How to FIX your iPhone amid AT&T and other cell network outages that left millions of devices on SOS mode
- Millions of iPhone users can’t make calls because devices are in SOS
- The issue stems from a nationwide outage affecting AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile
- READ MORE: Mobile networks have national updates
Millions of iPhone users have been hit by an outage that has left devices in SOS mode, preventing them from making calls or sending texts.
While the problem is due to AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile experiencing a network outage, there are several solutions to get your smartphone back online – and the simplest is to perform a hard reset.
To do this, press and quickly release the volume up button, then volume down, then press and hold the side button.
When the Apple logo appears, release the side button and restart your iPhone as normal.
Millions of iPhone users in the US have been hit by an outage that has left devices in SOS mode, preventing them from calling or texting
DownDetector, a site that monitors online outages, shows that problems appeared around 4 a.m. ET.
The website’s outage map identifies New York, Boston, Washington, Montreal, Honolulu, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle and San Francisco as hotspots with disrupted service.
When your iPhone shows SOS Only, you won’t be able to make regular calls, texts, or use mobile data.
Only SOS appears in the top right corner of the control center with the latest iOS software and the top left corner in previous versions.
However, you can make SOS emergency calls to authorities – and many police departments noted that Thursday’s outage did not disrupt 911 services.
Regardless, millions of Americans are frustrated at being left in limbo without cell service, but there are many hacks to get around the outage.
Enable roaming on your iPhone
Open Settings, select Cellular/Cellular data and enable Data roaming.
Data roaming is usually necessary when you are outside the coverage area of your mobile network and want to use mobile data services on your mobile device.
If you use this option during the outage, you can connect by disabling SOS on your iPhone, but you may incur additional charges for using data roaming.