An airplane mode test checks whether a chatbot really works without an internet connection. If it keeps answering after you disconnect, you have verified that it can run offline—not merely that it worked while your device was online. section 14.1
Test the chatbot in this order:
- While online, ask a question and confirm that you get an answer. section 14.1
- Turn off Wi-Fi; optionally turn off Bluetooth for a stricter test. Try loading a website, then run `ping google.com` in the terminal to check that connectivity is gone. section 14.1 section 14.5
- Ask the chatbot at least five different questions while offline. Try switching models, changing system prompts, and adjusting the temperature slider. Note whether answers still stream normally. section 14.1 section 14.5
- Turn networking back on. Write down any differences you observed between online and offline behavior. section 14.5
A simple offline question
After confirming that a website will not load, ask: “Explain the theory of relativity in simple terms.” If the chatbot answers normally, repeat with other questions rather than relying on a single reply. section 14.1
Download a model with `ollama pull` before disconnecting; that initial download needs internet access. Successful offline answers confirm that inference does not need a connection. Whether prompts and responses remain on your device also depends on the surrounding application, operating system, and network configuration. section 14.1 section 14.6
