GeeksModo

iPhone Won’t Turn On in iOS 27? Here’s why (and what to do)

Saturday June 27, 2026 10:24 pm EAT by Dave Johnson

Even the best smartphone is pretty useless if you can’t get it going. Luckily, we have solutions if your iPhone won’t turn on after iOS 27 update.

There is nothing new about the problem of iPhone not turning on as it has existed on almost all iPhone models. This problem has affected many iPhone models, including iPhone 17.

If your iPhone won’t turn on after iOS 27 update, read below to learn why and what you can do about it.

Why won’t my iPhone turn on after iOS 27 update?

Whether you’re rocking an older iPhone 11, or newer iPhone 17, nothing is more frustrating than a device that won’t turn on. Before you give up, there are a few fixable reasons your iPhone may not be powering up after iOS 27 update. If none of the problems below apply to you, it could be time to take your device in for a checkup at an Apple store.

The iPhone is out of battery

The most obvious reason for your iPhone not turning on after iOS 27 update is that the battery is dead. Luckily, this is the easiest solution to fix. On the iPhone 11 and newer, charging from 0—50% takes only 30 minutes.

Fast charging works when you use an Apple USB-C to Lightning cable or USB-C cable and one of these adapters:

Apple 18W, 20W,2 29W, 30W, 35W, 61W, 67W, 87W, or 96W, or 140W USB-C Power Adapter
A comparable third-party USB-C power adapter that supports USB Power Delivery (USB-PD)

If you’re not sure which Apple Power Adapter you have, check the wattage on the top or bottom of the adapter.

Your charger isn’t working properly

If you left your iPhone to charge up and came back to a device that still won’t turn on, your charger may be the culprit. Faulty third-party chargers or even a worn-out one from Apple are worth replacing. There is also the possibility that the outlet you are plugging into isn’t supplying power.

Your iPhone is frozen

iPhones can sometimes freeze or get stuck on a black screen. Often, this is the result of an outdated version of iOS or a glitchy app.

How to get your iPhone to turn on again

If (fingers crossed) you’re facing a minor issue, one of the solutions below will likely help you get your iPhone turned back on. If your iPhone is completely shot, it may just be time to replace it.

Charge your battery

If your device’s battery is dead, you need to charge it. If iPhone is very low on power, it may display an image of a nearly depleted battery, indicating that it needs to charge for up to 10 minutes before you can use it. If iPhone is extremely low on power when you begin to charge it, the display may be blank for up to 2 minutes before the low-battery image appears. See our troubleshooting guide if your iPhone won’t charge.

To charge iPhone, do any of the following:

Connect your iPhone to a power source using the charging cable (included) and an Apple USB power adapter (sold separately).
Place iPhone face up on MagSafe Charger or MagSafe Duo Charger (connected to Apple 20W USB-C power adapter or other compatible power adapter) or on a Qi-certified charger. (MagSafe Charger, MagSafe Duo Charger, power adapters, and Qi-certified chargers are sold separately.) Note: You can also use third-party power adapters and Qi-certified chargers that are compliant with applicable country regulations and international and regional safety standards.
Connect iPhone and your computer with a cable. Make sure your computer is turned on—if iPhone is connected to a computer that’s turned off, the battery may drain instead of charge. Look for the Charging icon on the battery icon to make sure your iPhone is charging.

WARNING: If your iPhone won’t turn on as a result of water damage, don’t plug the charging cable into it.

Assess your cable, adapter and outlet

If your iPhone doesn’t turn on after trying the above solution, inspect your charging cable, charging adapter and power outlet.

We understand your iPhone stopped charging after iOS 27 update, but the cable is one of the first things to check. Especially if it’s an accessory you’ve had for a long time, possibly since the phone was purchased. Our cables go through plenty of torture. They go with you to many places, not to mention we can often step or trip on them, they often get tangled up, we throw them in bags carelessly, and so on.

