"SOS only" on an iPhone means it's not connected to your carrier's regular network but can still make emergency calls (like 911, 112) by connecting to other available carrier networks, allowing you to call for help even with no service for normal calls or data. This appears when you're in an area with poor coverage, traveling, or experiencing a network outage, but your device can find some working cell towers.
Force restart your iPhone
Often, the easiest fix is to restart your device. This will likely get you out of SOS mode. A restart is different than just holding the Power button to turn it off and turning it on again.
``SOS only'' means your phone is roaming on another carrier (likely T-Mobile or Verizon ) and there is no roaming agreement in that area, so it can only be used for emergency calls.
Another common cause is network issues. If your iPhone can't connect to your carrier's network but detects a signal from another carrier, it may display the “SOS” label. This means that while you can still make emergency calls, other functions like regular calls and text messaging won't work.
Keep an eye out for significant changes in device temperature and battery life, as these might indicate remote access. During calls, pay attention to any strange noises or voices, as they could indicate unauthorized call monitoring or recording. Be cautious of increased service messages and pop-up ads.
Three-finger gestures on iPhone primarily activate accessibility features like VoiceOver (for screen reading and navigation) and Zoom (magnification), allowing scrolling, zooming, and text manipulation (copy/paste/undo) with specific taps and drags, though some text actions work without VoiceOver enabled for quick editing. Common gestures include three-finger double-tap to toggle VoiceOver speech, triple-tap for the screen curtain, and pinching/spreading with three fingers for copy/paste actions, notes this YouTube video.
If you see SOS or "SOS only" in the status bar, your device isn't connected to your cellular network, but you can still make emergency calls through other carrier networks.
Use Control Center to turn Do Not Disturb on or off
On your phone, press the power button 5 times or more. Depending on your settings, touch and hold inside the red circle for 3 seconds or wait for the automatic countdown to start the emergency call. After you start an emergency call, other emergency actions begin based on your settings.
Verify that your account is active and in good standing. Make sure that you're in an area with mobile network coverage and there are no outages in your area. Check that your device isn't blocked or barred from receiving mobile services and is set up with the right data plan.
If your iPhone cellular data stops working, you may need to restart your phone, reset network settings, and check your mobile data is turned on correctly.
Besides making accidental calls, your Android device can also get stuck in Emergency SOS mode. Here are a few possible reasons: Your Android phone has a software glitch. Your network settings are incorrect.
With Focus settings in iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 or later, Do Not Disturb can silence calls, alerts and notifications. When Do Not Disturb is turned on, a crescent moon icon will appear in the status bar and on your Lock Screen.
Check your phone settings: Check your Do Not Disturb settings: Tap Settings > Do Not Disturb. Check for any blocked phone numbers: Tap Settings > Phone > Blocked. See if Call Forwarding is turned on: Tap Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding.
Check your settings
Turn your phone onto airplane mode, wait a few seconds, and then turn airplane mode off again. Have a look at your do not disturb settings. If it's on, switch it back off. Check your call forwarding settings by going to Settings > Phone > Call forwarding.
Carrier issues: You may see the “SOS Only” message if your carrier has issues with network coverage or the server is down. 3. SIM card issues: Your iPhone may display the “SOS Only” message if your SIM card is not correctly inserted or has been damaged. 4.
*3001#12345#* on an iPhone activates the hidden Field Test Mode, a diagnostic tool for network engineers and power users to see detailed cellular data like signal strength (dBm), cell tower info, and network quality, accessible by dialing the code in the Phone app and pressing call, often after turning off Wi-Fi for accurate cellular readings.
You can double-tap or triple-tap the back of iPhone to perform actions such as taking a screenshot, turning on an accessibility feature, running a shortcut, and more. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap. Choose Double Tap or Triple Tap, then choose an action.
Messages automatically uses the following screen effects for specific text strings: