SOS on iPhone: Oh no! Spotting the SOS symbol on your iPhone can be unsettling, but rest assured, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve initiated an emergency call.
This SOS indicator pops up in your iPhone’s status bar, replacing where you’d typically see your cellular signal strength. This article isn’t about how to use the SOS emergency feature—instead, we’re exploring what it means when “SOS” appears in your status bar and how you can fix it.
What does SOS on iPhone mean?
When you see the SOS symbol in your iPhone’s status bar, it means your phone can no longer establish a normal cellular connection. It’s limited to making emergency calls or sending texts to emergency services. On iPhones up to the iPhone 13, if the signal drops completely, it will display “No service.” However, the iPhone 14, with its satellite SOS on iPhone feature, rarely shows this unless you’re in extremely remote areas.
In February 2024, an AT&T network outage led to the SOS on iPhone icon appearing on millions of iPhones, illustrating that this issue can stem from broader network problems as well as local connectivity issues.
How can you fix SOS on iPhone?
A straightforward fix is to move to a location with better service. If you believe there should be service based on past experience, it’s possible your phone isn’t registering the available network correctly.
Try this fix: Swipe down from the upper-right corner to access your Control Center, then tap the green Cellular Data icon to turn it off, and tap again to reactivate it. If this doesn’t help, a soft reset might be necessary.
To perform a soft reset, press and hold both the side and the lower volume button for about three seconds until two sliders appear. Drag the power slider to turn your device off. After it shuts down, wait a few seconds and press the side button to turn it back on.
If these steps resolve the issue, your iPhone should reconnect to the network and the SOS on iPhone message will disappear from your status bar. However, if the problem persists in areas where you typically have good connectivity, the issue might be with your SIM card or the phone’s SIM card slot. Consider visiting your carrier or an Apple store for assistance. For iPhone XR, XS, XS Max, or newer models, switching to an eSIM might be a beneficial solution. My daughter experienced recurring SOS messages on her iPhone 13 Pro, and although initially transitioning to eSIM was challenging, it has been flawless since, with no SOS alerts for a month after previously occurring almost daily.
Troubleshooting Additional Connectivity Issues
Beyond the SOS on iPhone signal, there are other connectivity issues that might affect your iPhone. If you’ve tried the aforementioned solutions and still face problems, consider checking for system updates. Sometimes, a software update can resolve hidden bugs that impair cellular connections. Navigate to Settings > General > Software Update to see if there is an update available for your iPhone. Additionally, toggling Airplane Mode on and then off can sometimes reset your device’s network services without needing a full restart. This quick fix can re-establish lost connections and is a handy trick to remember.
Preventive Measures to Avoid Future SOS Alerts
To minimize future occurrences of the SOS on iPhone signal, regular maintenance and updates are advisable. Ensure that your iPhone’s operating system is up to date, and periodically reboot your device to keep it running smoothly. If you frequently travel to areas with poor service, consider investing in a signal booster or planning ahead by downloading necessary data for offline access. Regularly backing up your iPhone to iCloud or your computer can also safeguard your data in case connectivity issues prevent cloud backups. By taking these proactive steps, you can ensure that your iPhone remains connected and functional, even when faced with less-than-ideal cellular service conditions.