My iPhone is displaying SOS only Here’s what you need to do

So, your iPhone says “SOS Only”. What should you do? It is really frustrating, especially if you have to call someone and cannot make it happen. Good news! Let us go through the steps for troubleshooting this problem until you can get your iPhone working again.

Understanding the SOS Only Mode

The display of “SOS Only” on your iPhone means that your phone is only able to connect to emergency services. Mostly, it happens in situations where your phone may not be detecting a stable cellular signal. Maybe you are in a remote area, or even worse, there might be a problem with your SIM card or network settings.

Step 1: Cellular Connection

Check your cellular connection first. Are you in a dead spot? Sometimes, all it takes is a move to another location to start working properly. First of all, check the top left corner of your screen for signal bars. If they’re missing or sparse, your phone is working to connect the network.

Step 2: Restart Your iPhone

A simple reboot will do the trick. To do this, press and hold the power button (side or top of your device) until you see the “slide to power off” slider. Swipe to turn your iPhone off, wait some seconds, then turn it on again. The idea here is to refresh your phone’s connection to the network.

Step 3: Check Airplane Mode

Sometimes people forget to turn off Airplane Mode. Open up Settings and see if it is turned on, so switch Airplane Mode off. You can also do that by entering your Control Center: swipe down from the top right edge of the screen or up from the bottom on older versions, then click Airplane Mode off.

Step 4: Check Your SIM Card

In this step, you need to confirm that your SIM card is intact. You should turn off your iPhone and gently pull out the SIM card tray by using a SIM eject tool or a paper clip. Check for any destruction of the card or dust on it. Return it properly and turn your phone back on. Replace it with another compatible SIM card to verify if the issue persists.

Step 5: Reset Network Settings

Still having issues?  Attempt to restore your network settings. On Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset, tap Reset Network Settings. That will remove any wi-fi networks and passwords you’ve saved. Ensure you have those handy before doing so.

Step 6: Update iOS

Update your iPhone, as it will eliminate most bugs and connectivity issues. You can check for updates from your home screen; go to Settings > General > Software Update. Now, you can download and install if there is an update available.

Step 7: Contact Your Carrier

If any of the above still does not help, then probably there is an issue on your cellular carrier side. Try contacting your carrier and check if there is indeed an outage around you or if your account is okay.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is “SOS Only” on my iPhone?
“SOS Only” means that your iPhone may connect to emergency services only since no cellular signal exists.

2. Why do I have my “SOS Only” feature on my iPhone?
It can be as a result of a weak signal to your network, bad SIM card issues, or other settings in your network.

3. How can you solve “SOS Only” on my iPhone?
Check your cellular, restart your iPhone, investigate your SIM card, reset network settings, and update your iOS

4. Does resetting the network setting delete my data?
Nope. The Network Setting will not delete your data; it is just resetting that can clear saved Wi-Fi networks and their passwords.

5. How do I check if my SIM card is faulty?
If after checking that everything is fine with the signal, and you reset, your iPhone is still displaying “SOS Only,” maybe this means that your SIM card is damaged or is not well inserted.

Conclusion

That’s quite a startling “SOS Only” message on your screen, but it can help you troubleshoot and probably solve the problem. Again, probably all you need to do is a simple restart or perhaps check your SIM card. If nothing works, you may want to contact your carrier for further help. Keep connected; do not let a little hiccup keep you from reaching out to those who matter!