour of reading bulshit instructions from other webs, even official dell page… youre the man!!

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to help matus 😎

  • HelpMe

    I’m stuck at step 4. It doesnt show whats on the screenshot. Help please.

  • David Zachman

    Amazing. Thanks for the detailed instruction. That fixed it.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to help David 😊

  • Eg

    It worked! I didn’t set all the values to 0 just one and restarted

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to help Eg 😊

  • Themba

    Thanks.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to help Themba!

  • Shru

    Thank you so so much.The second method worked for me.I had to work on something really urgent . Was so disappointed to see that my laptop had turned to Airplane mode which was grayed out. Not even sure why that happened . Nevertheless , relieved now !
    Thanks a ton.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to help!

  • Kees

    I have another fix for this issue. The older laptops from Dell have a hardware switch on the side of the laptop to switch on or off WiFi. It’s very easy to switch this (unknowingly) off.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Thanks for adding this!

  • D E Shively

    I use a docking station for my Dell laptop while at office. I must have accidentally Fn Prt screen combo while at office last week. Fix 1 was tried multiple times at home…no docking station, then Fix 1 tried after returning to docking station and it immediately worked.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad it worked!

  • Phil

    Many thanks, after trying countless other solutions this was the only that worked on my Dell Latitude E6430. Very many thanks

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to help Phil!

  • Jack Bales

    There is a big problem in Windows 10 where your computer will go into ‘Airplane Mode’. And you are not able to turn your wi-fi back on. If you have this problem do this;

    Start Task Manager and go to services. Highlight RMSVE (Radio Management Service) and STOP it. Then right click and select open services. Select Radio Management Service. Right click and select properties. On ‘start up type’ select disable.

    To turn wi-fi Back on, hold the windows key+r. Type regedit. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, SYSTEM, CurrentControlSet, Control. Right click on Control and select Find. In the search field type RadioEnable. In the right-hand pane select RadioEnable and right click on it. Select modify and change the value from 0 to 1. Keep selecting FIND NEXT and change any values to 1. Then close the register editor and re-boot.

    This drove me crazy for years until I came up with this fix.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Thanks Jack!

  • Gregory Ochoa

    Hi. I have a Dell Inspiron 57 that was locked in the “Airplane” mode. After trying multiple fixes found on the internet as well as waiting over 90 minutes for Microsoft Support, I found your blog. The fix took two seconds. A million thanks for your simple and effective fix suggestions.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Happy to help Gregory!

  • Ghassan HADDAD

    Hello, i bought a new microsoft surface and i’m quiet stuck as i do not find any wifi or Bluetooth and airplane is always on and in green (i cannot change it)….
    Any help?

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Try Network Reset.

  • Tyrannosapiens Tex

    I ran into this when I started syncing all of my online accounts and devices last month. The notifications were going through Windows Action Center and 2 of my devices are phone and tablet, so touchscreen options became synced even though my Dell POS 3737 doesn’t have that functionality. I noticed 2 new HIDs, a switch and a switch collection. I finally determined that uninstalling the switch collection (I’m not allowed to disable it) removed a few Ink-related and sharing functions like Snips, Nearby Sharing, and synced clipboards, then just left the switch for Airplane Mode without any conflicts and was no longer grayed out. As I pondered how much time and meth I’d need to go through every sync setting on every device, I think I accidentally found my problem. Windows 10 Optional Driver Update for Dell Inc – HIDClass – 10/26/2016 12:00:00 AM – 17.38.40.165. It showed up every time Windows Update popped up after uninstalling the switch collection. The problem returns everytime I reinstall it. I deactivated Action Center completely and leave that update consta-unchecked. Airplane Mode still works from Settings, you can Pin To Start if you want a quick shutdown of wireless connectivity. The syncing of all options created the conflict, but may also be related to use of Live Tiles, excessive background app permissions syncing, and some very proprietary habits of mega-corps “safeguarding users” by shutting down all interdevice communications when YOU fall below THEIR standards of connectivity between devices you OWN. The longer they keep me offline, the more likely I’ll be explaining this in court one day.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Thanks for sharing your experience. Might be helpful to others!

  • De

    I went to Services/Radio Mgt. – changed LogOn from “this acct.” to “Local System Acct” and ticked “Allow service to interact with desktop” and was able to turn “Flight Mode” off. I don’t know what any of the settings mean which makes for apprehension but my two year quest to get Bluetooth speakers working has moved on (again).

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Thanks De for sharing your experience!

  • Joel H

    Thanks for the help – I have this page bookmarked. Do you know if something has changed recently? I have had several users suddenly having this issue over the past month but your fix has helped.

  • Mike

    Hie
    I’ve tried all this amid network reset, and there a 0 already and still it’s greyed out. I can’t turn off. I’ve tried other internet solutions, still ain’t working. Any alternatives please???????

  • Lokman

    Thank-you! On my Dell Inspiron 15, I was able to turn off Airplane mode with the key combination you suggeted: Fn + Radio Tower key.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to help 😎

  • Alyson

    The radio symbol is underneath the mouse pad on the computer it will be a switch and it will show red slide that switch over and it will turn off airplane mode

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Thanks for sharing!

  • LoGruvz

    Hitting just prnt scrn and fn did not work but when I did this several times it stuck back on – thanks!
    “While trying to print my screen and not remembering which keystrokes to use, I hit ctrl-prt scr, then fn-prt scr, and then alt-prt scr. I saw on the screen that a screen print had been captured and thought that all was well. I did not connect the fact that I had turned on airplane mode with my attempt to print screen.
    Anyway, fn-prt scr was the culprit, and was the cure just now.”

  • Divya Tikhe

    It isn’t working for me 🙄🙄🙄
    I am stuck on the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
    Could you pls guide me thoroughly to fix the issue.

  • XX

    It did not help, I finished successfully all operations you suggest, but the reboot showed the awful PLANE sign again! Whatever I have done, all day long, all suggestions I have found on the net – nothing has unblocked my wireless connections till this moment, I have been fighting this issue since 6 a.m. God.. I even restarted the router, although all my other devices use wireless connections with no trouble at all. The issue is in Dell laptop, the Intel card is new, I have never had this kind of problem on any laptop ever.
    In my Settings, the toggle button is “greyed”, actually both buttons on the Airplane Mode page, you cannot do anything with them, they are dead, you cannot change ON and OFF (left and right) position. It is blocked and it blocks all wireless communication (Wi-Fi, cellular. Bluetooth)

  • Shay

    Thanks a lot, Kapil. On my Lenovo changing the RadioEnable DWORD ( Double click on the DWORD and input the Value data as 0. Click OK). fiexed the problem

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to help Shay 😎

  • Coenelia

    I tried fix 1&2 but none helped. I am using Dell laptop.
    Please assist me 🙏

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