Inspect your charging cable thoroughly and see if there are any evident signs of damage. Any rips, bends, cuts, or general damage will be a good reason for cables not functioning correctly. Also, try to charge another device with it and see if it works. If it does, the issue might be the device. You can also try using another cable to see if it will charge your iPhone battery.

If you find out a damaged cable is the issue, go ahead and get a replacement.

Of course, the charging adapter is just as important as the cable. Go ahead and put it through the paces. Inspect it for any damage. Cracks or bent outlets are obvious red flags. Likewise, try using it with other devices and switching it with another brick to see if this is the problem.

Finally, plug something else into the same outlet you’re trying to charge your iPhone with and see if it works. Sometimes outlets go bad, or a section of your home might have electric problems. Additionally, some power sources can be weak. If you find issues with your outlet, try other outlets in the house.

Those trying to charge using a USB port in a computer or power strip might not be getting the juice the iPhone needs to charge correctly. Move to a regular outlet and see if this gets rid of your charging woes.

Check your charging port

If your cable and charger work with other devices, it’s time to start looking at your phone. A common culprit is the charging port. For starters, go ahead and check if there is any dirt or debris in the charging port. Something as simple as a dirty port will mess up your charging. You can try cleaning the charging port with a brush or compressed air.

Have you noticed the charging port feeling loose lately? Charging ports can get worn out with excessive usage. You could also find signs of corrosion in there. Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about this, other than replacing the phone or trying to have the charging port replaced.

Force restart your iPhone

If your device doesn’t charge, force a restart. Your device may have frozen after iOS 27 update and could require juice once it powers up.

To force restart your iPhone, follow the steps below:

Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.

iPhone won’t turn on still? Contact Apple Support

If you’ve tried the solutions above, and your iPhone will not turn on, it may have a hardware failure. At this point, your best chance to get your device working is to locate the nearest Apple Store. Apple store employees can help determine what the underlying issue is with your iPhone. If you don’t have an Apple Store nearby, you can also contact Apple for support and service.

Successfully fixed iPhone not turning on issue

If your iPhone doesn’t turn on after iOS 27 update, it might be dead or facing issues charging. Finally, you may need to force the device to restart. Let us know which of the above troubleshooting steps fixed your iPhone not turning on issue.

Tag: Power

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How to fix iPhone not connecting to App Store after iOS 27 update

Saturday June 27, 2026 9:26 pm EAT by Dave Johnson

The iOS App Store is by and large the only way you can get apps on your iPhone and iPad. Naturally, that means if you are, for some reason, unable to use the App Store, it will probably be an annoying experience. Well, if you’ve been facing the infamous “Can’t connect to App Store” error after iOS 27 update, fret not. Here are the best solutions to fix the irritating “cannot connect to App Store error” on your iOS 27 device.

Having encountered the “Can’t connect to App Store” issue on iOS 27 a number of times (everyone once in a while), I can say that the problem mostly occurs due to poor internet connection. However, there are times where it crops up even when the internet connection seems pretty stable.

While the good thing about this issue is that you can get rid of it with ease, the bad thing is it will keep coming every now and then. So, it’s better to be always prepared for the problem with quick fixes.

How to Fix an iPhone That Cannot Connect to App Store in iOS 27

There are several ways to fix an iOS 27 device that cannot connect to App Store. If your iPhone won’t open App Store after iOS 27 update, try these fixes, in this order:

1. Turn Off/On Airplane Mode

Whenever I face connectivity issues on my iPhone, the one quick solution that I go after is to toggle Airplane mode. And guess what, it helps me sort out the problem – more often than not. So, I’m going to bet on it to resolve the “cannot connect to App Store” after iOS 27 update issue as well.

Basically, just force quit App Store and then turn on/off Airplane mode.

If your iPhone has Face ID, swipe down from the top right corner of the screen to bring up the control center.

If your iPhone has touch ID, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to bring up the control center.

Now, tap on the Airplane mode button to turn it on. Wait for some time and then tap on the Airplane mode button to turn it off. Now, launch App Store to check if the problem is gone. If it has, go ahead with your daily chores. If it hasn’t, keep reading.

