SOS On Iphone, How To Solve And Manage it

What Does “SOS” or “SOS Only” Mean?

When your iPhone says “SOS” or “SOS Only”, it means that your phone cannot connect to your mobile company’s signal. This means you can’t:

Make regular phone calls
Send regular text messages
Use your mobile data to browse the internet

Don’t worry your phone can still call emergency services Like:

911 in the United States
112 in Europe and other countries
Other local emergency numbers depending on your location

So, your iPhone still allows you to get help if you need it — that’s why it says “SOS”. This is a safety feature and it can save lives.

Why Is Our iPhones Showing “SOS” or “SOS Only”?

Many reasons why this might be happening. Let’s look them ;

1. You Are in a Poor Signal Area

One of the most common reasons is that your location has weak or no mobile signal. You may be:

In the countryside or mountains
Inside a basement or underground garage
In a remote area with no cell towers nearby
In a big building with thick walls that block the signal

When your iPhone can’t find your carrier’s signal, it tries to connect to any available signal to allow you to make emergency calls. That’s when it shows “SOS Only”.

2. Network Problems or Outages

Sometimes the issue is not with your phone, but with your mobile provider. The company might be doing maintenance, or there may be a problem with their towers. This is called a network outage. During this time, your phone may lose its connection to the carrier.

3. Your SIM Card Has a Problem

If the SIM card:

Loose
Dirty
Not inserted correctly

…your iPhone may not be able to connect to your mobile company, and it will show “SOS Only.”

4. Your iPhone Needs a Software or Settings Update

If your iPhone’s system (called iOS) or carrier settings are out of date, the phone might not connect properly to the network. Updates help your phone work better with your carrier.

How to Fix “SOS” or “SOS Only” on iPhone

Now that you understand why this happens, let’s look at how to fix it. Try these simple steps one by one.

1. Turn Airplane Mode On and Off

This is one of the easiest fixes:

Open Control Center
Tap the airplane icon to turn on Airplane Mode
Wait for about 10 seconds
Tap it again to turn it off

Your phone will search for the signal again.

2. Restart Your iPhone

Turning your phone off and back on again can help fix many small problems:

Press and hold the power button
Slide to turn off
Wait a few seconds
Turn it back on

Now check if the signal is back.

3. Check for Carrier Settings Update

Sometimes your carrier sends small updates to help your phone work better.

Go to Settings > General > About
Wait for a few seconds

4. Update Your iPhone’s iOS

It’s important to keep your phone updated.

Go to Settings > General > Software Update
If an update is available, update it

Updates often fix bugs that can cause signal problems.

5. Remove and Reinsert the SIM Card

Sometimes taking out the SIM card and putting it back in can fix the issue:

Use a paperclip or SIM tool to open the SIM tray
Take the SIM card out
Wipe it gently with a clean cloth
Put it back into the tray and push it in

If your SIM looks damaged, ask your mobile company for a new one.

6. Contact Your Mobile Carrier

If nothing is working, call your mobile company using another phone. Ask them if:

There’s a problem in your area
Your SIM is active
There’s an issue with your account

They may be able to help or send you a new SIM.

Can You Still Use Your Phone?

Yes, you can still use many features:

You can connect to Wi-Fi
You can use the internet and apps
You can use iMessage or FaceTime
You can call emergency services

But you cannot:

Make regular phone calls
Send regular text messages (SMS)
Use mobile data like 4G or 5G

How to Stop This

Here are some tips to keep this from happening in the future:

✅ Keep iOS and Carrier Settings Updated

Always update your iPhone when you see a new update.

✅ Use a Trusted Mobile Company

Choose a mobile provider that has strong signal in your area.

✅ Don’t Use a Damaged SIM

If your SIM is old so buy a new one.

✅ Avoid Jailbreaking

Jailbreaking your iPhone can cause many problems. It may block your phone from working properly with networks.

✅ Protect Your iPhone

Avoid dropping your phone or getting it wet. This can damage parts inside that help it connect to the network.

What About When You Travel?

If you’re in another country and your iPhone says “SOS Only”, check these things:

Do you have an international roaming plan?
Is your phone unlocked? Some phones only work with one company.

Final Thoughts

If your iPhone shows SOS or SOS Only. This means your phone can’t find your network. But you can still call emergency services if you need any type of help.

This is usually easy to fix. You can try:

Turning your phone off and on
Checking your phone settings

If it still doesn’t work, ask your mobile company for help or go to an Apple Store.

To stop this from happening again:

Keep your iPhone updated
Use a mobile company with good signal
Take good care of your phone

SOS On Iphone, How To Solve And Manage it