The SOS icon or SOS-only text, which appears in the top-right corner of your iPhone on iOS 16 and the top-left corner on earlier versions, indicates that your cellular network is down. As a result, you are unable to make or receive regular phone calls. You can, however, still make emergency calls. There are numerous reasons why your iPhone may be displaying SOS. To begin with, it is possible that your iPhone is not receiving the proper cellular network. That is, your iPhone is in an area with poor network coverage. In this article we will teach you How to Fix “SOS Only” on iPhone.
Similarly, it could indicate that your SIM card does not have roaming privileges or that the network has been changed in iPhone settings. Or, your SIM card isn’t properly inserted, and even worse, the SIM card has stopped working entirely. That is, it has become null and void as a result of nonpayment of bills, physical damage, or something else. In a nutshell, the SOS icon indicates that your iPhone is not connected to your carrier but does not disable emergency calls. Your iPhone is still capable of making emergency calls. You must restore the cellular connection in order to remove SOS from your iPhone, and only then will you be able to make normal phone calls.
How to Fix “SOS Only” on iPhone
Turn Off and On Cellular Data
Due to a network error, your iPhone may be stuck in the SOS-only mode. When you disable and then enable Cellular Data, it attempts a new connection, largely correcting the error.
- Navigate to Settings and select Cellular/Mobile Data.
- Turn off Cellular / Mobile Data.
- Wait a few seconds before switching to Cellular Data/Mobile Data.
You can also open the Control Center and disable cellular data by tapping the Cellular Data icon. After a few seconds, tap it to enable it. If your phone’s top status bar still says SOS, proceed to the next fix.
Enable Data Roaming
The cause of the SOS only on iPhone could be the disabled data roaming option. So, if you’re traveling, double-check this setting before continuing.
- Launch Cellular/Mobile Data Settings.
- Select Cellular Data/Mobile Data Options.
- Turn on Data Roaming.
Hopefully, instead of SOS, 4G or 5G will appear in the status bar.
Switch to 4G or LTE
5G is still not fully functional throughout the world, which may affect your signal strength and connection. If this problem persists, it’s best to turn off 5G on iPhone and stick to 4G.
Restart to Fix SOS Only on iPhone
The most popular and frequently used troubleshooting method. Surprisingly, it mostly works in our favor. Resetting the caches, in essence, can resolve any bug or setting errors, allowing a stable network connection and resolving the issue at hand.
- For iPhones with Face ID, simultaneously press and hold the volume up/down and side buttons until the power-off slider appears. To turn off the phone, slide it.
- To bring up the power slider screen on an iPhone with Touch ID, press and hold the side button. To turn off the device, use the power slider.
To restart the iPhone after it has shut down, press and hold the power button.
Update Carrier Settings
The carrier provides these settings, which are intended to improve cellular connectivity and overall performance. Although this is typically done automatically, you can manually check and update iPhone carrier settings. However, first ensure that your device is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network and that Cellular Data is enabled.
- Go to General in Settings.
- Select About.
- A pop-up will appear if an update is available; click Update to install.
If you’re setting up an eSIM for the first time or have recently done so, you may need to manually download the new carrier settings. If the network bars are updated, they should return to the status bar; otherwise, proceed to the next step.
Disable and Enable Automatic Network Selection
This setting ensures that you are connected to the correct network (carrier) and that your internet connection is stable. Turning it off and on forces the device to reconnect to the network, allowing you to turn off SOS only on the iPhone.
- Go to Cellular/Mobile Data Settings.
- Choose Network Selection.
- Turn the switch next to Automatic off.
- Toggle it back on after a few seconds.
Re-Insert SIM
While this is uncommon, the physical SIM card may disrupt network connectivity. A simple reset will also help you get rid of the SOS-only mode on your iPhone. So, remove the SIM card from your device, restart your iPhone, and then replace the SIM card.
Update iOS
You may be seeing the SOS symbol due to a software problem. Fortunately, it is easily resolved with an OS update. Check for updates and install them if they are available.
- Navigate to Settings and then to General.
- Choose Software Update.
- Tap Download and Install if it is available.
Reset Your Network Settings
If the previous methods failed to remove SOS only on iPhone, it’s time to move on to the final troubleshooting step. Why is ultimate important? Because it deletes Bluetooth devices, Wi-Fi passwords, VPN configurations, and other data. So, before you start using this method, make a list of all the details you’ll need.
- Navigate to General in Settings.
- Select ‘Transfer or Reset iPhone’ from the drop-down menu.
- Select Reset from this menu.
- Tap Reset Network Settings and, if prompted, enter the passcode.
- To confirm the action, tap Reset Network Settings again.
Final Words
iPhone users may be familiar with the ‘SOS Only’ message that appears from time to time in the status bar. This message is displayed on the right side of the status bar in iOS 16, but it was displayed on the left in previous iOS versions. So, what exactly does ‘SOS Only’ mean? What options do you have if your iPhone displays that message? We have already discussed how to fix “SOS Only” on iPhone. After applying all this above solution and still stuck in the same issue than we recommend you to go to their official iPhone support website and request your problem to be solved.
I hope you understand this article, How to Fix “SOS Only” on iPhone.
