The reason a phone shows "SOS" or "SOS Only" is because it is not connected to its regular cellular network, and the only calls it can make are emergency calls to numbers like 911 or 112. This typically happens when the phone is out of range of the usual carrier but can detect a rival network's tower for emergency calls, or when there is a carrier outage preventing full network access. In this mode, normal calls, texts, and data services don't work, and the phone is limited to emergency communications only. The message can also appear due to SIM card issues, software glitches, or network problems. To resolve this, users can:
- Move to an area with better cellular coverage.
- Restart the phone or toggle Airplane Mode on and off.
- Remove and reinsert the SIM card or check if it is active.
- Update the phone's software and carrier settings.
- Contact the carrier if the problem persists.
This emergency mode is designed as a safety feature to allow access to emergency services even when normal network connectivity is unavailable.
