How to Fix Greyed Out Airplane Mode in Windows 11

Airplane Mode in Windows 11 allows you to quickly disable all wireless communications on your device. However, some users have encountered an annoying problem where the Airplane Mode toggle becomes greyed out and unresponsive. This prevents them from enabling or disabling Airplane Mode as needed. Let's explore several proven solutions to fix this issue and regain control over your wireless settings.

Restart the Radio Management Service

The Radio Management Service controls Airplane Mode functionality in Windows. Restarting this service often resolves greyed out Airplane Mode issues:

Step 1: Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog, type services.msc, and press Enter.

Step 2: Locate "Radio Management Service" in the list of services.

Step 3: Right-click on the service and select "Properties".

Step 4: Change the "Startup type" to "Automatic" or "Automatic (Delayed Start)".

Step 5: Click "Apply", then click "Start" to run the service.

Step 6: Click "OK" to save the changes and close the window.

After completing these steps, check if you can now toggle Airplane Mode.

Modify the Registry to Enable Radio Controls

If restarting the service doesn't work, you can try adjusting a registry value to re-enable radio controls:

Step 1: Press Windows key + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

Step 2: Navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class

Step 3: Right-click on "Class" in the left pane and select "Find".

Step 4: Search for "RadioEnable" and press Enter.

Step 5: When found, double-click on the "RadioEnable" value and set it to "1".

Step 6: Click "OK" and close the Registry Editor.

Restart your computer after making this change to see if Airplane Mode is now responsive.

Disable and Re-enable the Network Adapter

Sometimes, simply toggling your network adapter off and on can resolve Airplane Mode issues:

Step 1: Right-click the Start button and select "Device Manager".

Step 2: Expand the "Network adapters" section.

Step 3: Right-click on your Wi-Fi adapter and select "Disable device".

Step 4: Wait about 30 seconds, then right-click the adapter again and select "Enable device".

Check if Airplane Mode is now functioning correctly after re-enabling the adapter.

Run the Network Adapter Troubleshooter

Windows 11 includes a built-in troubleshooter that can automatically detect and fix common network issues:

Step 1: Press Windows key + I to open Settings.

Step 2: Navigate to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.

Step 3: Find "Network Adapter" and click "Run" next to it.

Step 4: Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process.

The troubleshooter may identify and resolve the underlying cause of the Airplane Mode problem.

Update Network Drivers

Outdated or corrupted network drivers can cause various connectivity issues, including problems with Airplane Mode:

Step 1: Right-click the Start button and select "Device Manager".

Step 2: Expand the "Network adapters" section.

Step 3: Right-click on your Wi-Fi adapter and select "Update driver".

Step 4: Choose "Search automatically for drivers" and follow the prompts.

If Windows doesn't find a new driver, visit your computer or network adapter manufacturer's website to download and install the latest drivers manually.

These methods should help resolve the greyed out Airplane Mode issue in Windows 11. If you're still experiencing problems, consider performing a system restore to a point before the issue began or contacting Microsoft support for further assistance.