When your phone displays “SOS Only,” it indicates it can only make emergency calls. This usually happens when the phone cannot connect to your mobile network. Here are the top six reasons why this might occur.
What Does the Message “SOS Only” Mean?
If your phone shows “SOS Only,” it means there is a minimal network connection, and only emergency calls are possible.
When the “SOS Only” message appears on your phone, it typically indicates that your phone is currently connected to a mobile network but has limited or no access to regular cellular services such as voice calls, text messages, or mobile data. Instead, it can only make emergency calls, hence the “SOS Only” message.
Even with this connection issue, you can still connect to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth but can’t use mobile data.
Why Does My Phone Say “SOS Only”? Top 6 Reasons Explained
There are several possible reasons why your phone displays the “SOS Only” status message. Here is a list with explanations of the possible causes:
1. No Network Coverage
You may be out of your mobile carrier’s network range. If you are in an area with weak or no network coverage from your mobile carrier, your phone might display “SOS Only” because it can only connect to emergency services. These services typically require minimal data throughput and remain available in many remote locations.
2. Roaming Issues
When you are in a different country and your phone doesn’t have a roaming agreement with local carriers or if your service provider has not activated the roaming functionality, the phone might display “SOS Only.” This indicates that it can still make emergency calls but cannot connect to the local network for regular usage. Network connectivity exists, but your phone cannot use it for bureaucratic reasons.
3. SIM Card or Network Registration Issues
Problems with your SIM card or network registration can sometimes lead to an “SOS Only” message.
4. Outstanding Payments
If you haven’t paid your mobile bill or there’s an issue with your account, your carrier might restrict your phone’s access to regular network services, leaving only emergency calling available.
5. Network Maintenance or Outage
During network maintenance or temporary outages, your phone might display “SOS Only” as regular network services are temporarily unavailable.
6. Other Technical Issues
There could be other issues with your phone’s connectivity caused by a technical malfunction.
How To Solve the “SOS Only” Issue On My Phone
Here are five methods you can use to resolve the “SOS Only” issue on your phone:
Contact Your Mobile Carrier
If you frequently encounter the “SOS Only” message and believe it’s not due to network coverage issues, contact your mobile carrier’s customer support. They can help troubleshoot the problem and resolve any network-related issues.
Toggle Airplane Mode
Turn Airplane Mode on and then off again. This action resets all connections. When you turn Airplane Mode off, your phone will attempt to reconnect to the mobile network, which might resolve minor technical disturbances.
Restart Your Phone
Restarting your phone forces the device to reactivate all its subsystems from scratch, making a fresh attempt to connect to the network service.
Toggle Cellular Data
Turn cellular data off and then on again. For example, on an iPhone, open the Settings app, go to Cellular, and switch the Cellular Data toggle off and then on.
Manually Select Your Carrie
If the previous steps don’t help, but you are sure there is a network connection in your location, try manually selecting your cellular service carrier in your phone’s settings.
How To Select Your Network Carrier Manually
If the “SOS Only” message is due to an incorrect selection of the mobile service carrier, you can manually select your network carrier. Here’s how to do it:
- Open the Settings App
Go to your phone’s Settings app. - Go to Cellular
Navigate to the Cellular or Mobile Data section. - Network Selection
Click on the Network Selection tab. - Turn Off Automatic
Switch off the Automatic feature for network selection. - Choose Your Carrier
Choose your carrier from the list of available networks.
If your carrier is not listed, there is likely no connection in your current location. Despite widespread mobile coverage, some areas remain out of reach.
If you continue to have issues, contact your network provider for more information about network availability.
Frequently Asked Question
What Does “SOS Only” Mean?
“SOS Only” means your phone can only make emergency calls due to a limited network connection. It typically indicates that your phone is connected to a mobile network but has restricted access to regular cellular services like voice calls, text messages, or mobile data.
Why Is My Phone Showing “SOS Only” When I Have a SIM Card?
This can happen due to issues with the SIM card, such as damage, improper insertion, or problems with network registration. It can also occur if your account has outstanding payments or network outages.
Can I Use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth When My Phone Says “SOS Only”?
You can still use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth even if your phone displays “SOS Only.” The restriction applies to cellular services like voice calls, texts, and mobile data.
How Can I Fix the “SOS Only” Issue?
Try the following steps:
- Contact your mobile carrier for troubleshooting.
- Toggle Airplane Mode on and off.
- Restart your phone.
- Turn cellular data off and on.
- Manually select your network carrier in the settings.
What Should I Do If None of the Fixes Work?
If none of the suggested fixes work, ensure you are in an area with network coverage. If you are, contact your mobile service provider for further assistance. They can provide more detailed troubleshooting and check for any service issues in your area.
Conclusion
Your phone’s “SOS Only” message signifies a limited network connection, restricting you to only emergency calls. This issue can arise from various causes, including network coverage problems, SIM card issues, outstanding payments, network maintenance, and technical malfunctions. You can often resolve the issue by following the troubleshooting steps outlined—such as contacting your mobile carrier, toggling Airplane Mode, restarting your phone, toggling cellular data, and manually selecting your carrier. If the problem persists, you should seek further assistance from your service provider to ensure continuous connectivity.
