How to Turn off SOS on iPhone (Quick & Hassle-Free!)

SOS mode is an emergency feature, but sometimes it may activate unexpectedly, causing inconvenience to the user. The article introduces a variety of methods on how to quickly turn off the SOS mode of iPhone.

Author Avatar Joy Taylor Last Updated: Aug. 20, 2024

Accidentally triggering your iPhone’s SOS feature is not only an inconvenience, it can also result in an unintended 911 call. According to recent reports, there has been an increase in the number of unexpected 911 calls related to the Emergency SOS feature. In fact, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Waterloo Regional Police (WRPS) are asking people to consider turning off this emergency feature on their Apple or Android devices.
If you find yourself in this situation and don’t know how to turn off SOS on your phone, you’re not alone. In this article, we’ll guide you on how to turn off SOS on your iPhone, ensuring your peace of mind and preventing unexpected calls.

How to Turn off SOS on iPhone

SOS mode is designed for emergencies. Once activated, it automatically contacts emergency services and shares your location. While this feature is important, it can sometimes be triggered incorrectly, causing unnecessary panic.

It’s crucial to know how to get your iPhone out of SOS mode and prevent it from happening accidentally, and here are the detailed steps.

How to get iphone out of sos mode

If your iPhone is stuck in SOS mode, follow these steps:

  1. Unlock your iPhone: Press the side button and enter your passcode.
  2. End the call: If there is an emergency call in progress, slide to end the call.
  3. Disable automatic calling: Go to “Settings” > “Emergency SOS” and turn off “Automatic calling”. This prevents your iPhone from automatically placing calls when SOS is activated.
how to get iphone out of sos mode

how to get iphone out of sos mode

How to turn off sos on iphone 14

iPhone 14 not only has advanced features, but also comes with an updated interface for handling emergencies. To disable SOS:

  1. Access Settings: Open the “Settings” application.
  2. Emergency SOS: Navigate to the “Emergency SOS” section.
  3. Turn off the emergency function:
  • Disable “Hold and release to talk”: Turn this feature off to prevent activation by pressing and holding the side button.
  • Disable Press 5 to Talk: Turn this feature off to prevent activation by pressing the side button five times.
  • Disable “Call after critical crash”: If running iOS 16 or later, turn off this feature to prevent automatic calls after a critical crash is detected.

How to turn off sos on iphone 13

The steps to turn off SOS on iPhone 13 are similar to those on iPhone 14:

  1. Open Settings: Click the Settings icon.
  2. Find Emergency SOS: Scroll down and select “Emergency SOS”.
  3. Disable automatic calling:
  • Turn off “Hold and Release to Call”: Prevents activation by pressing and holding the side button.
  • Turn off Press 5 to Call: Prevents activation by pressing the side button five times.

To reduce the chance of accidentally triggering an SOS, consider adjusting your settings:

①Change the pressing sequence: In the “Emergency SOS” settings, you can adjust the button pressing sequence to activate SOS.
②Disable press and hold for automatic calling: If you find that it is easy to accidentally operate the side button and volume button by pressing and holding, please disable this feature.

By following these steps, you can effectively manage the SOS feature on your iPhone, ensuring it does its intended job without causing undue stress.

How to Fix iPhone Stuck in SOS Mode

iPhone stuck in SOS mode can be caused by a variety of factors, including hardware failure, software issues, or operational errors. Here are some more detailed and professional solutions:

1. Check for hardware problems

Before troubleshooting iPhone SOS mode issues, you should first check the hardware condition of your device. This includes checking that the side and volume buttons are working properly, as well as making sure the device hasn’t been damaged by water or physical damage.

2. Force restart iPhone

Sometimes, iPhone stuck in SOS mode can be caused by issues with the operating system. You can try force restarting your device.
You can read the article “How to force restart iPhone” for detailed instructions.

3. Restore iPhone to factory settings

If the force restart doesn’t work, you can try restoring your iPhone to factory settings. This will wipe all data on the device, so make sure to back up your data beforehand. Connect your iPhone to your computer and use iTunes or Finder (for macOS Catalina and later) to perform the restore operation.

