Yes, smartwatches and wireless earbuds are allowed on Indian flights. Since DGCA amended its rules in April 2014, portable electronic devices can be used on board, provided devices that transmit radio signals are in non-transmitting mode, commonly called flight mode. Carry them in the cabin, and follow crew instructions on Bluetooth.
Updated October 2026 · HappyFares
Wearables are now part of most travel kits, and the flight mode question comes up every time. Here is what the rule says and where it stops being clear.
Are smartwatches and earbuds allowed on flights in India?
Yes. DGCA amended Civil Aviation Requirements, Section 5, Series X, Part I on 23 April 2014 to allow the use of portable electronic devices on board in flight mode. Smartwatches, earbuds, tablets and e-readers all fall in the category of personal electronic devices. We found no airline list that bans a smartwatch or earbuds from the cabin.
The amended text, as quoted in a Lok Sabha answer, requires electronic devices that intentionally transmit radio signals, such as mobile phones, to be kept in non-transmitting mode. Press coverage at the time said passengers could listen to music or type emails, but not make calls.
Did you know that the 2014 change came after DGCA looked at what the US and European aviation regulators allowed? The old rule had been far stricter.
Does flight mode switch off Bluetooth?
Flight mode switches off cellular, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on most phones and watches at first, but many devices let you turn Bluetooth or Wi-Fi back on afterwards without leaving flight mode. We did not find any Indian rule that spells out Bluetooth separately.
The 2014 wording refers to devices that intentionally transmit radio signals. Bluetooth does transmit, so the cautious reading is that your device should be in flight mode and any Bluetooth use should follow crew instructions. On aircraft, wireless earbuds are commonly used with flight mode on and Bluetooth enabled, but the airline can set its own policy.
- Switch to flight mode before the aircraft door closes.
- If you turn Bluetooth back on for earbuds, do it only if the crew has not said otherwise.
- Stop using any device when the crew asks, such as during safety demonstrations.
Where should you carry earbuds, watches and chargers?
In the cabin. Wearable gadgets carry lithium batteries, and Air India’s cabin baggage page says spare or loose lithium-ion batteries for portable electronics must stay in hand baggage. For lithium-ion batteries, the limit is 100 Wh, and Air India limits spares to two. Power banks count as spare batteries and are to be packed individually.
A smartwatch or earbud case in your pocket is not what airlines call a spare, but a charging case with a large battery, or a bulky power bank, does fall under battery rules. Keep them all with you and not in the hold. Some carriers abroad have started asking passengers to keep earbuds in hand luggage, and that is a sensible habit anywhere.
Can you charge devices with a power bank on the plane?
No. In a Dangerous Goods advisory reported in November 2025 and clarified in January 2026, DGCA prohibits using power banks to charge devices during a flight. News reports also say power banks and spare lithium batteries must be kept in hand baggage, and not in overhead lockers. We could not read the circular itself, so check the exact wording with your airline.
Charge your smartwatch and earbuds before you fly. If a device gets unusually hot, smokes or smells of burning, tell the cabin crew at once.
What about smartwatch features like calls and cellular?
A cellular smartwatch transmits, so it should be in flight mode too. Do not make or take calls on board. A basic fitness tracker that only syncs over Bluetooth is a lower concern, but the same advice applies: follow the crew.
Any simple checklist before boarding?
A short routine covers almost every case, and it works on any Indian airline.
- Charge your watch, earbuds and phone before you leave for the airport.
- Keep every battery-powered item in your cabin bag or on your person, never in the hold.
- Put devices in flight mode before the door closes, and listen for crew announcements.
- Keep power banks in hand baggage, do not use them to charge anything in flight, and do not stow them in the overhead locker.
- If any device feels hot or smells odd, press the call button and tell the crew straight away.
Airlines can add their own conditions to the DGCA baseline, so the crew’s instruction on the day always wins.
Common Questions
Can I wear my smartwatch through security?
Yes. You may be asked to remove it or pass it through the scanner, as with other metal items. It is allowed in the cabin.
Can I use wireless earbuds during takeoff?
Under the 2014 DGCA rule, devices can be used in non-transmitting mode. Crew can still ask you to stop for safety announcements, so remove them when told.
Do I have to switch my phone off?
No, flight mode is enough under the DGCA rule. Some airlines still ask passengers to switch off during certain phases, so follow crew instructions.
Can I put earbuds in checked baggage?
Do not. Lithium batteries are safer in the cabin, where a problem can be noticed and handled quickly. Air India’s cabin page requires spare lithium-ion batteries in hand baggage.
Is there a limit on smartwatch battery size?
Wearable batteries are small. The 100 Wh limit on Air India’s cabin page applies to spare lithium-ion batteries, and a power bank is where that limit matters.
Can I use Wi-Fi on board?
Only where the airline offers an in-flight connection. Otherwise keep Wi-Fi off.
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