How to Get Phone Out of SOS Mode: Quick Fixes That Work

When the status bar shows only “SOS” or “SOS only,” the device can still dial 911, but every other call, text, or data request fails. The problem looks serious, yet most users solve it in under five minutes once they know the right order of steps. So, how to get a phone out of SOS mode?

This guide walks through the common causes and the exact steps you need so you can stop asking “how do I get my phone out of SOS mode” and start using normal service again.

Why Does Your Phone Show SOS Mode?

When your phone goes into SOS mode, it temporarily loses its mobile network connection and can only make emergency calls. This also means your phone may not connect properly to the internet or smart devices, including security cameras.

Before you know how to turn off SOS on iPhone, it helps to know why the handset locked itself to emergency calls. Once you see the trigger, the fix usually makes sense.

• No active SIM or loose SIM tray: A missing, cracked, or slightly lifted chip tells the modem it has no account to register with the carrier, so it drops to the lowest legal function: 911 routing.
• Network outage in your area: Towers lose power, fiber lines get cut, and storms knock radios offline. When every nearby site goes dark, the phone shows SOS because it can still reach other carriers’ towers for 911, but cannot sign in to your own.
• Account suspended for non-payment: Carriers place a soft block on the line. Voice, text, and data stop, yet federal rules force them to keep 911 active, so the label changes to SOS instead of “No Service.”
• Roaming with no roaming plan: Abroad or even in remote U.S. counties, your home network may have no partner agreement. The local tower lets you dial emergency services, but normal access is refused.
• Software crashes after the update: iOS or Android patches can corrupt the carrier settings file. The radio keeps broadcasting, yet the file that holds your account keys will not load, so the phone falls back to SOS.
• Hardware fault: bad antenna or water damage: A drop in the sink or repeated falls can crack the antenna cable. The modem senses a weak signal and latches onto the strongest beacon it can still reach—usually the 911-only channel from another carrier.

If you use an app like Reolink to monitor your home security cameras remotely, you might find that live feeds, motion alerts, and push notifications stop working while your phone is in SOS mode.

How to Get iPhone Out of SOS Mode?

Apple built several reset paths, and you run them in order from the least to most disruptive. Here are some steps for how to get phone out of SOS mode iPhone:

Step 1 – Check SIM and Tray

Power the handset off. Eject the tray with the supplied tool or paperclip. Remove the SIM, blow away dust, and look for cracks or burn marks on the gold pads. Re-seat the chip so it lies flat, then slide the tray back until it clicks. Power on and wait sixty seconds. If the lock screen still shows SOS, move to the next step.

Step 2 – Toggle Airplane Mode

Swipe from the top-right corner to open Control Center. Tap the airplane icon; the modem shuts down completely. Wait fifteen seconds—long enough for the baseband chip to clear its cache—then tap again. The phone searches for fresh towers and usually re-registers within thirty seconds.

Step 3 – Force Restart

Quickly press and release Volume Up, press and release Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears. This clears memory leaks that can stall the radio firmware. After the boot cycle ends, check the status bar.

Step 4 – Manual Network Selection

Open Settings > Cellular > Network Selection. Turn off Automatic. The list populates in about thirty seconds. Tap your carrier name manually. If the check mark sticks, SOS disappears. If the entry refuses to stay checked, the account or tower is the issue, not the phone.

Step 5 – Reset Carrier Settings

Open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. The device reboots and reloads the latest carrier bundle from Apple servers. You will need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords afterward, but the step repairs corrupt APN and VoLTE files that trigger SOS.

Step 6 – Update iOS

Go to Settings > General > Software Update. Install any pending build. Apple often ships modem fixes in point releases, and skipping them can leave the radio stuck on an older, buggy firmware.

Step 7 – Restore through Finder or iTunes

If none of the above work, connect to a Mac or PC. Choose Restore while holding Shift (PC) or Option (Mac) and pick the latest IPSW file from Apple’s servers. Do not restore a backup until you confirm the status bar shows five bars; otherwise, you may drag the same corruption back.

How to Get Phone Out of SOS Mode (Android)?

Android menus vary by brand, yet the core idea stays the same: confirm the SIM, refresh the radio, reload settings. Follow the steps in order for how to get my phone out of SOS mode.

Step 1 – Power Off and Re-seat SIM

Hold the Power button, choose Power Off, and wait until the screen goes fully black. Use the ejector tool to pull the tray. Inspect the chip for scratches and ensure it sits flush. Re-insert and boot. The handset reads the SIM from scratch and often clears the SOS flag.

