The "SOS" or "SOS Only" message on a phone means the device is not connected to its regular cellular network but can still make emergency calls. This usually happens when there is no normal network coverage available for regular calls and data, but emergency call capability is still accessible through any available network. Common causes include being in an area with weak or no cellular signal, SIM card issues (damaged, improperly inserted, or inactive), carrier problems such as network outages or an expired plan, or software glitches. The phone is essentially in a fallback mode where only emergency services can be reached. To fix this, some common steps are:
- Move to a location with better network coverage.
- Restart the phone.
- Check, remove, and reinsert the SIM card.
- Manually select your network carrier in settings.
- Update the phone’s software.
- Reset network settings.
- Contact the carrier if the issue persists.
Sometimes, the Emergency SOS feature can also be triggered accidentally by pressing certain buttons, which can cause the phone to emit an SOS alert or call emergency services. It's important to cancel accidental emergency calls promptly. If the phone is not in an emergency but stuck showing SOS, the recommended troubleshooting steps above usually help restore normal network connection and remove the SOS message.
