TSA Rules · Updated October 4, 2026
Can You Bring a Cell Phone on a Plane?
Usually yes; battery and use rules apply. Keep your phone in the cabin when possible. A checked phone must meet battery-safety requirements, and onboard cellular, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth use must follow airline and crew instructions.
The rules
Carry-on essentials
Move through the airport fast and keep everything in its place from gate to gate.
Phone packing and onboard-use rules
| Situation | Carry-on | Checked | The rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone on your person | Yes | n/a | Keep it with you; screen it in a bin if asked |
| Phone in checked bag | Yes | Yes | Battery limits and checked-device safeguards apply; carry-on is recommended |
| Airplane mode in flight | Yes | n/a | Disable cellular transmission during flight; follow the crew’s timing and instructions |
| Spare phone battery | Yes | No | Eligible spare lithium batteries are carry-on only, with protected terminals and size limits |
The official word
FAA operating and battery guidance
Use airplane mode or otherwise disable cellular transmission during flight, as directed by the crew. Wi-Fi may be used through an installed aircraft system when the airline permits it. Carrying lithium-battery devices in the cabin is recommended.
Summary of FAA guidance · checked October 3, 2026
Before the checkpoint
Before flying with your phone
Turn off cellular transmission when instructed and keep it disabled during flight. Use onboard Wi-Fi or Bluetooth only when the airline permits; being airborne alone is not permission.
A phone is easy to lose in a checked bag and holds your boarding pass. Keep it on you.
An installed lithium battery must meet the applicable size limit. Checked phones need protection from damage and accidental activation and normally must be fully off, not asleep. The US shutdown exception is limited to devices at or below 2.7 Wh lithium-ion or 0.3 g lithium-metal content. Spare lithium batteries stay in carry-on with short-circuit protection.
FAQ
Cell phone flight questions
Can you bring a cell phone on a plane?
Do you have to put your phone in airplane mode?
Should you pack a phone in a checked bag?
Can you bring a spare phone battery?
Sources: TSA: What Can I Bring · FAA PackSafe: lithium batteries · FAA: onboard device use · FAA battery limits · 49 CFR 175.10 · Device guidance checked October 3, 2026; original review July 2026