One of the most common glitches on an iPhone is getting stuck on the Emergency SOS screen, the one that dials 911 or 112. Sometimes, it happens right after you make a real emergency call. The call disconnects, but the iPhone stays frozen on that screen. Other times, the Emergency SOS screen can be triggered by accident and gets stuck.
Whatever the reason, in this guide, we’ll show how to deal with the iPhone stuck on Emergency SOS mode problem in just a few minutes.
What Is iPhone Emergency SOS Mode
Emergency SOS Mode (available on iOS 10.2 or later) connects you with emergency services instantly, like 911 or 112. Under normal conditions, you trigger it yourself and you can even customize how it activates in Settings.
From iOS 14 onward, the feature became smarter. It can trigger help without your input, such as when it detects car crashes or hard falls.
At times, however, your iPhone can freezeon the Emergency SOS screen. It often appears when an update crashes midway. In some cases, a physical drop or trying to power off can trigger it too.
Difference Between Emergency SOS Mode and SOS Mode on iPhone
There are actually two different SOS-related errors on the iPhone and they are not the same thing. In fact, the way to deal with them also differs.
In this article, we’re focusing on the Emergency SOS mode — the feature that activates automatically or manually to call emergency services. When triggered, it shows messages like “Your emergency contacts have been notified” or “Emergency SOS has been activated”. This usually happens after a crash, a drop, or a post-update glitch.
The other one is the SOS/SOS Only mode.
This issue is unrelated to crashes or updates. It appears when the iPhone cannot connect to your carrier’s network and can only reach emergency services. In this case, the iPhone itself works normally. Here’s a quick way to fix that network-related SOS problem:
- You can check for carrier outages.
- Reset your network settings.
- Reinsert your SIM.
For the full set of solutions, follow this detailed guide by Passixer: Fix iPhone Stuck in SOS Mode.
Reasons for iPhone Stuck on Emergency SOS Mode
iPhone Emergency SOS Mode can appear in different ways. Usually, once you see how the issue looks on the screen, it becomes easier to identify what’s triggering it and fix the issue.
1. iPhone attempts an SOS call after an update
This happens due to issues in the iOS update process. The device will freeze mid-update and trigger SOS mode automatically. The problem lies mainly on the software side and can usually be fixed with a repair tool like Passvers.
2. Power-off and Emergency SOS sliders appear together
You’ll see this when the iPhone restarts but one of the side buttons remains stuck. Drops or impact damage can cause the hardware buttons to jam, repeatedly triggering the SOS loop screen.
3. Countdown SOS call screen
Starting from iPhone 14, Apple added a “Call after countdown” option. When triggered accidentally or through a glitch, giving you a chance to cancel an accidental emergency call. However, if you don’t cancel it, the device will keep initiating emergency calls repeatedly until the battery drains out.
4. Your emergency contacts have been notified
If your iPhone only shows this gray message — “Your emergency contacts have been notified”, it indicates hardware damage that activate the SOS sensors. Water exposure can trigger internal motion or crash sensors, leaving the device stuck in Emergency SOS mode.
How to Fix iPhone Stuck on Emergency SOS Mode
Here are the fixes to get your iPhone out of the Emergency SOS screen. Follow them in order.
Fix 1. Force Restart iPhone
A force restart is the quickest way to deal with any kind of Emergency SOS freeze, whether your iPhone is stuck on the countdown screen or keeps attempting an SOS call after an update. It works entirely through physical buttons, so iPhone screen not responding is not an issue. What it does is stop all running processes and clean-boot your iPhone.
The exact steps depend on your model:
iPhone 8 and later (Face ID models):
- Press the Volume Up button quickly and release. Do the same with Volume Down.
- Next, hold the Side button. When the Apple logo appears, let go.
iPhone 7/7 Plus:
- Hold down the Side and Volume Down simultaneously. Release them when you see the Apple logo.
iPhone 6s or earlier:
- Hold the Home and Top (or Side) buttons at the same time.
After the restart, your iPhone will skip the Emergency SOS screen. You can enter the screen passcode and use it normally.
Fix 2. Update iPhone with iTunes
An Emergency SOS loop during iOS update means the service crashed mid-install. So, you can update iOS using the computer. Here’s what to do:
Step 1. Connect your iPhone to a Mac or PC. Then open Finder or iTunes.
Step 2. Put your iPhone into Recovery Mode. Use the same button combination you used for a force restart.
Step 3. A message will appear on your computer. It says there’s a problem with the connected iPhone. You’ll see two options — Update and Restore.
