When traveling with your devices — whether it’s a laptop, smartphone, Steam Deck, or Nintendo Switch — you’re probably used to taking out those electronics and putting them in separate bins at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints. That’s par for the course. What you may not realize is that at any time, a TSA agent could ask you to power on those devices if they aren’t already. In fact, this is the one TSA rule about electronics that every traveler should know and become familiar with. According to the TSA website, “Officers may ask you to power up your electronic device, including cell phones.” That means you may have to turn it on in front of them. The good news is that TSA explicitly states that they don’t “read or copy information from your device.” They’re really just checking if it powers on and works. They also state that “powerless devices” may not be allowed onboard aircraft.
But why is this the case, and why do TSA agents care if your device powers on or not? The simple answer is to ensure the device is real and working, rather than concealing something dangerous. Someone nefarious could replace the battery with explosive materials, modify it as a bomb, or use standard safety features in the tech, like a thermal cutoff, to trigger explosives implanted inside. When you turn on a device for the TSA, you’re showing that you haven’t tampered with it. Of course, the final decision about whether your item is allowed past the checkpoint always rests with the TSA officer. If your device doesn’t power on, they probably won’t allow it, but even if it does, there’s a chance they might say no anyway.
What happens if your device won’t turn on?
If your device is on the allowed items list and the TSA agents ask you to power it on, you must be able to demonstrate that it works. If it doesn’t power on, they may need to do a more thorough inspection of the device as a secondary screening process. They could also prohibit you from bringing the device altogether, or, in some rare cases, they may request proof that the device is not working, which means you’ll need to show an RMA receipt or related information. Back in 2014, the TSA announced that it may keep you off your flight if a device will not power on when asked.
This extends to power banks and portable chargers, which you should only be bringing in your carry-on as it is. If you’re wondering what electronics you need to take out at a TSA security checkpoint, the guideline is anything bigger than a smartphone. Laptops, handheld game consoles, power banks and portable chargers, tablets, eReaders, and potentially cameras and hard drives. On the list of electronics you can’t bring in your carry-on bags are power tools, hair straighteners and curling irons, stun guns, and, unsurprisingly, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, due to its risk of overheating and exploding. It’s also worth noting that TSA regularly assesses the landscape of tech and security, sometimes updating or adjusting rules, like how it recently stopped making passengers take their shoes off. You might want to read up on every TSA electronics rule that changed this year, too, for good measure.
