---
title: "Transportation Security Administration Requires Passengers to Turn on Smartphones at Airport Security"
url: https://newscentral.site/transportation-security-administration-requires-passengers-to-turn/
language: en
publisher: "News Central Site"
section: "Technology"
published: 2026-11-10T00:00:00.000Z
updated: 2026-11-10T06:45:17.587Z
id: f690244f-c8ae-430f-8a70-c5b29ab6ae22
source: "Engadget https://www.engadget.com/2307751/why-tsa-ask-turn-on-phone-safety-reason/"
attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/transportation-security-administration-requires-passengers-to-turn/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story."
---

# Transportation Security Administration Requires Passengers to Turn on Smartphones at Airport Security

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires passengers to turn on their smartphones as part of the screening process to verify they are functioning properly.

Travelers heading through airport security may have noticed Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents asking them to turn on their smartphones as part of the screening process.

This requirement has been in place since 2014, when the TSA introduced a new rule for international travelers requiring them to power up electronic devices, including phones, to verify they are functioning properly.

The safety measure is aimed at protecting all passengers by preventing potential security threats, such as using a phone as a detonator or jamming device, or storing bomb components on the device.

In addition to this specific request, travelers already need to place large electronics like laptops and tablets in a separate bin for scanning.

If a TSA agent asks you to turn on your phone and it powers up, that's usually all they need to see before allowing you to continue through security.

The TSA's phone checks have been a topic of debate in recent times, but there's a specific reason why officers might ask you to turn on your device during security screening. According to court rulings, border agents can conduct manual searches of phones under certain circumstances.

For international travelers, the rules are slightly different. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has the authority to request access to phone contents as part of a routine inspection at the border. This is allowed under the border search exception, which permits CBP to detain devices for a brief period if they deem it necessary.

The scope of this power varies depending on whether there's reasonable suspicion or not. Without a warrant, officers can only conduct a basic inspection, looking at text messages and app activity. However, with sufficient grounds, they can perform a more thorough search by downloading the contents onto another device.

A proposed rule change from 2025 would expand CBP's powers even further, allowing them to request up to five years of social media history from travelers entering from specific regions before granting entry into the US. While this remains a proposal and not yet law, it highlights the ongoing debate over the balance between security measures and individual rights.

When going through airport security checkpoints, travelers may be asked by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents to power on their electronic devices before proceeding.

The request is primarily made to ensure that the device in question is a functioning phone and not a dummy or fake one being used for other purposes. Travelers are advised to place their phones in the security bin and, if asked, turn them on by powering up the device or simply lighting up the screen and unlocking it.

In most cases, travelers will not encounter this situation, as long as their phone's battery is charged before traveling. However, if a traveler is asked to power on their phone, they should comply with the TSA agent's request, as agents are within their rights to require proof of a functioning device.

---
Source: [Engadget](https://www.engadget.com/2307751/why-tsa-ask-turn-on-phone-safety-reason/)  
Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/transportation-security-administration-requires-passengers-to-turn/