5 Ways to Fix Windows Stuck in Airplane Mode

Quick Tips

• The Radio Management Service can be responsible for the PC getting stuck in Airplane mode.
• When Windows resumes back from sleep, it may fail to switch on the Wifi state.
• The Fn + key with the radio tower (holding them) can be fixed if airplane mode is controlled by hardware buttons.

Try Basic Fixes

• Restart Windows: Restarting any device can fix most temporary issues where a process gets stuck. When you restart, the OS reinitializes all the settings, and the issue automatically gets resolved.
• Toggle airplane mode: One of the most common ways to reset the state of the network and related adapters, such as Bluetooth, can be resolved by toggling the Airplane mode. It will simply turn it off and on to get it to work.
• Restart your router: Routers usually stay on for months, and nothing goes wrong. However, if you notice that devices are failing to connect, restarting the router will help as it will reinitialize all connections and start fresh.

Fix 1. Reset Network Settings

Step 1: Launch Windows Settings on your PC. You can do this from the Start Menu or by pressing Windows Key + I.

Step 2: Navigate to Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset.

Step 3: Click the Reset Now button and wait for the process to complete. Check if the issue still exists.

Fix 2. Enable Radio Management Services

Sometimes, the Radio Management Service gets disabled accidentally, resulting in your computer getting stuck in Airplane Mode. To fix it, follow these steps:

Step 1: Type services.msc in the Run box (Win + R) and press Enter to open Services snap-in on your PC.

Step 2: Scroll down and look for Radio Management Service. First, ensure it’s showing Running under Status. If it’s not, right-click on it and select Start.

Step 3: Right-click again and select Properties. In the General tab, under Startup type, select Automatic. Click on OK to save the changes.

Fix 3. Update or Rollback Network Drivers

You can update the network driver by checking with the OEM website or rolling back if the issue occurs after a recent driver update. Most of the OEMs offer software that helps you do both of these.

Some users have also reported that the Wi-Fi driver wasn’t installed on their PC. When the driver was installed, the Airplane mode was automatically fixed.

Fix 4. Change Power Settings

Some hardware can manage the power state, which can change the Wi-Fi state. Turning this off could fix the issue. However, you must manually check which adaptor or hardware is doing that. Here is how to do it for the Network adapters.

Step 1: Open Device Manager on your PC. You can do this by right-clicking on the Start Menu icon > selecting Device Manager.

Step 2: Under the Network adapters section, right-click on your network adapter and select Properties.

Step 3: Go to the Power Management tab > uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power > click on Ok to save your changes.

Step 4: Restart your laptop or PC and check if the issue is resolved.

Fix 5. Troubleshoot Network

Windows’ built-in network troubleshooter can reset the network state and make it easy for anyone who faces issues like this.

Step 1: Open Windows Settings. Navigate to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.

Step 2: Click on Run next to Network and internet.

Step 3: Let the process complete and restart your PC. The airplane mode should have been turned off.

FAQs