Is Morse Code Still Used Today? Where and Why

By the Morse Code Translator team · Published October 24, 2026 · Facts checked against the sources below · How we work

Morse code is more than 180 years old. Phones, email and satellites have taken over most of its old jobs. So is it still around? Yes. It is used less than before, but it has not gone away. Here is where you can still find it, and why some people still choose it.

The short answer

Yes. Morse code is still used by ham radio operators around the world. Radio beacons for planes still send their names in Morse code. And some people with disabilities use it to type and talk. The world standard for the code, ITU-R M.1677-1, says it is still used in the amateur radio services, and “to a diminishing extent” in other radio services.

Ham radio: the biggest group of users

Amateur radio, or ham radio, is where Morse code is most alive. Hams call it CW, which is short for “continuous wave”. They use it to chat with people in other countries and to take part in contests.

Why use Morse code when you could talk? There are a few reasons:

It gets through. A Morse signal can be read when a voice signal is too weak or noisy to understand. The ARRL says Morse code will always be a very reliable way to talk when conditions are hard.
It is fun. Many hams just enjoy the skill, like playing music.

The license test is gone

For a long time, every US ham had to pass a Morse code test. The ARRL says the code test for the entry level Technician license ended in 1991. The speed for the other classes dropped to 5 words per minute in 2000.

Then the FCC removed the code exam for all license classes. The order was adopted on December 15, 2006, and the new rule took effect on February 23, 2007. Some people thought this would end Morse code in ham radio. It did not. Many hams still learn it by choice.

Aviation: beacons that talk in code

If you fly, you hear Morse code. Many radio navigation aids send a short ID in Morse code, over and over. Pilots listen to make sure they are tuned to the right station.

The FAA’s Aeronautical Information Manual says the only sure way to identify a VOR, a common radio beacon, is by its Morse code ID or by its voice ID if it has one. Instrument landing systems send a three letter ID in Morse code with the letter I (··) in front.

So even in a modern cockpit, a pilot may still need to know what a few dots and dashes mean.

Accessibility: typing with one or two switches

Morse code is also a tool for people who cannot speak or use a normal keyboard. With Morse, you only need two signals. That means a person can type with two buttons, a sip and puff switch, or even eye blinks.

In 2018, Google added Morse code to its Gboard phone keyboard. It worked with Tania Finlayson, a developer who was born with cerebral palsy and has used Morse code to talk since the 1980s. In a post on Google’s blog, she explains how a Morse code device let her talk with ease in school for the first time.

Ships and SOS

For most of the 1900s, ships at sea used Morse code to talk and to call for help. In 1906, an international meeting picked SOS as the distress call. The Titanic used it in 1912.

Smithsonian Magazine says that in 1999, a satellite based system replaced SOS on large ships. So the old ship radio rooms full of Morse code are mostly gone. But SOS is still known around the world. You can still flash SOS with a light or blow it on a whistle to get attention. See our page on SOS in Morse code.

Everyday and fun uses

Outside of radio, Morse code shows up in many small ways:

Gifts and jewelry. Bracelets, necklaces and tattoos with a name or a short word in code. See I love you in Morse code.
Puzzles and escape rooms. A string of beeps or flashes is a classic clue.
Movies and games. A tapping sound or a blinking light that hides a message.
Secret notes. Tapping on a table, flashing a light, or texting in dots and dashes for fun.

What has changed

The code itself has barely changed. The ITU standard was updated in 2009 and is the same one used today. It even includes the @ sign for email addresses.

What has changed is who uses it. Telegraph lines and ship radio rooms are gone. Professional Morse operators are rare. Today the code lives on through hobby users, a few technical systems, and people who need a simple way to type.

Should you learn it?

If any of these sound like you, give it a try:

You like radio or want a ham license.
You like puzzles, codes or music. Morse code is a lot like rhythm.
You want a backup way to signal for help.
You want a fun skill to share with kids or friends.

It costs nothing to start. Read our plan on how to learn Morse code. Use the translator to play messages, and try the audio decoder on real signals. To understand the basics first, see what Morse code is.

Tools for this guide

Frequently asked questions

Why do planes still use Morse code?

Navigation beacons send a short Morse code ID so pilots can check they are tuned to the right station. The FAA says this ID, or a voice ID, is the only sure way to identify a VOR beacon.

Do ships still use Morse code for SOS?

Not as the main system. Smithsonian Magazine says a satellite based distress system replaced SOS on large ships in 1999. SOS is still widely known as a signal for help.

Do you need Morse code for a ham radio license?

No. In the US, the FCC removed the last Morse code exam in 2007. Many hams learn it anyway.

Is Morse code worth learning?

If you like radio, puzzles or quiet ways to talk, yes. It costs nothing to start and is a fun skill. It is also a backup way to ask for help with light or sound.