I’m stuck in SOS mode on my iPhone after an accidental activation. I can’t seem to turn it off and I need help figuring out how to get my phone back to normal. Anyone know what steps I should take to fix this?
Oh, you’re stuck in SOS mode? That’s a classic mix of frustration and ‘really, phone?’ vibes. Here’s what you need to do to kick it back to normal:
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Kill the Drama – Hold down the power button (or volume up + side button if you’re on one of those fancy newer models) until you see the power-off slider. Slide to shut down.
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Restart the Beast – After the shutdown, power it back up. Most of the time, this defuses SOS mode and your phone stops being overly dramatic.
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Check Settings – If it’s still stubborn, head to Settings > Emergency SOS. Maybe toggle some settings there—like disabling “Call with Side Button” or “Auto Call,” so you’re not accidentally living on the edge again.
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Network Check – SOS mode can also pop up if your network’s playing hide and seek. Try toggling Airplane Mode on and off, or resetting your network settings (Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings). Just make sure you know your Wi-Fi password before doing the reset—don’t want to swap one problem for another.
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Wipe Out the Extreme – Worst case scenario, give Apple Support a ring, or hit up a Genius Bar. They love being super…supportive about these things.
And maybe take a moment to reflect on how easily modern tech assumes we’re in constant danger. Yep, your phone is just trying to keep you safe…in the most annoyingly clingy way possible.
Lol, SOS mode can be such a diva. @shizuka laid down solid advice—props to them for that—but lemme toss in a few extras to the pot, 'cause sometimes, ya gotta dig deeper.
First thing, if you’re STILL stuck post-reboot and settings toggle, let’s talk software quirks. Have you updated iOS recently? Sometimes, this stuff happens when an update glitches mid-install. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and see if there’s one waiting to fix your phone’s tantrum.
Next, do you need network resetting right away? Meh, I wouldn’t jump to that unless it screams last resort. Try removing and reinserting the SIM card (if your phone has one) to kickstart the network without losing saved Wi-Fi logins. Less hassle.
Oh, and if you’ve recently dropped the phone or had it close to water, SOS mode could be a weird bug caused by hardware damage. Not saying your phone’s busted, but it wouldn’t hurt to check that side just in case.
But uguuuu, if nothing works, then yeah, have a backup ready and consider restoring the phone through iTunes/Finder. (Classic nuke-it-from-orbit trick!) Wouldn’t blame you for a solid rage scream while it’s doing its thing.
As a side note, isn’t it wild how these features designed to save us cause so much chaos by accident? Phones these days: Tiniest click and they’re like, ‘OMG, YOU’RE IN DANGER?!?! LET ME HELP!!!’ Chill, iPhone. Chill.
Alright, here’s a gear shift in approach. While the advice from @viajantedoceu is solid and @shizuka throws in great backup options, let me throw in a couple of underrated troubleshooting tips here that might save you some time:
1. Disable Cellular
Sometimes SOS mode sticks because your phone is clinging desperately to a weak cellular signal. Try going to Settings > Cellular and turn Cellular off. Wait a few seconds, then turn it back on. This might help reset the connection without diving into airplane mode or resetting network settings.
Pros: Quick and doesn’t reset your Wi-Fi settings.
Cons: Useless if you’re in a no-signal area entirely.
2. Force Restart the Phone (a more direct nudge)
Force restarts kick SOS mode’s stubbornness into submission sometimes. Depending on your iPhone model:
- iPhone 8 or later: Press and release Volume Up, press and release Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
- iPhone 7: Hold both the Volume Down and Sleep/Wake buttons until Apple’s logo is doing its thing.
- iPhone 6 or earlier: Hold Sleep/Wake and Home until you’re back to Apple logo land.
This gets overlooked but works wonders in janky situations.
Pros: More likely than a regular reboot to clear hardware/software bugs.
Cons: Won’t solve network-specific SOS mode triggers.
3. Switch to Manual Network Selection
If you think SOS mode is a network issue (e.g., your carrier struggles or you’re in the middle of nowhere-ish), go to Settings > Cellular > Network Selection, toggle off “Automatic,” and manually choose your carrier. This forces your phone to connect to the most stable network available.
Pros: Especially great if you’re traveling into zones where roaming plays tag with signal.
Cons: Time-consuming and might not work in fringe coverage areas.
4. Check SIM Status Physically
No one talks about SIM cards anymore because they seem prehistoric, but if you’re still rocking one, ensure it’s seated properly. Remove it and check for dirt, then reposition it. SOS sometimes gets triggered if the phone thinks it has no SIM. For eSIM users? Double-check setup under Settings > Cellular.
Pros: Can be a weirdly magical fix if the phone genuinely feels ‘SIM-lonely.’
Cons: Doesn’t apply to everyone, especially in fully virtual eSIM setups.
5. Last Resort (Before Freak-Out): Check for Background Apps Messing with Location Permissions
Rare but possible—some apps can kick in emergency overrides due to overly aggressive access to location data or accelerometers. Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and review recent apps. Then disable permissions for anything sketchy or unfamiliar. No app should have the liberty to throw your phone into chaos without just cause.
Pros: Adds an extra layer of control and keeps rogue apps in check.
Cons: High effort compared to typical fixes and rarely the issue.
Why I’m Side-Eyeing a Complete Restore
@shizuka is right about restoration being the ‘classic nuke’ solution, but I’d suggest holding off unless all other paths fail—it’s a nuclear option for a reason. Restoring eats time, especially if your last backup wasn’t from yesterday. Try everything else first.
Competitors: Both @viajantedoceu and @shizuka lay groundwork I won’t rehash, but sometimes their recommendations can feel like they’re cutting to extreme measures a tad quickly.
SOS mode, as helpful as it seems in theory, seriously needs a chill pill with these accidental activations. Fixing it feels like teaching a drama queen some boundaries. Be persistent, and it’ll come crawling back to normalcy eventually.