I have music from CDs on my iPhone. On a flight while in Airplane mode, using Apple Music app, I got the message “turn off airplane mode or turn on wifi”.
I think I have the solution: turn off WiFi. It was connected to the plane’s WiFi but I had not paid to activate it. On the second leg of the flight I turned off the useless WiFi and the downloaded music played.
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
iPhone SE (2nd generation)
Replying to my own post. That was not the solution: On the return flight (Qatar Air) I got the same message while trying to play downloaded music, even after turning off the WiFi. So I activated the Wifi for one hour, no charge, and the music played OK. Even after the hour was up, I could still switch to new songs. So, try this: in the airport or earlier, turn on the Music app. I think you will be able to play the downloaded music on the flight, in Airplane mode, with or without WiFi. Maybe the app asks the question when it starts, and it doesn't care that you don't need an internet connection for the music you chose.
For me, same. When I was connected to the airplane's WiFi for the free flight info/in flight movies or whatever, the downloaded music wouldn't play since the phone assumed with WiFi turned on, it had actual internet. When I turned off the wifi (which I didn't want to do), the music then worked fine.
Very frustrating. I'm not buying full airplane WiFi to get my downloaded **** music to play.
Why can't I play downloaded music in Airplane mode on my iPhone?
