Your Pixel can now keep Wi-Fi on when Airplane Mode is enabled - 9to5Google

Android 11 made it so that Bluetooth, if active, would stay on even after you enable Airplane Mode, and Google is now extending that to Wi-Fi on Pixel phones.

In recent days, Pixel owners turning on Wi-Fi while in Airplane Mode have received the following Android System notification: “Wi-Fi on in airplane mode / If you keep Wi-Fi on, it will stay on the next time you’re in airplane mode.”.

Tapping takes users to a Pixel support article that notes the default behavior, but how you can manually adjust and that “your phone will remember your previous setting.” .

When you first turn on your Android phone’s Airplane mode, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are turned off.

Another system-level prompt will remind you about your choice the next time Airplane Mode is turned on, and that it can be changed back to the default behavior by turning Wi-Fi off while in Airplane Mode.

The Bluetooth feature was primarily aimed at keeping your headphones and smartwatches connected, but some have wanted something similar for Wi-Fi when they just want to turn off cellular.