4. Update or restore iOS

If your iPhone is still stuck in SOS mode, you can try updating or restoring iOS. Connect your device using iTunes or Finder and select an update or restore option. Updating iOS can fix errors in your system, while restoring iOS will delete all data on your device and reinstall iOS.

5. Use AnyFix to fix iPhone stuck in SOS mode

In addition to the above methods, you can also consider using AnyFix – a professional iOS system repair tool. It can fix 150+ problems such as iPhone stuck in SOS mode, iPhone stuck in recovery mode, iPhone stuck in headphone mode, etc.

Step 1. Free download AnyFix on your computer. From the home page window, select System Repair.

AnyFix System Repair Option

AnyFix System Repair Option

Step 2. Connect the iPhone to your computer and select the iOS Mode Stuck from the program window. Then click on the Start Now button to proceed.

AnyFix System Repair iOS Mode Stuck

AnyFix System Repair iOS Mode Stuck

Step 3. Choose the Standard Repair option from the program window.

Choose Standard Repair

Choose Standard Repair

Step 4. Confirm the device information and click on the Download button to download the device firmware package.

AnyFix System Repair Firmware Download

AnyFix System Repair Firmware Download

Step 5. Click on the Start Standard Repair button to start the repair process. Wait till the process finishes and make sure that the device stays connected to your computer.

Repair Completed

Repair Completed

6. Contact Apple Support

If none of the above methods work, it is recommended to contact Apple Support for further assistance. Their technical support team can provide customized advice for your specific situation and arrange repair services if necessary.

Another issue that many iPhone users are experiencing is that the message “SOS Only” appears at the top of the screen without the carrier name. What does this usually mean? How to get rid of SMS only on my iPhone?

How to Get Rid of SOS Only on iPhone

When you see “SOS” or “SOS Only” in your iPhone’s status bar, it means your phone can’t connect to regular cellular service, possibly due to poor signal or other network issues. In this case, your iPhone may only be able to use emergency services, such as calling emergency numbers like 911, or sending satellite alerts.

You can get rid of sos only on iphone through the following method:

Check Cellular Signal: Start by checking your iPhone’s cellular signal strength. Ensure you are in an area with adequate cellular coverage.

Airplane Mode: Toggle Airplane Mode on and off. Swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPhone’s screen to open Control Center, then tap the airplane icon to enable Airplane Mode. Wait a few seconds, then tap the icon again to turn it off.

Restart Your iPhone: Restart your iPhone by pressing and holding the power button (side or top button) until the power-off slider appears. Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone, then press and hold the power button again until the Apple logo appears to restart it.

Check for iOS Updates: Make sure your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available updates.

Remove and Reinsert SIM Card: If you have a SIM card in your iPhone, try removing it and reinserting it. Make sure it is properly seated in the SIM tray.

Reset Network Settings: Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This will reset your iPhone’s network settings, including Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, and VPN settings. Note that you will need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords after doing this.

Contact Your Carrier: If the issue persists, contact your cellular carrier for further assistance. There may be network issues in your area or account-related issues that need to be addressed.

how to get rid of sos only on iphone

how to get rid of sos only on iphone

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the “SOS only” status on your iPhone and restore regular cellular service.

Final Thought

Overall, it’s important to know how to turn off SOS mode on your iPhone, especially when it activates accidentally and can cause unnecessary distress. With simple steps, you can effectively resolve this issue and ensure your iPhone is functioning properly.

Additionally, if your iPhone is stuck in SOS mode and the above methods fail to resolve the issue, we also recommend using AnyFix for system repair. AnyFix is a professional iOS system repair tool that can help you solve various iOS system problems, including iPhone stuck in SOS mode.

Free Download

Free Download

* 100% Clean & Safe

Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe

Author Avatar
Joy Taylor Twitter Share Facebook Share

Senior writer of the iMobie team as well as an Apple fan, love to help more users solve various types of iOS & Android-related issues.

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