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 And you’re not alone - too many people rely on half-truths and outdated advice, leaving their phones vulnerable to GPS tracking, cell-tower triangulation, and silent network pings.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.
Read more about how phone tracking works
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.
Ready to Protect Your Privacy?
Get military-grade encrypted SIM cards with IMSI masking, end-to-end encryption, and true no-log privacy. Start protecting your communications today.
