If you’re a journalist, business owner, activist, or anyone who handles sensitive communications, you’ve probably wondered whether airplane mode, turning off location, or using a VPN actually hides your movements. And you’re not alone – too many people rely on half-truths and outdated advice, leaving their phones vulnerable to GPS tracking, cell-tower triangulation, and silent network pings. This guide breaks down what really stops phone tracking, and where standard tips fall short. And if you need guaranteed anonymity at the SIM level – without IMEI broadcasting or carrier-side tracking – GhostSims provides the level of protection traditional SIMs simply can’t match.
The Myth That Airplane Mode Makes You Invisible
Airplane Mode is one of the most misunderstood features on a smartphone. It sounds like a kill switch, but it’s not.
What Airplane Mode Actually Does
- Turns off cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth transmitters.
- Stops apps from sending location data online.
- Prevents cloud-based tracking like “Find My Device.”
But here’s the problem…
Airplane Mode does not disable your GPS chip.
GPS is a receiver, not a transmitter. It continues to calculate your position using satellites, even when the phone can’t send that data out. Offline map apps can still show your precise location, proving your phone always knows where you are – even if you think it doesn’t.
And on some devices (particularly iPhones), Bluetooth can be manually re-enabled while in Airplane Mode. That means short-range tracking networks like Apple Find My still function.
So does airplane mode stop tracking?
No – it stops network sharing but not GPS location awareness.
Carriers also can still estimate your rough position whenever Airplane Mode is turned off again, because your device immediately reconnects to nearby cell towers.
Does Turning Off Location Services Work? (Half true.)
Turning off “Location Services” sounds definitive, but modern smartphones are built with multiple fallback location methods, including:
- GPS
- Assisted GPS (A-GPS)
- Wi-Fi positioning
- Bluetooth beacons
- Cell tower triangulation
- Sensor fusion (gyroscope + accelerometer + magnetometer)
When you disable Location Services, you are only turning off the software layer, not the hardware’s ability to determine location.
Worse, some system apps can legally bypass this setting depending on the device manufacturer and region.
So does turning off location stop tracking?
Partially – it stops most apps, but not all system-level tracking and not carrier-level tracking.
Does Removing the SIM Stop Tracking?
This is one of the most common myths online – and the most dangerous.
Removing your SIM disables your identity on the carrier network, but your phone can still:
- Ping 911 emergency bands
- Broadcast IMEI identifiers
- Connect to Wi-Fi
- Allow apps to track via GPS
- Leak location through Bluetooth
- Share previous offline-stored data once reconnected
So does removing the SIM stop tracking?
No. It only stops carrier-linked identity, not IMEI tracking, Bluetooth tracking, app tracking, or GPS tracking.
This is exactly why GhostSims exists – traditional SIM cards broadcast IMEI and IMSI identifiers by design, creating permanent links between your identity, your device, and your location.
GhostSims removes this link by eliminating IMEI broadcasting, allowing changeable IMSIs, and storing zero personal data.
Does a VPN Hide Your Location? (Only online – not physically.)
VPNs are powerful for digital privacy, but they are not physical location blockers.
What a VPN does do
- Hides your IP address
- Encrypts your internet traffic
- Prevents websites and advertisers from knowing your network location
- Blocks trackers from tying your online activity to your device
What a VPN doesn’t do
- Disable GPS
- Prevent cell tower triangulation
- Hide your device from the carrier
- Stop Bluetooth-based proximity tracking
- Block spyware or stalkerware
- Work against hardware-level surveillance tool
So does a VPN hide your location?
Only your IP-based location – not your real-world, physical location.
How Phones Are Really Tracked (The Part Most People Don’t Know)
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: modern tracking doesn’t rely on just one method. If one signal is blocked, another fills the gap.
Phones can be tracked through:
- GPS (precise location)
- Cell tower triangulation (rough but continuous)
- Wi-Fi networks (MAC address logging)
- Bluetooth beacons (retail tracking, AirTag-style networks)
- IP addresses (online tracking)
- IMEI broadcasting (device fingerprinting)
- IMSI catchers (fake cell towers used by law enforcement)
- Apps (location history, analytics, permissions abuse)
- Spyware / stalkerware
A single toggle is never enough.
What Actually Stops Phone Tracking
1. Turn Off Location Services
This blocks the majority of app-level tracking and stops GPS-based services.
2. Enable Airplane Mode – With Location Services Off
This combination prevents:
- GPS data from updating
- Cell towers from receiving pings
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth tracking (if not manually re-enabled)
3. Use a Faraday Bag (Most Reliable Method)
A signal-blocking Faraday sleeve isolates your device by cutting off:
- Cellular
- Wi-Fi
- GPS
- Bluetooth
- NFC
Your phone becomes invisible.
4. Remove the Battery (If Possible)
Phone is physically powered off – and untrackable.
But modern smartphones rarely allow this.
5. Control App Permissions
Review apps regularly and remove:
- Background location
- Microphone access
- Camera access
- Unnecessary permissions
6. Use Anti-Spyware Tools
These catch:
- Hidden trackers
- Malicious apps
- Stalkerware
- Silent location-sharing tools
Why This Still Isn’t Enough…
Even when you lock down your phone, standard SIM cards continue:
- Broadcasting IMEI
- Revealing IMSI
- Linking your device to your identity
- Allowing carrier-side metadata tracking
That metadata – not your GPS – is what governments, carriers, and intelligence agencies use to map your movements.
The Missing Piece: SIM-Level Anonymity
This is where most guides stop, but it’s the core of the problem.
Traditional SIMs always reveal:
- Who you are
- What device you’re using
- Where you connected
- Which towers you passed
- When you were active
GhostSims removes those identifiers entirely.
How GhostSims changes the game
- No IMEI broadcasting
- Changeable IMSIs
- PGP-encrypted communication
- Zero personal data stored
- Anonymous data usage
- Global mobility without identity ties
This is why investigative journalists, executives, and security professionals rely on encrypted SIM solutions when standard privacy tools aren’t enough.
Get your Encrypted SIM and Encrypted eSIM today from GhostSIMs. We deliver worldwide.
People Also Ask
Does airplane mode make a phone untraceable?
No. GPS still works and the phone reconnects to towers as soon as airplane mode is turned off.
Does a VPN work in airplane mode?
No. A VPN requires an internet connection, so it cannot operate during true airplane mode.
How do I make my phone not trackable?
Turn off location services → enable airplane mode → place the phone in a Faraday bag → use anonymous SIM solutions such as GhostSims.
