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SOS Only iPhone

July 19, 2023
Tech-Archive

What Does SOS Only Mean on iPhone?

SOS Only on iPhone is a signal that indicates that your device can only make emergency calls, such as to 911, 112, 999, or 000, depending on your country. It means that you are out of range of your normal carrier’s network, but you are in range of a rival network that allows emergency calls. For example, if you are an AT&T customer but you are in an area that is only covered by Verizon, you will see SOS Only on your iPhone.

How Does SOS Only Work on iPhone?

SOS Only on iPhone works as a safety feature that allows you to make emergency calls when your device is not connected to your normal carrier’s network. It works by using a rival network that has coverage in your area and that supports emergency calls. For example, if you are an AT&T customer but you are in an area that is only covered by Verizon, you can still call 911 using Verizon’s network.

SOS Only on iPhone works in any country that has emergency numbers, such as 911 (US), 112 (Europe), 999 (UK), or 000 (Australia). It also works when you are traveling abroad, depending on the country you are in. SOS Only on iPhone does not affect other emergency features on your device, such as Crash Detection or Fall Detection.

SOS Only on iPhone is not a problem, but a helpful feature that can save your life in case of an emergency. However, if you see it often or when you are in an area with normal coverage, it could mean that there is an issue with your device or your carrier. In that case, you can try some troubleshooting steps to fix it.

Why is My iPhone on SOS Only?

Your iPhone is on SOS Only because it is not connected to your normal carrier’s network, but it can still make emergency calls using a rival network. This can happen for several reasons, such as:

  • You are in an area with poor or no coverage from your carrier, but there is another network that supports emergency calls.
  • You are traveling abroad and your device is not set up for data roaming or your carrier does not have a roaming agreement with the local network.
  • Your carrier is experiencing outages or maintenance issues that affect your service.
  • Your device has a problem connecting to the network, such as a faulty SIM card, outdated carrier settings, or incorrect network selection.

How to Fix SOS Only on iPhone?

SOS Only can also appear when your carrier is experiencing outages or when you are traveling abroad. It can also appear when your device has a problem connecting to the network. This is how to get rid of SOS only on iPhone, try the following steps:

  1. Check your coverage area and make sure you are in an area with cellular network coverage.
  2. Turn Airplane Mode on and off again to refresh your connection.
  3. Restart your device to re-establish a connection with your carrier.
  4. Turn Cellular Data off and on again in Settings > Cellular or Mobile Data.
  5. Manually select your carrier in Settings > Cellular > Network Selection.
  6. Update your carrier settings in Settings > General > About.
  7. Reset your network settings in Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
  8. Remove and reinsert your SIM card if you are using a physical SIM card.
  9. Wait until you are in a different location or contact your carrier for support.

What is the Difference Between SOS Only and No Service?

The difference between SOS Only and No Service is that SOS Only means you can still make emergency calls using a rival network, while No Service means you cannot make any calls at all. SOS Only appears when you are out of range of your normal carrier’s network, but you are in range of another network that allows emergency calls. No Service appears when you are not connected to any network, either because you are in an area with no coverage, or because your device or your carrier has a problem.

FAQs

Can I still use Wi-Fi when my phone says SOS Only?

Yes, you can still use Wi-Fi when your phone says SOS Only, as long as you have access to a Wi-Fi network. Wi-Fi is independent of cellular service, so you can connect to the internet, use apps, send messages, and make calls using Wi-Fi calling. However, you won’t be able to use cellular data or make regular calls when your phone says SOS Only.

How do I turn off emergency calls only on my iPhone?

You cannot completely turn off emergency calls on your iPhone, because it is required by federal law that all cell phones must be able to dial 911, even without a SIM card or a cellular plan. However, you can turn off some features that make it easier to call 911 accidentally, such as:

Emergency SOS: This feature allows you to call 911 by pressing the side button five times or holding the side button and one of the volume buttons. To turn it off, go to Settings > Emergency SOS and disable Call with Side Button and Auto Call.

Wi-Fi Calling: This feature allows you to make calls over Wi-Fi when cellular service is unavailable. To turn it off, go to Settings > Cellular > Wi-Fi Calling and disable Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone.

If you want to prevent your iPhone from making any calls at all, you can enable Airplane Mode, which will disable cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connections.

To enable Airplane Mode, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen and tap the airplane icon. You can also go to Settings > Airplane Mode and turn it on.

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