On Verizon (especially on an iPhone), “SOS” means your phone has lost its normal Verizon connection but can still reach emergency services, not that your phone is broken.

What “SOS” Actually Means

  • On iPhones in the U.S., Canada, and Australia, “SOS” or “SOS only” in the status bar means the device is not connected to its usual cellular network but can still make emergency calls using other carriers’ networks.
  • With recent iPhone models (14 and newer), “SOS” can also tie into Emergency SOS via satellite, which lets you contact emergency services when you have no cellular or Wi‑Fi coverage at all.

Why Your Verizon Phone Says SOS Right Now

  • As of mid‑January 2026, Verizon is experiencing a widespread outage that is causing many phones to drop off the Verizon network and display “SOS” instead of normal signal bars.
  • During this outage, users report they cannot make regular calls, use mobile data, or send SMS, but emergency calls like 911 may still go through using another network in the background.

Can You Still Call and Text?

  • When you see “SOS,” you usually cannot make normal (non‑emergency) calls or use cellular data because your phone is not fully registered on the Verizon network.
  • You can typically still:
    • Dial emergency numbers like 911, which may be routed over a different carrier.
* Use Wi‑Fi for iMessage, FaceTime, and internet apps if you have a Wi‑Fi connection.

Quick Things You Can Try

  • Move to a different area (or outside) to see if the phone reconnects as Verizon restores service; many users are seeing it flip between bars and SOS as the network comes back.
  • Turn Airplane Mode on and off, or restart the phone, to force it to try reconnecting to the network. General troubleshooting guides suggest this when SOS appears repeatedly.
  • If you have Wi‑Fi, turn on Wi‑Fi Calling (if already set up) so you can make calls over Wi‑Fi while Verizon’s towers are unstable.

Safety Note

  • If you have an emergency and your Verizon phone shows “SOS,” try:
    • Calling 911 anyway (it may still connect).
* Using another phone, another carrier, or a landline if the 911 call does not go through.

* On iPhone 14 or newer, using Emergency SOS via satellite if you are completely out of cellular and Wi‑Fi coverage.

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