Your phone is usually stuck in SOS mode because it has lost normal connection to your carrier network, or there’s an issue with the SIM/card, settings, or software. In most cases it’s fixable at home with a few checks and restarts.

What SOS mode means

  • SOS or SOS Only means your phone can’t connect to your carrier for regular calls, texts, or data, but it can still place emergency calls.
  • It does not usually mean the phone is permanently broken; it’s often a network, SIM, or software problem.

Most common causes

  • Poor or no coverage (e.g., basement, rural area, inside certain buildings).
  • Loose, damaged, or mis‑inserted physical SIM, or a misconfigured eSIM.
  • Temporary software glitch, recent update, or incorrect network settings.
  • Carrier outage, suspended account, or provisioning error on your line.

Quick things to try first

  1. Move and wait a bit
    • Step outside or to a different area where you normally have good signal.
 * Give it a minute or two to see if the bars and your carrier name return.
  1. Toggle Airplane mode
    • Turn Airplane mode on, wait ~30 seconds, then turn it off to “refresh” the network connection.
  1. Restart or force‑restart the phone
    • A normal restart often clears the glitch keeping it stuck in SOS.
 * If it’s frozen, use the model‑specific force‑restart combo (power + volume buttons on many newer devices).

Deeper checks if it’s still stuck

  • Check the SIM / eSIM
    • Power off, eject the SIM, inspect for damage, gently clean contacts, and reinsert firmly.
* If you use eSIM, toggle the eSIM plan off and back on, or re‑download it if your carrier supports that.
  • Manually select a network & reset network settings
    • Go into mobile/network settings and try manually choosing your carrier instead of automatic.
* If that fails, reset network settings (this wipes Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth/APN, but often fixes SOS issues).
  • Update software and carrier settings
    • Install any pending system or carrier settings updates, as some specifically fix modem/network bugs.
  • Check for carrier/account problems
    • If others on your carrier nearby also show SOS, it may be a wider outage.
* If it’s only you, your SIM or account may be suspended or mis‑provisioned, which your carrier must fix.

When to contact support urgently

  • Your phone has been in SOS mode for hours in an area where you normally get strong service.
  • The SIM looks damaged, or other SIMs work in your phone but yours does not (or vice versa).
  • After trying restarts, SIM reseating, updates, and network resets, you still only see SOS.

At that point, reach out to your carrier first, and then the phone manufacturer or a repair shop if needed.

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