2. Restart the App Store app

Sometimes a simple force close is all you need when your iOS 27 device cannot connect to App Store! You can do this by simply swiping up from the bottom of the screen and then swiping up on the App Store on the app switcher. After you quit the App, check if your iOS 27 device can now connect to App Store.

3. Toggle Wi-Fi off and on

Just like with Airplane Mode, Wi-Fi problems could be the reason why your iOS 27 device cannot connect to App Store. Not to mention, your network may very well be having simple connection issues. Toggle Wi-Fi on and off, and check if your iOS 27 device can connect to App Store.

Bring up your iPhone’s Control Center, as mentioned above.
In the top-left block, check if the Wi-Fi is already switched on and lit up as blue. Tap to turn it off if so
Wait a few seconds.
Tap the icon to turn on your iPhone’s Wi-Fi again.

4. Toggle Your iPhone’s Cellular Data off and on

If you are using cellular data to access the App Store, turning your iPhone’s Cellular data function off and back on may fix the issue you are experiencing. It may seem too simple or easy, but refreshing your cellular data connection could solve the problem of iPhone cannot connect to App Store in iOS 27. Try switching mobile data off and on, and see if the problem persists. To do this:

Launch your iPhone’s Control Center, by swiping down from top right of your screen.
In the top-left block, check if the Cellular Data icon (an antenna) is already switched on and lit up as green. Tap to turn it off if so
Wait a few seconds.
Tap the icon to turn on your iPhone’s cellular data again.

5. Restart your router

In some cases, you can fix the problem of iOS 27 not connecting to App Store by simply restarting your router. It might seem silly, but give it a try, and you might affect the Wi-Fi magic enough to get App Store going again. Some routers allow restarts to be triggered through an app, while others may have a physical button. If yours has neither, you can unplug the router’s power source and plug it back in.

6. Restart your phone

It’s simple, but turning your iPhone off and back on can resolve hidden software issues that may be preventing the App Store from opening. When you turn off your iPhone, the operating system shuts down all the little background programs that help your iPhone to run. When you turn it back on, they all start fresh, and sometimes that’s enough to fix a software glitch that had been preventing the App Store from opening. This will take a minute or two and might work.

Open Settings.
Tap General.
Tap Shut Down.
Press the Side button to power your iPhone back on.

7. Check Apple’s System Status for App Store

Whenever Apple’s servers face an outage, a number of features and services (i.e iCloud backup, iCloud Drive, App Store, Siri, etc.) are affected. So, if App Store is still not working on your iOS 27 device, it would be apt to check the system status of the App Store.

Go to Apple’s system status page and then make sure the circle to the left of the App Store is green. If the circle is yellow, there are some technical issues with App Store. And in such a situation, you can’t do anything but wait for Apple to resolve the problem.

8. Check your date and time settings

Out of sync Date & Time settings can cause all sorts of different problems. It’s possible your iOS 27 device thinks it’s stuck in the past or the future, which could be preventing it from connecting to the App Store.

You can fix the time and date settings of your iOS 27 device with these steps:

Open Settings.
Tap on General.
Select Date & time.
Toggle the Set automatically toggle to get your time from the internet.

9. Disable your VPN

VPNs are great to work with, but they tend to create connectivity issues for App Store. Plenty of users have reported that their iOS 27 device cannot connect to App Store when a VPN is enabled.

If your iOS 27 device has a VPN installed in it, then you should disable it.

Follow these steps to remove VPN settings on in iPhone running iOS 27:

Open the Settings app.
Tap on General.
Tap on VPN & Device Management.
Disable any active VPN.

10. Update iOS

To ward off miscellaneous bugs and also enhance performance, Apple rolls out software updates frequently. Thus, you can get rid of random iOS 27 issues just by updating the software – in most cases. If none of the above-mentioned solutions has worked in resolving the iOS 27 App Store issues, updating the software could be the right answer.

You can update iOS wirelessly by following the steps below:

Start the Settings app.
Select General.
Tap Software update.
If an iOS update is available, tap download and install.

