Guides / Airplane Mode and the Lock Screen

Stop a thief switching on Airplane Mode from the Lock Screen

Updated 3 November 2026 · By the FirstHour team

Short answerIn Settings, tap Face ID & Passcode, then under Allow Access When Locked, turn off Control Center. Control Center holds the Airplane Mode button, so someone holding your locked iPhone can't reach it with a swipe. It's a small step that helps. It doesn't stop them switching the phone off.

Why it matters

Control Center is the panel of quick buttons you get by swiping from the corner of the screen. Airplane Mode is one of those buttons, and it cuts your iPhone off from mobile networks and Wi-Fi.

Your iPhone only shows as online when it's on and connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data. Without a connection, Lost Mode and an erase can't take effect until it connects again. So it helps if your phone stays connected a little longer.

Step by step

  1. Open Settings and tap Face ID & Passcode. On an iPhone with Touch ID, it's Touch ID & Passcode.
  2. Enter your passcode.
  3. Scroll down to Allow Access When Locked.
  4. Turn off Control Center.

To test it, lock your iPhone and try opening Control Center. Swipe down from the top-right corner, or up from the bottom on iPhone SE. It should no longer open.

While you're there, look through the other options. Apple notes that turning off Lock Screen access to a feature also stops someone holding your iPhone seeing personal details it might show.

There's a similar-sounding switch in Settings, Control Center, called Access Within Apps. That one is about using Control Center inside apps. It doesn't cover the Lock Screen.

What changes for you

You lose quick access too. Control Center also has the flashlight, volume and brightness, so you'll need to unlock your iPhone first to use them from there. If that's a nuisance, you can switch it back on at any time.

What it can't stop

While you still have your iPhone

Check that the Find My network is on, in Settings, your name, Find My, Find My iPhone. Apple says this can locate an offline iPhone, and on supported models it works for up to 24 hours after the iPhone is turned off. Apple's pages don't say how it behaves in Airplane Mode, so we can't promise it will help there.

If your iPhone does go offline

You can still act. Mark it as lost anyway, and it takes effect once it's back online.

How FirstHour helps

FirstHour can't change this setting for you, and it can't stop anyone switching on Airplane Mode. Plan B has 16 guided tips for getting ready, including Find My, Stolen Device Protection and a SIM PIN. Its Phone check-in only works while your iPhone is on and connected, so Airplane Mode would stop it too.

Questions

Does Stolen Device Protection stop this?

Airplane Mode and Control Center aren't among the things Apple lists for Stolen Device Protection, so don't count on it for this. They do different jobs, and it's worth having both.

Can I still use Airplane Mode myself?

Yes. Unlock your iPhone and open Control Center as usual, or use the switch in Settings.

Why don't my screens match these steps?

We followed Apple's current guide. The exact wording can vary by iOS version and iPhone model.

Sources

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