iOS 18.0 update causing SOS Mode

I had the same issue and I am not a Verizon user. I ended up turning my phone off for about 60 seconds and then turned it back on. At first it showed up in SOS mode and about a minute later it searched for the network and I'm no longer in SOS mode. Hope this helps.

Juniacomyn wrote:

After updating my phone to iOS 18, I am now stuck in SOS mode. How do I get my cellular service to connect again?

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

Thanks for the detailed explanation. I have the same issue with my 11 pro. Called Verizon and they deactivated the SIM card and it works now. I thought I needed a new phone because the Apple diagnostics said a hardware issue! Appreciate your help and the forum. ❤️

Verizon is experiencing a massive outage right now.

Is Verizon your carrier? There is a widespread outage right now which could be the cause of “SOS”

Verizon has acknowledged that there is an issue on their end. My wife and I both were on iOS 17.6.1. I have the issue and she does not. I upgraded to 17.7 just in case, but it did not resolve the issue. We do have different devices, so that could be part of it, but it's not iOS version specific.

This is an issue with the SIM card being destroyed by the update. They are doing away with SIM cards and the updates will destroy them. You have to call Verizon or whoever your carrier is and have them reset the phone without the SIM card. Then you destroy the SIM card, not needed anymore. They told us this will happen to every phone we have when we do the update. If the 17 update didn’t do it, 18 will. Good times.

Read this -

https://9to5mac.com/2024/09/30/verizon-is-down-outage/

This is my exact problem right now my phone just all the sudden today decided to be on SOS this is days after the iPhone update 18. As well as everything lags and is slow. How is Apple fixing this? Like this is an OK I have a daughter with epilepsy that has to be able to communicate with me and if I go away from my office, I’m not able to use my phone without Internet. This update is clearly a dumpster fire.

I am having the same problem after upgrading to 18.0 last night. I’m stuck in SOS mode. I’ve reset my network and still having the same issue. No one is having this issue in my household but me. We are all thru Verizon. Help!

I updated my phone to iOS 18 and my phone has been kicking back and forth to SOS for 2 days. I’ve followed all the instructions from the iOS support link and nothing has worked. I have Verizon too and so does my husband. His phone is fine. He has an android phone.

same problem. I updated last night and its been in SOS mode since. I’ve tried everything (airplane mode, restarting, checking carrier services, diagnostics) and nothing is working.

[Edited by Moderator]

FWIW my iPhone is stuck in SOS mode and I DID NOT do the software update (running iOS 17.7). Per some news sites and folks online, there appears to be some strange outage randomly impacting users across the US.

Update: Saw the news article below about widespread outages; thanks.

I am waiting for a Verizon rep on chat, but my iPhone 16 is stuck on SOS mode, but my wife's iPhone 15 is working fine. Both have been on iOS 18 all weekend working fine. We are in Washington State, far away from the hurricane impact area (which BTW, deserves every priority in getting their service back).

My Verizon Chat window has this message: "We are aware of an issue impacting service for some customers. Our engineers are engaged and we are working quickly to identify and solve the issue." I can't imagine why one version of iPhone would work and another doesn't in connecting to the Verizon network.

Not sure I should update until this is resolved

You won't be able to update the phone if SOS is displayed. Can you wait another few days? There will be another update with bug fixes from the update last week......(and probably another update in a few more weeks).