When "SOS" or "SOS Only" appears on an iPhone, it means the device is not connected to its usual cellular network but can still make emergency calls. This status indicates that normal calls, texts, and data are unavailable, but the iPhone can connect to any available network solely to contact emergency services like 911 in the U.S. or equivalent numbers elsewhere

. This situation can occur if you are in an area with poor or no coverage from your carrier, if there is a temporary network outage, or if your SIM card is locked or inactive

. The "SOS" indicator is different from "No Service" or "Searching," which mean the phone cannot detect any cellular network at all. With "SOS," the phone has some signal but only for emergency use

. On newer iPhone models (starting with iPhone 14), there is also Emergency SOS via Satellite, allowing emergency calls even without any cellular network, by connecting directly to satellites in remote locations

. To resolve the SOS status, you can try restarting your iPhone, toggling Airplane Mode on and off, or checking for carrier updates. If the problem persists, contacting your carrier may be necessary

. In summary:

• SOS on iPhone means: No connection to your carrier's network, but emergency calls are still possible.
• Normal service: Calls, texts, and data are unavailable.
• Emergency calls: Can be made via other available networks or satellite (on supported models).
• Causes: Poor coverage, network issues, SIM problems.
• Fixes: Restart phone, toggle Airplane Mode, update carrier settings, or contact carrier.

This feature ensures you can always reach emergency services even when your regular network is unavailable