11. Reset Network Settings

Resetting network settings to factory default is another reliable solution that you can count on to troubleshoot the "cannot connect to App Store" problem in iOS 27. So, if the problem seems to be persistent, there is no harm in giving it a shot.

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset. Here, tap on Reset Network Settings. Next up, you need to enter your device passcode. You may also need to enter your Screen Time passcode to proceed. Finally, tap on **Reset Network Settings **to finish.

12. Sign Out of Your Apple account and Sign Back In

On a few occasions, I am able to troubleshoot the App Store issues on my iPhone by signing out of my Apple account and signing back in. While this solution might seem to be unrelated, it does work in resolving the App Store problems.

Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap on your profile. Next, tap on Sign Out and then follow the instructions to sign out of your iOS 27 device. Up next, launch the Settings app on your device and then sign back in.

13. Reset all iPhone settings

We’re now coming to slightly more drastic solutions. If your iOS 27 device still cannot connect to App Store, then you may need to reset all settings on your device. Doing this won’t erase your data, but it can solve the problem of iPhone not connecting to App Store after iOS 27 update.

Open Settings.
Tap General.
Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Select Reset.
Choose Reset All Settings.

14. Reset your iPhone to factory settings

If all else fails and your iOS 27 device cannot connect to app store, wipe your iPhone clean and give it a fresh start. At this point, we have no idea what could be causing your App Store discrepancies, but resetting your iPhone to factory defaults will likely fix most of your issues, as it deletes everything on the device and leaves it the way it was when you turned it on for the very first time. You can perform a factory reset by following the instructions below:

Open Settings.
Tap General.
Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Select Erase All Content and Settings.

15. Get help from Apple

If you tried all these steps and your iOS 27 device still cannot connect to App Store, you need help from the experts at Apple. You can get online or phone support at the Apple website, or make an appointment at the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store for in-person help.

Solutions to Troubleshoot Can’t Connect to App Store Error in iOS 27

That’s all there is to it! Hopefully, App Store has once again started to work as usual. Since the “cannot connect to App Store” error usually occurs due to an inconsistent internet connection, the first couple of methods we have mentioned should solve the problem in most cases. However, it can also happen due to bugs and App Store outages.

So, which of these tricks managed to resolve the App Store problems on your iOS 27 device? Let us know in the comments section below.

Tag: App Store

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How to fix iOS 27 battery drain on iPhone

Thursday June 11, 2026 8:33 pm EAT by Chris Smith

A lot of users have complained that their iPhone battery is draining faster after iOS 27 beta update. In this article, i’ll show you what the likely culprit is, what you can do, and what other factors could be behind the sudden battery drain after iOS 27 update.

How to fix iOS 27 beta battery drain on iPhone

1. Be patient!

It’s completely normal to notice a drop in battery life after installing a new iOS update. This happens because your iPhone is busy performing a bunch of background tasks that require extra power.

Don’t worry, though — your battery life should return to normal once these tasks are completed. It’s just a matter of giving your device a little time to settle down.

2. Try a few tweaks

While you’re waiting for your iPhone to finish its post-update tasks, here are a few tips that might help extend iOS 27 battery life:

Decrease Screen Brightness: If you want to help preserve some battery on iOS 27, the best thing to do is simply lower your screen brightness.
Disable Wi-Fi Assist: This feature uses cellular data when your Wi-Fi connection is weak, which can drain your iPhone’s battery. To turn it off, go to Settings > Cellular, then scroll down and switch off Wi-Fi Assist.
Reduce the motion of your iPhone UI: The iOS 27 user interface has some fun, sleek animations. These visual tricks help bring the slab of metal and glass in your hand to life. Unfortunately, they can also reduce your phone’s battery life. If you want subtler animations across iOS 27, you can enable the Reduce Motion setting. To do this, go to Settings > Accessibility > Motion and toggle on Reduce Motion.
Use Dark Mode: On OLED ‌iPhone‌ displays, activating Dark Mode preserves battery life because there’s less power draw when darker colored pixels are displayed. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness and chooseDark.
Turn Off Haptic Keyboard Feedback: Haptic feedback on the ‌iPhone‌’s keyboard is satisfying to feel when you tap on the on-screen keys, but it does drain your battery. You can turn it off by going to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Keyboard Feedback and toggling off Haptic.
Turn Off Fitness Tracking: Your ‌iPhone‌ has a Fitness Tracking feature that stores motion data to estimate your body movements, mobility, step counts, stairs climbed, and more. If you have an Apple Watch or another fitness tracker, you don’t need this setting and it could be contributing to unnecessary battery usage. To turn it off, open up the Settings app and go to Privacy and Security > Motion and Fitness and then toggle off the Fitness Tracking setting.

