We generally want our iPhones to work when we take them out of our pockets to speak on the phone, text, or check our email. When they are not working, it can be frustrating, especially when you are unable to access the internet. If you are far away from Wi-Fi, you have to depend on a cellular connection, if that is not available you will be alerted with an SOS icon in the status bar. This article provides you with solutions for various queries like ‘What does SOS mean on iPhone/Why is my phone on SOS/ How do I get my phone out of SOS mode?’
What does SOS mean on iPhone?
Generally, your iPhone is not in trouble, if it is in SOS mode. Instead, it shows that your phone can only make emergency calls using satellites and it has no connection to a cellular network. Australia, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and some parts of Europe have access to this feature. It will display as “No Service or Searching” in other regions.
Why is my iPhone stuck in SOS mode?
Your iPhone may be in SOS mode for several reasons:
• Dead spots: Entering a dead area is the most frequent cause of your iPhone displaying SOS. Even the biggest networks have coverage shortages, and if you drive or walk into one of those areas, you may not be able to make calls for as long as you are.
• Carrier outage: Globally, customers will occasionally experience carrier outages and they will receive communication from the carrier to let them know about the service restoration.
• Cellular data is off: In Settings or Control Center, Cellular can be turned off, which is similar to that of WiFi. Here are the steps to follow:
1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap on Cellular or Mobile Service.
3. Tap it to turn on, if it is grayed out instead of green.
How can I operate an iPhone that is in SOS mode?
SOS means your iPhone can only contact emergency services, such as 911 in the US. If you have an iPhone 14 or later, you can use Emergency SOS via Satellite to text emergency services while you’re off the grid with no Wi-Fi or cellular service. With iOS 18, you may also use a satellite to transmit SMS or iMessages in case when your cellular connectivity is lost.
How to fix an iPhone stuck in SOS mode?
1. Check whether your Internet Service Provider(ISP) is unavailable:
If you are an AT&T customer, you can check the company’s official website for information on outages and service status. To check if it’s down, simply select the state, service, and zip code. By viewing their official website, you can follow the same process for your internet service provider. Just search for “Is [insert ISP] down?” on Google.
2. Perform a force restart:
Doing a force restart on your iPhone is the simplest method to fix this:
• Press the Volume Up button and then immediately let go.
• Press the Volume Down button and then immediately release it.
• Press and hold the Side button.
• When the Apple logo appears, release the side button.
3. Check your iPhone’s cellular settings:
Follow these steps to check the iPhone’s cellular settings:
• Firstly, go to Settings.
• Tap on Cellular> Network Selection.
• Check whether the toggle next to Automatic is grayed out or in green, if it is grayed out then toggle it on.
• Your iPhone should be able to connect to the appropriate cellular network automatically after toggling on Automatic network selection. Obviously, that will rely on whether you are in an area where your cellular service provider offers.
4. Check Your iPhone for a Carrier Settings Update:
• Check that your device is connected to a cellular network or Wi-Fi.
• Select Settings > General > About. If there is any carrier settings update option, you can view it.
• Tap Settings > General > About, then select Carrier to view the carrier settings version on your device.
5. Turn Off your cellular connection and again Turn On:
Check that your cellular connection is enabled by choosing Settings > Cellular and Turn it On if it is Off on your iPhone. Then check whether you have a service.
6. Reset your network settings:
• Go to ‘Settings.’
• Tap General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Then, tap Reset > Reset Network Settings.
The above-mentioned tips may help you to resolve an iPhone stuck in SOS mode.
Conclusion: What Does SOS Mean on iPhone and How to Resolve It
I hope this article helps you to know the answer for the common query, ‘ What does SOS mean on iPhone?’ ‘SOS’ or ‘SOS only’ is not a big issue and further moving to a new area with cellular coverage and following any of Apple’s suggestions should resolve this issue immediately. On the other hand, contacting Apple Support is your last option if none of the above listed troubleshooting tips works.
FAQ’s About What Does SOS Mean on iPhone
Q1. What does SOS mean on iPhone?
Ans. On an iPhone, the status bar can show the message ‘SOS only’ or ‘SOS.’ Fortunately, being stuck in SOS is not the same as this. Instead, it indicates that you can still make an emergency call even though your device is not connected to a network. This feature is accessible only in the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Q2. What does Emergency SOS on the iPhone mean?
Ans. The iPhone 14 and newer have a feature named Emergency SOS via satellite, which allows you to contact emergency dispatchers using your iPhone as a satellite phone.
Q3. How do I reset my iPhone’s network settings?
Ans. You can address other common iPhone issues and quickly fix internet connection issues by resetting your iPhone’s network settings. You must locate the Reset Network option in the settings on your iPhone to reset the network settings.
Q4. Why does “SOS Only” Show on My Phone?
Ans. “SOS Only” means you are in range of a rival network but that the carrier your iPhone typically uses is out of range.