Step 2 – Toggle Airplane Mode

Swipe down twice from the top to open Quick Settings. Tap the airplane tile, count to fifteen, then tap again. The modem drops all cells and re-scans. This single step fixes roughly half of all SOS reports.

Step 3 – Reset Network Settings

Open Settings > System > Reset Options > Reset Network Settings (Samsung: Settings > General Management > Reset > Reset Network Settings). Confirm the PIN. The phone reboots and rebuilds the APN list, which repairs bad data that forces SOS.

Step 4 – Choose Carrier Manually

Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Network > Advanced > Carrier. Turn off “Choose automatically.” After the scan finishes, tap your provider name. If the network rejects registration, you will see a toast message, confirming the fault lies with the account or tower, not the handset.

Step 5 – Wipe Cache Partition

Power off. Hold Power and Volume Up until the recovery menu appears (Samsung: add the Bixby key). Use volume keys to highlight “Wipe Cache Partition,” then press Power. This removes temporary radio files without touching photos or apps. Reboot afterward.

Step 6 – Safe Mode Test

Hold Power, then long-press “Power Off” until the Safe Mode prompt appears. Tap OK. If SOS disappears, a downloaded app is interfering with the radio. Remove recent VPN, booster, or ad-blocker apps, then restart normally.

What to Do If You Can't Turn Off SOS Mode?

Sometimes, every quick trick fails. Work through the items below before you label the phone dead.

• Call your carrier from another line: Ask if the account is active and if the IMEI is blacklisted. A typo during upgrade can suspend the wrong SIM, and the rep can re-enable it in seconds.
• Test with a different SIM: Borrow a friend’s chip on the same network. If the phone shows full bars, your original SIM is bad; request a free replacement.
• Check local outage maps: Visit the carrier’s website or DownDetector. A red patch over your ZIP code means you must wait for engineers to restore power or fiber.
• Walk two blocks: Buildings, basements, and elevators block the signal. Step outside and watch the bar graph. If SOS flips to LTE five streets away, the tower near home is down.
• Visit a corporate store: Staff have a diagnostic SIM and can run a tower test. They will hand you a new chip or file a network ticket on the spot.
• File a warranty claim: If two separate SIMs still show SOS everywhere, the modem, antenna, or board is faulty. Most brands offer one-year coverage with free overnight shipping.

How to Stop Your Phone From Entering SOS Mode Again?

Once the bars return, take a few minutes to lower the odds of a repeat lockout.

• Keep software current: Enable automatic updates for iOS or Android. Each build contains modem patches that stop random SOS loops.
• Use a sturdy case with a SIM gasket: Cheap trays flex and loosen over time. A case that covers the slot prevents dust and sweat from corroding the gold contacts.
• Pay the bill early: Carriers suspend on the exact due date. Set a calendar reminder two days ahead to avoid the soft block.
• Add roaming before you travel: Call customer service or toggle the roaming add-on in the app. An active plan keeps the phone from showing SOS when you land.
• Disable auto-SOS shortcuts: On iPhone, turn off “Call with Hold and Release” in Settings > Emergency SOS. On Samsung, disable “Press side key five times.” You will still reach 911 manually, but pocket presses will not trigger the mode.
• Backup weekly: If you ever need a factory reset, an iCloud or Google One backup lets you restore without fear of losing photos or chats.

FAQs

How can I turn SOS mode off?

Power the phone off, re-seat the SIM, toggle Airplane Mode, and reset network settings. One of these steps releases the emergency-only lock in almost every case.

What triggers iPhone SOS?

A loose SIM, an unpaid bill, a tower outage, or a stuck carrier settings file forces the modem to drop normal service and keep only 911 alive, so the status bar shows SOS.

Why is my phone service only showing SOS?

The handset sees towers but cannot sign in to your carrier. Check for a suspended account, missing SIM, or local outage, then follow the step-by-step reset list above.

Conclusion

You do not have to ask yourself anymore, how do I get my phone out of SOS mode? Along with the most basic ones, such as SIM, Airplane toggle, restart, and so on, you can move to more profound resets only in case the label is not going to go away, and both iPhone and Android provide you with the same set of tools: refresh the radio, reload carrier settings, update the software.

In the event of a failure in all software paths, change SIMs or call the carrier to check the account and local towers. When the normal service is restored, update the firmware, secure the SIM tray and ensure that you make payments on time so that you are not locked out again. When this guide saved you the journey to the store, tell us which of these steps has helped you and give the link to any who are still staring at that recalcitrant SOS banner.