iPhone 15 18.6.2 keeps going into SOS mode traveling and at home

Question

iPhone 15 18.6.2 keeps going into SOS mode traveling and at home

My iPhone goes into SOS mode frequently and it's been very inconvenient. I've had it happen when I've been out and about and needed directions and it's happened at home for no particular reason -- and I missed an important phone call. At least in the Rocky Mountains I probably hiked out of cell tower range, but once I was back to the trailhead and main road, it should have come back on. I was driving alone and needed directions. Turning it off and on and the other jazz with Airplane Mode is unsafe when driving alone, and pulling over in some circumstances isn't safe.

How do I just make it stop! Thank you in advance!

iPhone 15, iOS 18

Posted on Aug 29, 2025 07:28 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 29, 2025 09:33 PM in response to cynthiafromlongmont

If your carrier connection isn’t working properly … contact the carrier.

Carriers provision the “app” on your phone which allows it to connect.

It also provides the apps on the cell sites which either allow or deny your phone’s connection.

And they provision all the individual

account settings - unique to your account - to “make” the connection.

But if you’ve already determined that it’s not your carrier … that leaves you with needing to contact Official Apple Support

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Answer 2

Snarflat

Level 1

14 points

Aug 30, 2025 07:16 PM in response to cynthiafromlongmont

I went to this thread earlier today hoping to get some answers.

I’m back now to provide the troubleshooting and eventual solution to this for me.

I updated to 18.6.2 today. After the restart, my phone was permanently in SOS mode while cellular was turned on.

Attempted to:

restart (multiple times)
toggle airplane mode
toggle cellular
turn off Bluetooth
turn off wifi
reset network settings (found in the reset options for phone, make sure you know your logins to get back on WiFi)

What eventually fixed the issue for me was doing a factory reset (you’re asked if you want to keep eSIM, I said KEEP)

I made sure my iCloud data was backed up first.

After the reset and going through the hoops of setting everything up like it was a new phone, I was back in business.

Hope this helps anyone else stuck like I was. Please try the other steps before factory reset because I literally had to do things like set up faceID again.

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Answer 3

Aug 29, 2025 08:11 PM in response to cynthiafromlongmont

SOS mode means that your phone is not reliably connecting / re-connecting to your normal carrier.

You’ll need to discuss the difficulties you are experiencing with your carrier. (Patience … patience)

FYI:

If you see SOS, No Service, or Searching on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

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Answer 4

Aug 29, 2025 08:59 PM in response to Chattanoogan

People using multiple carriers are having this issue. I have T-Mobile, but AT&T and Verizon also come up. If I've gone out of range, why doesn't the iPhone return to normal mode when I'm back in range? How can it be the carrier's fault when I'm at home with 3-4 bars of cell phone signal when it suddenly goes into SOS mode *while my partner's cell phone signal is fine?* Also, when I reset, I get a strong, 3-4 bar signal -- this doesn't sound like a carrier problem. What can the carrier do about it? This has happened in three states.

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Answer 5

Aug 30, 2025 01:04 PM in response to wildwood3

That’s a potentially relevant data point.

Certainly no one is saying that these difficulties are or aren’t somehow “connected” to the OS or device hardware.

But regardless of the cause(s), the carriers remain the entities who can most effectively troubleshoot and resolve connection issues on their networks.

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Answer 6

Aug 30, 2025 12:27 PM in response to cynthiafromlongmont

I'm having the same issue right now ... I have Verizon

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Answer 7

trainmen

Level 1

8 points

Aug 30, 2025 01:14 PM in response to wildwood3

I’m having the issue now with Verizon

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Answer 8

Aug 30, 2025 03:08 PM in response to trainmen

Are you still having this issue? I just updated and now experiencing the same thing

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Answer 9

Aug 31, 2025 02:48 PM in response to warmsandz

I'm up to date, and it happened while up to date. I will contact the carrier this week, but it seems weird to have it happen at home and in so many different environments with different providers...

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