On an iPhone, “SOS” or “SOS Only” usually means your phone can only contact emergency services because it has lost normal network service with your carrier.

What “SOS” on iPhone Means

  • When you see SOS or SOS Only in the status bar, the phone is connected just enough to reach emergency numbers but not enough for regular calls, texts, or data.
  • The label relates to the Emergency SOS feature and global “SOS” distress convention, but on the status bar it is mainly about connectivity, not that your phone itself is in danger.

Main Causes of SOS / SOS Only

  • Weak or no signal from your carrier (e.g., remote area, inside thick-walled buildings, underground).
  • Network issues on your carrier’s side, temporary outages, or towers down for maintenance.
  • SIM or eSIM problems, like an inactive plan, misconfigured eSIM, or a damaged/loose physical SIM.
  • Incorrect network settings (e.g., wrong carrier selection, roaming off when you need it).
  • Being in a region where your carrier has no coverage but another network still allows emergency calls.

Emergency SOS Feature vs. SOS Status

  • The Emergency SOS feature lets you quickly call local emergency services and optionally alert your emergency contacts with your location.
  • The status bar text “SOS” is different: it appears automatically based on network conditions, even when you didn’t actively trigger an Emergency SOS call.

Newer iPhones and Satellite SOS

  • On iPhone 14 and later, if there is no cellular or Wi‑Fi at all, you may be able to use Emergency SOS via satellite to text emergency services from remote areas.
  • This satellite feature is meant only for real emergencies and does not restore normal calling, texting, or data; it just gives you a way to reach help.

Quick Things to Try If Your Phone Shows SOS

  • Move to a different spot (near a window, outside, or out of a basement) and wait a minute to see if normal bars return.
  • Toggle Airplane Mode off and on again, then restart the iPhone; if that fails, check with your carrier to confirm service or your plan status.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.