Where do you put your phone when going through TSA?
Michael Gray
Updated on May 09, 2026
The TSA is encouraging travelers to wash their hands before and after screening procedures. It's also telling passengers not to place items like phones and wallets in bins and instead put them in their personal carry-on luggage.
Can I carry my phone through TSA?
According to the TSA, only electronics larger than a cell phone must be removed from their carrying cases and X-rayed separately. This does include laptops and tablets, but it doesn't include phones, electric toothbrushes, or hair dryers. TSA PreCheck members don't have to remove electronics for separate screening.Can I leave my phone in my carry-on bag?
Most consumer personal electronic devices containing batteries are allowed in carry-on and checked baggage, including but not limited to cell phones, smart phones, data loggers, PDAs , electronic games, tablets, laptop computers, cameras, camcorders, watches, calculators, etc.What do you do with your phone in the airport?
The Telegraph reports that the new TSA policies came in response to an al-Qaida bomb threat and speculated that by turning on their mobile phones, passengers can prove to security screeners that the phone is in fact a working device and that its batteries are not hidden explosives [source: Whitehead].Can I keep my phone on my pocket for TSA PreCheck?
REGULAR X-RAY and TSA Pre✓®: Once you're ready for you and your stuff to go through X-ray, everything needs to come out of your pockets. Coins, keys, your phone, your wallet, even pieces of paper. Everything. Your pockets need to be empty.10 TSA Checkpoint Tips | Flying Travel Hacks for Getting Through Airport Security
Do you need to remove phone for TSA?
TSA is taking steps to reduce touchpoints in checkpoints, and travelers can do the same. When it comes time to walk through the checkpoint screening equipment, travelers need to remove all items from their pockets. When doing so, put those items (keys, wallet, cell phone, lip balm, etc.)Do I have to take out my charger at the airport?
Chargers and cables for electronic devices don't need to be removed from your carry-on when going through airport security. That said, they do clutter the x-ray images a lot, so unless you've packed just a few chargers in there, the TSA agents might ask you to remove them from the bag and place them in a separate bin.What does it mean when TSA checks your phone?
TSA said the screening “is solely intended to verify that there has been no physical tampering or hidden threat placed within the electronic device.”Why does TSA wipe your phone?
Unless you're on the super-secret list that increases your chances of getting SSSS on your boarding pass, the TSA's machines are said to pick people at random for swabbing. As for the why, they're usually checking for traces of explosives.What to do when you leave a phone on a plane?
What Should You Do If You Leave Something Important on a Plane?
- Get back to the arrival gate ASAP. ...
- Check with your airline's baggage claim office at the airport. ...
- Contact the airport. ...
- Fill out a formal lost-and-found form with the airline. ...
- Follow up your online form with a call to customer service. ...
- Track your devices.