The "SOS only" message on a phone means that the device is not connected to its regular cellular network and cannot make normal calls, send texts, or use mobile data, but it can still connect to emergency services. This issue can occur due to several reasons:
- The phone cannot find a signal from the carrier network, often due to weak or no signal in the area.
- The SIM card might be improperly inserted, damaged, or inactive.
- Airplane mode might be accidentally enabled.
- There could be a carrier outage or issues with carrier settings.
- Network settings or software bugs on the phone could cause connectivity problems.
- Problems with eSIM activation or hardware faults (like a damaged antenna) might also lead to this status.
Typical fixes include restarting the phone, toggling airplane mode off and on, checking the SIM card, moving to an area with better coverage, updating carrier settings and phone software, or resetting network settings. If none of these work, contacting the carrier or seeking professional repair might be necessary.
