SOS onlyHighiPhone shows sos only
What this error means
“SOS only” means your iPhone cannot connect to your mobile carrier’s network, so it can only place emergency calls. You may see this after moving to a new area, after a weak signal, during a carrier outage, or when the SIM or eSIM connection is not working properly.
This is different from a normal signal issue because your phone is telling you it has no usable cellular service right now.
Common causes
- 1Weak or no cellular coverage in your area
- 2Temporary carrier outage or account issue
- 3SIM card or eSIM not being detected correctly
- 4Network settings or iOS glitches
How to fix it
- Check whether other phones on the same carrier also have no service. If they do, the problem is likely with the network and you may need to wait it out.
- Turn on Airplane Mode for 10 seconds, then turn it off again. This forces your iPhone to reconnect to nearby networks.
- Restart your iPhone. If the problem started suddenly, a simple restart can clear a temporary connection fault.
- Remove and reinsert the SIM card if your iPhone uses a physical SIM. Make sure the card is seated properly and the tray is fully closed. If you use eSIM, confirm that the cellular plan is still active in your settings.
- Go to Settings > General > About and wait a moment. If a carrier update appears, install it.
- Update iPhone software in Settings > General > Software Update. Network fixes are often included in iOS updates.
- If the issue continues, reset your network settings in Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This removes saved Wi-Fi networks and cellular settings, so use it only if the steps above did not help.
Recommended fixes
Restart your device
A restart clears temporary state that often causes transient errors.
- Save your work and close open apps.
- Restart the device from the power menu.
- Reproduce the issue to check whether it persists.
Force restart your iPhone
A force restart safely reboots a frozen iPhone without erasing data.
- Press and quickly release Volume Up.
- Press and quickly release Volume Down.
- Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears, then release.
(iPhone 7: hold Volume Down + Side together. iPhone 6s or earlier: hold Home + Side together.)
Update iOS
- Open Settings > General > Software Update.
- Install any available update.
- Keep the iPhone connected to Wi-Fi and power during the update.
Check your network connection
- Confirm other devices can reach the internet.
- Toggle Wi-Fi off and back on.
- Move closer to the router, or switch to a wired connection to rule out signal issues.
Reset network settings (iPhone)
This clears saved Wi-Fi passwords and network configuration but keeps your data.
- Open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
- Tap Reset Network Settings and confirm.
- Reconnect to your Wi-Fi network afterward.
Contact Quickfix support
If the issue persists after trying these steps, reach out so we can help.
Visit the contact page and include your scan report code.
When to seek help
Seek help if SOS only stays on for several hours in an area where you normally have service, or if your phone cannot connect even after restarting, checking the SIM or eSIM, and updating iOS. Contact your carrier first if you suspect an outage or account problem. If the phone still shows no cellular service after that, Quickfix AI support or Apple Support may need to check the device hardware.
Need more help?
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