3. Connect to Wi-Fi When It’s Available

This tip is straight from Apple. Whenever you’re somewhere that has a Wi-Fi connection available, it’s a good idea to use it over cellular.

Wi-Fi uses less power than cellular, and a cellular connection can be one of the biggest battery drains in iOS 27.

When in a place with low signal that’s constantly cutting out or no signal, go even further and turn on Airplane mode. When your ‌iPhone‌ is constantly searching for a better cellular signal, it impacts battery life.

4. Update your apps

Sometimes, the issue with battery life or performance might not be due to iOS 27 but rather apps that haven’t been updated to work with the latest version. When Apple releases a new iOS version, it’s crucial to ensure all your apps are up-to-date before diving into troubleshooting.

To update your apps, open the App Store app and tap your profile icon in the top-right corner. Then, tap App Updates. I like to pull down on this screen to refresh it, ensuring I see all the latest updates available. Tap Update All.

5. Check for rogue apps

If you’ve tried all the previous steps and your iOS 27 battery drain issue persist, it might be due to a rogue app consuming more power than it should. Fortunately, iOS provides tools to help you track down these misbehaving apps.

Go to Settings > Battery: Here, you’ll find a wealth of information, including App and System Activity. This section shows you which apps are using the most power.

Tap on an App to see how much power each app is using while on the screen and in the background.

You can use this information to diagnose battery drain issues. Here are some other things you can use this information for:

Identify Background Activity: If an app shows a lot of background activity compared to on screen activity, it might be running excessively in the background. You can try disabling background activity for that app by going to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and turning it off for the problematic app.

These insights can help you diagnose and address iOS 27 battery drain issues effectively.

6. Check App Access Settings

Many apps request access permissions that they don’t need and probably shouldn’t have access to. Apps that don’t need but use Bluetooth or Location can drain your battery life, so it’s best to check all of your app settings for both battery preservation and privacy purposes.

Location – Settings > Privacy and Security > Location Services.
Bluetooth – Settings > Privacy and Security > Bluetooth.
- In each of these sections, toggle off access for apps that don’t need this data. An app that connects to something in your home via Bluetooth does need Bluetooth, but apps like Waze, Facebook, and YouTube often don’t need it.

It’s also a good idea to turn off background refresh for apps that don’t need to be updating in the background. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh to check your settings.

7. Consider replacing your battery

Is your iPhone feeling a bit old? If your device is three years or older, it might be time to consider replacing the battery.

Go to Settings > Battery, then tap Battery Health (on iPhone 15 and later) or Battery Health & Charging (on iPhone 14 and earlier). From here, you can check your battery’s Maximum Capacity.

If the level is below 80%, it indicates that your battery is worn out and might need a replacement.

Keeping an eye on your battery health can ensure your iPhone continues to perform well.

8. Wait for the next iOS 27 update

Sometimes, bugs can slip through the cracks, and all you can do is wait for Apple to address the issue with a new update. Apple has been improving its response to fixing these problems, but it does require some patience. There’s always a bit of a gamble involved, as you hope the new update resolves the issue without introducing new ones.

Have a useful iOS 27 battery saving tip that we didn’t mention here? Let us know in the comments below.

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iPad Speaker Sounds Muffled! Here’s The Fix.

