How to Fix “SOS Only” Problem on iPhone

Imagine a day when we won’t be able to use most of the basic functions of our iPhones, such as making calls or surfing the web. No, I’m not talking about any apocalypse. This is what can happen now with the “SOS Only”issue in iOS 16.

Many users face this problem. So, in this article, I will help you understand how to fix the “SOS Only”issue on your iPhone and how to remove the alert from your iPhone’s status bar.

What does “SOS Only”mean on iPhone?

The human instinct is to ask questions about things you’ve never met. When your iPhone shows “SOS Only”, you won’t be able to make regular calls, send SMS, or transfer data over the cellular network, blocking all your network services. The “SOS Only”button appears in the top right corner of the control center in iOS 16 and in the top left corner in previous versions.

You can still use Emergency SOS to call the relevant authorities. However, at the time of publication, this service is only available in the US, Europe, Canada, and Australia.

Here are the main reasons why your iPhone displays the SOS Only error:

• You are outside the coverage area of ​​the operator
• You have poor network reception
• You are using an old device
• You don’t have an active cellular plan

Also, we have a dedicated guide for out-of-service issues on iPhone if you encounter this instead of SOS Only on iOS 16.

8 Ways to Fix “SOS Only”Issue on iPhone

Now that you know what SOS on iPhone means and the reasons why, let’s see how to get rid of SOS Only on iPhone.

1. Turn on roaming on iPhone

When preparing to travel outside the city, state, or even overseas, turn on roaming on your iPhone.

1. Launch the Settings app → go to Cellular/Mobile Data.
2. Tap Cellular/Mobile Data Options → turn on Data Roaming.

However, your network provider can provide connectivity and help you turn off SOS Only on your iPhone. However, some mobile operators may charge additional roaming charges.

2. Update carrier settings on iPhone.

The carrier is providing an update to improve cellular connectivity and overall network performance. While this usually happens automatically, you can still check and update your carrier settings on your iPhone. Usually this issue can bring back 5G on iPhone.

3. Turn on/off cellular data

If a SIM card is inserted in your iPhone and no cellular service is available, there might be a silly problem with your device. You can try turning off cellular data and turning it back on again to see if the problem is still there. Here are the steps:

Bring up the Control Center and tap the Cellular Data icon. Wait a few seconds and click on it again.

Apart from this, you can also do the following:

1. Open settings.
2. Tap Cellular/Mobile Data → turn off Cellular/Mobile Data.
3. Wait a few seconds and then turn it on.

4. Switch to 4G or LTE

Enjoying 5G on iPhone? Well, that might be why your new iPhone says there is no service after activation. 5G is relatively new and cell companies are streamlining their infrastructure; therefore, staying on 4G or auto mode will still be the best option until 5G becomes widely available.

5. Turn on / off the flight mode

This method allows you to quickly restart a wireless connection other than Bluetooth. Thus, it can help you disable SOS on your iPhone only.

• Open Control Center → tap the Airplane icon. Disable it after a while and see if the problem persists.
• Alternatively, you can also do the same by going to Settings → Airplane Mode.

6. Disable or enable automatic network selection.

This setting helps your SIM card connect to the right network. However, he may not find the right one instantly.

To fix this problem, you can disable and enable automatic network selection on your iPhone, which will restore the connection and fix the “SOS Only” issue.

1. Open Settings → select Cellular/Mobile Data.
2. Select “Network Selection”→ turn off “Automatic”.
3. Wait a few seconds and turn it on.

7. Reinsert the SIM card.

Although rare, network connectivity can also be caused by a physical SIM card. In such cases, you can take out the SIM card, put it back in and see if that helps. However, if you’re using an eSIM on your iPhone, don’t reset it unless your carrier advises.

8. Reset network settings

Since none of the methods helped you disable “SOS Only”on your iPhone, let’s erase all the connections it has made.

Following the steps below will completely delete all saved data related to connected Bluetooth devices, Wi-Fi passwords, VPN configurations, and all other network settings, including “SOS Only”(hopefully).

1. Open Settings → tap General.
2. Scroll down and select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
   9. If you are on a 3G network

   With the advent of 5G and the improvement of the 4G network, many cellular service providers have begun to turn off their 3G mobile services and use these resources elsewhere. Therefore, the following devices can only see SOS:

   • iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c or earlier
   • iPad 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular or earlier

   If you have an iPhone 6 or iPad (3rd generation) or later and haven’t updated it yet, it’s time to update your device.

   10. Other Common Fixes

   Since we’ve come all this way, let me give you some free advice: “Never give up, even if your mind tells you so. Because I didn’t taste victory.” If you can’t get rid of “SOS Only”on iPhone, here are some extreme options:

   • Update your iPhone: With each new version of iOS, Apple fixes all the bugs and optimizes the OS. So, if you see “SOS Only”on the status bar, how about updating your iPhone or iPad?
   • Restart your iPhone. Everyone deserves a reboot, even your iPhone. So restart your iPhone and if it freezes, you can also try to force restart your iPhone.
   • Reset iPhone: While this can be seen as one of the last resorts, you can also try resetting your iPhone and see if the problem is fixed.
   • Contact Apple Support: Since none of the issues work for you, your only option is to visit Apple Support and see if you can help get rid of SOS on iPhone only.

   11. Contact the operator

   Since none of these problems are helpful, as a last resort, you can contact your service provider and ask for help. They can help you by changing your current SIM or taking other steps.

   Solve SOS Only problem on iPhone!

   Life without cell service is a nightmare that I wish it never came true. I hope that with this guide I was able to help you disable SOS on your iPhone only. However, if you still have any suggestions or questions, let me know in the comments.