Don’t worry — this is a common issue and usually easy to fix!
“SOS Only / Emergency Calls Only”
What This Means (In Plain English)
Your iPhone can only make emergency calls (like 911). It is not connected to your normal mobile network.
Common Causes
- •Outside your carrier's coverage area
- •SIM card issue
- •Carrier account suspended or expired
- •Network outage in your area
How to Fix It — Step by Step
- 1
This may be a temporary coverage issue — try moving to a different location.
- 2
Turn Airplane Mode on, wait 30 seconds, then turn it off.
- 3
Restart your iPhone.
- 4
Check that your SIM card is properly inserted.
- 5
Go to Settings > General > About to check for a carrier settings update.
- 6
Contact your mobile carrier to make sure your account is active.
- 7
If you are in a rural area, you may simply be outside your carrier's coverage zone.
How to Prevent This in the Future
Keep your carrier account active and paid. Know your carrier's coverage areas if you travel to rural locations.
Related Errors You Might See
No Service
Your iPhone cannot connect to your mobile carrier. You will not be able to make calls, send texts, or use mobile data until this is fixed.
SIM Not Provisioned
Your SIM card is not set up properly with your phone carrier. Your phone cannot connect to the mobile network to make calls or use data.
Still stuck? Don’t worry!
If the steps above did not solve the problem, ask a trusted friend or family member for help, or contact us and we will do our best to assist you.