- Click Update first. This will update iOS and complete the failed verification process. No data will be erased.
- If the update doesn’t work, reopen iTunes or Finder. Choose Restore from the pop-up. This option erases all data but refreshes the firmware completely and removes the SOS loop.
Fix 3. Diagnose iOS with Repair Tool
When the Emergency SOS screen refuses to go away after basic fixes, use Passvers iOS System Recovery. It can detect over 50 iOS issues, including the Emergency SOS loop and fix them automatically. The tool works with the latest iPhone 17 lineup and supports up to iOS 26, so compatibility isn’t a concern. You can also install it on either Mac or Windows, whichever is more convenient.
You can use Passver’s Free Quick Fix Mode to clear the issue first. It automatically scans your device, repairs the fault and restarts the iPhone without deleting any data. After the phone restarts, the Emergency SOS screen disappears and everything returns to normal.
Steps to Use Passvers to Fix iPhone Stuck on Emergency SOS Mode
Open Passvers iOS System Recovery, connect your iPhone and click Start.
When your iPhone details appear, click the blue Free Quick Fix link.
Passvers will begin repairing the iOS. The Emergency SOS screen will disappear after the reboot.
If the iPhone stays stuck in Emergency SOS, you can move on to a deeper repair mode — Standard or Advanced. From there, just follow what’s shown on your screen.
1. Put your iPhone into Recovery Mode by following the onscreen steps.
2. Download the suggested firmware package. Then wait while Passvers runs through each step and repairs the system.
3. After the repair hits 100%, you can use your phone normally again.
Fix 4. Use Siri
When the iPhone gets stuck between the power-off and Emergency SOS sliders, touch input often stops responding but Siri still works.
- Press and hold the Side button to activate Siri. Then, say “Turn off Emergency SOS.”
- It will ask for confirmation. You can approve it using your voice.
- If the iPhone continues to show the same screen, ask Siri to “Shut down the phone” and approve.
After the device restarts, go to Settings › Emergency SOS and temporarily disable Call with Side Button and Call After Serious Crash to prevent automatic triggers.
Fix 5. Turn Off Zoom
The Zoom accessibility feature can interfere with gestures and can accidentally trigger the Emergency SOS overlay. Try this quick step to clear this:
Double-tap the screen twice with three fingers to disable Zoom temporarily. This gesture shrinks the screen back to normal and restores basic touch recognition.
Once you can access your iPhone again:
- Go to the Settings menu.
- Tap Accessibility.
- Select Zoom.
- Then, toggle Zoom off completely.
This prevents further accidental triggers and ensures your screen gestures remain stable.
Fix 6. Charge iPhone After Battery Drains
When the device gets stuck on the countdown loop, leave it as it is. Let the battery run down completely.
Many users have noticed that as the charge drops to around 2% or 5%, the screen flickers back to normal. Sometimes, the low battery even exits the Emergency SOS screen on its own.
Still, if low battery doesn’t work, allow the iPhone to drain entirely and shut down completely. Then, connect the iPhone to a proper charger and leave it for 30 to 60 minutes.
Restart the iPhone and the Emergency SOS issue will be resolved.
How to Unlock iPhone If It’s Stuck in Emergency SOS Mode
You can also use Passixer iPhone Unlocker to unlock your iPhone when the Emergency SOS mode appears. What Passixer does is bypass any type of screen lock on the iPhone, whether it’s a forgotten passcode or a custom alphanumeric code.
Even if Face ID or Touch ID isn’t working, Passixer can handle those locks too. Once the process finishes, your iPhone restarts and works normally with no passcode needed. That way, the stuck Emergency SOS screen is gone.
Here’s How to Unlock iPhone When It’s Stuck in SOS Mode:
Open Passixer iPhone Unlocker. Choose Wipe Passcode from the main interface.
Connect your iPhone using a USB cable. Once the device details appear, click Start. This allows Passixer to download the correct firmware and bypass the passcode, resolving the Emergency SOS mode in the process.
Enter 0000 to confirm. Then press the Unlock button.
When the restore finishes, you won’t see the passcode prompt. The SOS screen will finally go away and you’ll land on the startup screen.
To Sum Up
By this point, one of the fixes should have worked to repair the iPhone stuck on Emergency SOS screen issue, especially if you used Passvers iOS System Recovery. You can keep Passvers on your computer. Remember, it doesn’t just fix the Emergency SOS screen but can handle over 50 iOS problems.