Laptops, phones, tablets and cameras are allowed in carry-on and checked bags, but the FAA says to keep them in your carry-on. A device in a checked bag must be switched fully off, not asleep, and protected so it can’t turn on.
At the checkpoint
In a standard TSA lane, take your laptop out of your bag and put it in a bin of its own. TSA PreCheck travelers can leave the laptop in the bag.
A full-sized video game console goes in a separate bin as well.
Battery limits for devices
A device’s lithium ion battery has the same limits as a spare: up to 100 Wh, or over 100 Wh and up to 160 Wh with the airline’s approval. TSA says these limits cover nearly every lithium battery people use in their devices.
Check a big laptop battery with the Wh calculator if its label gives only mAh and volts.
Spare batteries and power banks
Spare laptop and phone batteries, power banks and phone battery charging cases go in your carry-on only. See spare batteries on a plane for how to pack them.
Luggage trackers
A tracker such as an AirTag or Tile can go in a checked bag if its battery holds no more than 0.3 grams of lithium metal, or 2.7 Wh of lithium ion.
If a device overheats
Tell the flight crew right away if a phone, laptop or other device gets hot, swells, smokes or burns. A damaged or recalled device can’t fly unless its battery has been removed or made safe.