Windows airplane mode equivalent in Linux
Lists Wi-Fi and Bluetooth soft/hard block state.
airplane mode
rfkill list
rfkill list
rfkill list
Overview
What this command does
On Windows, "airplane mode" is used to show blocked radios. On Linux, the closest practical mapping shown here is "rfkill list". Lists Wi-Fi and Bluetooth soft/hard block state. This reference is grouped under Hardware & Drivers → Wireless.
Windows → Linux context
What changes when you use this on Linux?
Equivalent task, different tool
Windows airplane mode maps to rfkill list for this task. Treat this as a workflow mapping rather than a character-for-character syntax translation.
Portable across the compared distros
The Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch rows use the same command in this mapping. Package availability or defaults can still vary, so check the installed tool version when an option behaves differently.
For the broader concept behind this mapping, read Linux hardware and drivers.
Practical tasks
Common use cases
Show blocked radios
Lists Wi-Fi and Bluetooth soft/hard block state.
rfkill list
Show blocked radios
rfkill --help
Show command help when supported
man rfkill
Open the manual page when installed
Ready to run
Copyable Linux commands
Review paths, device names, package names and permissions before running any command.
rfkill list
Walkthrough
Examples with explanations
# Windows equivalent: airplane mode
rfkill listReference
Common options and variations
| Command or option | Use |
|---|---|
rfkill list | Show blocked radios |
rfkill --help | Show command help when supported |
man rfkill | Open the manual page when installed |
Distro differences
Debian/Ubuntu vs Fedora vs Arch
Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch all use "rfkill list" for this mapping. The command syntax shown here is portable across the three rows, although installed versions and system defaults can still vary.
| Distribution | Package manager / base | Equivalent command | Difference to notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian/Ubuntu | same command | rfkill list |
Same command on this distribution. |
| Fedora | same command | rfkill list |
Same command on this distribution. |
| Arch | same command | rfkill list |
Same command on this distribution. |
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