When you’re out someplace and immediately discover that SOS has appeared on the high left of your iPhone show, it doesn’t imply that your gadget is sending out a cry for assist. As a substitute, it’s a easy drawback that’s nothing to panic over. Right here’s what to do when your iPhone is in SOS mode.
Why is my iPhone on SOS solely?
SOS or SOS solely will seem in your iPhone when you’re in an space that has no mobile community connection, however your gadget continues to be in a position to make emergency calls. It must be famous that this characteristic is simply accessible in Australia, Canada, and the USA.
What does SOS imply on an iPhone?
As defined above, if you see the SOS or SOS solely message in your iPhone, it means you’re in a location the place the community connection is so weak that your gadget can’t make any calls. The emergency providers presumably have some precedence on the networks which makes it doable nonetheless to contact them when the SOS message seems.
It differs from if you see No Service or Looking out, as these messages imply you can’t make any calls in any respect. It’s additionally totally different from the Emergency SOS by way of Satellite tv for pc, which requires an iPhone 14 or later and must be arrange earlier than you permit dwelling. With that service, your iPhone can use satellite tv for pc communication to attempt to contact the emergency providers or textual content your location to them. You possibly can learn extra about it within the article on tips on how to use Emergency SOS by way of satellite tv for pc on our sister website, Macworld.
How one can repair ‘SOS solely’ on iPhone
There are a number of other ways to deal with SOS mode, most of that are fairly easy.
Transfer to a unique place
The obvious is to go to a brand new location the place the sign ought to enhance. When you’re in a forest, by a seaside or in one other space that isn’t constructed up, then it may very well be that the cell towers are too far-off to provide you protection.
Strive resetting your connection
It’s doable that you just handed by an space of poor reception, however that your iPhone didn’t handle to reconnect afterwards. To reset the connection, activate Flight Mode (the little airplane icon within the fast settings menu) for about 10-15 seconds, then flip it off once more and your iPhone will instantly seek for a community sign.
Martyn Casserly
Martyn Casserly
Martyn Casserly
Strive restarting your iPhone
One other easy repair is to easily energy down your iPhone for a number of seconds, then restart it to see if that clears the problem.
Replace to the newest model of iOS
When you nonetheless have a Wi-Fi sign, you’ll be able to strive checking to see if there’s an iOS replace accessible, as this might remedy any present issues. To see how that is completed, learn tips on how to replace iOS on an iPhone on Macworld.
Martyn Casserly
Martyn Casserly
Martyn Casserly
Allow Information Roaming when you’re overseas
Must you be travelling overseas, it may very well be that knowledge roaming hasn’t been enabled in your iPhone, which might prohibit its capability to hook up with a community. To verify this, go to Settings > Mobile (or Mobile Information), then allow Mobile Information. After this, choose Mobile Information Choices and activate Information Roaming.
Martyn Casserly
Martyn Casserly
Martyn Casserly
In case you have a twin SIM setup, then choose the related quantity and allow Information Roaming for that one.
(Notice: Within the UK, Apple makes use of Cell Providers moderately than Mobile, though the SOS mode isn’t at present accessible on this area.)
Contact your community supplier
Ought to not one of the above work, then it’s price borrowing a pal’s telephone and calling your community supplier to see if there’s any form of problem together with your account or its service.
Go to the Apple Retailer
When you’ve had no luck with any of the options, it may very well be that your iPhone is encountering a technical drawback. On this case, we’d suggest Macworld’s article on reserving an appointment on the Genius bar of your native Apple retailer. Hopefully they’ll get you again up and working very quickly.