On an iPhone, seeing "SOS" or "SOS Only" in the status bar means your device is not connected to your usual cellular network, but it can still make emergency calls by connecting to other available carrier networks. This status indicates limited cellular service where normal calls, texts, and data are unavailable, but emergency services like 911 (in the U.S.) remain reachable
. This feature activates automatically when your iPhone detects no connection to your carrier but finds another network for emergency use. It ensures you can still contact emergency responders even in remote areas, during network outages, or if your SIM card is inactive
. On newer iPhone models (starting with iPhone 14), if no cellular network is available at all, the phone can use Emergency SOS via satellite to contact emergency services in very remote locations, such as mountains or at sea
. To summarize:
- SOS means: No regular cellular connection, but emergency calls are possible through other networks.
- Why it appears: You're out of your carrier's coverage or experiencing network issues.
- What you can do: Restart your iPhone, toggle Airplane Mode, or check carrier settings to restore normal service.
- Emergency SOS via satellite: Available on iPhone 14 and later for emergencies without any cellular signal.
This is a safety feature designed to keep you connected to emergency help even when normal service is unavailable
