Introduction:
Airplane mode is a handy feature on Windows 11 devices, designed to keep your laptop or computer wireless capabilities disabled while in-flight. However, there are times when the toggle switch for airplane mode is grayed out, preventing you from turning it on or off. This article provides the top 7 solutions to fix the airplane mode grayed-out issue on your Windows 11 device.
1. Restart Your Device:
As simple as it may sound, restarting your device can resolve many issues, including the airplane mode grayed-out problem. To restart your device:
– Click on the Start button
– Click on the Power icon
– Choose “Restart” from the menu
2. Check Your Physical Wireless Switch:
Some laptops have a special physical switch dedicated to turning wireless connectivity on and off. Make sure this switch is in a working position and not locked by accident.
3. Update Device Drivers:
Outdated network drivers could be the cause of this issue:
– Right-click on Start and select “Device Manager”
– Expand “Network adapters,” right-click your wireless driver, then click “Update driver”
– Follow the instructions to update your driver
4. Run Network Troubleshooter:
Windows has built-in troubleshooters that can help identify and fix network-related issues:
– Click on Start and choose “Settings”
– Navigate to Network & Internet > Advanced network settings
– Under “More actions,” click on “Troubleshoot network problems”
– Follow the troubleshooting steps provided
5. Reset Network Settings:
Resetting your network settings can clear any issues causing airplane mode to be grayed out:
– Click Start and choose “Settings”
– Go to Network & Internet > Advanced network settings
– Scroll down and click on “Network reset”
6. Change Network Adapter Properties:
Tweaking a few settings in the network adapter properties could resolve this issue:
– Open Device Manager, expand Network adapters, and right-click your wireless network adapter
– Click on “Properties” and navigate to the “Power Management” tab
– Uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power”
– Click “OK” and restart your device
7. Update Your Windows OS:
Make sure your Windows 11 is up to date, as new updates can fix bugs and issues:
– Click Start and choose Settings
– Go to Windows Update > Check for Updates
– Follow any prompts to update your system
Conclusion:
Having airplane mode grayed out on Windows 11 can be frustrating, but it’s generally not a major issue. By following these seven steps, you can efficiently resolve most airplane mode issues and continue using your device without any problems.