Thursday April 16, 2026 8:39 pm EAT by GeeksModo Staff

A lot of the day-to-day tasks on your iPad revolve around functional speakers. When your iPad speakers aren’t working, you can’t enjoy music, talk to someone on speaker during a FaceTime call, or hear the alerts you receive. This problem can be incredibly frustrating, but it can also be fixed. In this article, I’ll explain what to do if your iPad speaker sounds muffled!

Software Vs. Hardware Issues

A muffled iPad speaker can be the result of a software problem or a hardware problem. The software tells your iPad what sounds to play and when to play them. The hardware (the physical speakers) then plays the noise so you can hear it.

We can’t be sure what type of problem this is yet, so we’ll start with the software troubleshooting steps. If those steps don’t fix your iPad speaker, we’ll recommend a few great repair options!

Is Your iPad Set To Silent?

When your iPad is in silent mode, the speaker won’t make any noise when you receive a notification. To check, open Control Center and look for the silent mode icon — if it’s turned on, tap it to turn it off. You can also press and hold the Volume Down button to toggle silent mode.

Turn The Volume All The Way Up

If the volume on your iPad is low, it may sound like the speakers are muffled when you receive a FaceTime call or notification.

To turn up the volume on your iPad, unlock it and press the volume up button on the top or side of your iPad (location varies by model) until the volume is all the way up.

You can also adjust the volume on your iPad by going to Settings > Sounds and dragging the volume slider all the way to the right.

If you want to have the option to turn up the volume using the buttons on your iPad, make sure Change with Buttons is turned on under Settings > Sounds.

Take Off Your iPad Case

If you have a bulky case for your iPad, or if the case was put on upside down, it could make the speaker sound muffled. Try taking your iPad out of its case and playing a sound.

Clean Out Any Gunk From The Speaker

Your iPad speakers can quickly get filled with lint, dirt, or other debris, especially if it has been sitting in your bag all day. Try wiping off the speaker with a microfiber cloth. For more compacted gunk or debris, use an anti-static or an unused toothbrush to clean out your speaker.

Back Up Your iPad And Put It In Recovery Mode

Before you run to your local Apple Store to get a hardware repair done, let’s make sure we’re absolutely certain that the speaker is broken. A recovery mode restore is the last step you can take to completely rule out any type of software problem causing your iPad speaker to sound muffled.

First, backup your iPad. A recovery mode restore erases then reloads all the code on your iPad. You’ll want a recent iPad backup so you don’t lose your contacts, photos, messages, and more.

You can back up your iPad using Finder on a Mac, the Apple Devices app on a PC, or iCloud.

After you’ve backed up your iPad, put your iPad in recovery mode by connecting it to your computer and following recovery mode steps for your specific model.

Before checking if your speakers work, go through steps 1-4 again and then try to play music or use your speaker on a FaceTime call. If the speaker still sounds muffled, it’s time to look into repair options.

Repairing Your iPad Speaker

Apple offers repairs for iPad speakers. You can schedule an appointment at the Genius Bar or use their mail-in service by visiting their support center.

If you have an older iPad, you may want to consider upgrading to a new one instead of paying out of pocket to repair your old one. New iPads have better speaker systems that are great for listening to music or streaming videos.

Can You Hear Me Now?

Now that you’ve reached the end of the article, we’ve either solved your speaker problem or at least figured out that you need a repair. If your problem was fixed, let us know which step helped you figure it out — this might help others with the same problem. Regardless, if you have any other questions, leave them in the comments below!

Tag: Sound

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Does Walmart Take Apple Pay?

Friday March 27, 2026 5:38 pm EAT by GeeksModo Staff

Walmart has more than 10,800 stores and clubs worldwide. It is the world’s largest retailer. As of now, Walmart stores do not accept Apple Pay at in-store checkouts. Walmart accepts cards from Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. A lot of major retailers, stores, restaurants, and shops accept Apple Pay, but unfortunately, Walmart is not one of them.

It seems that Walmart does not accept Apple Pay because they want people to use their own mobile payment system, Walmart Pay. This means that Walmart does not also accept Google Wallet and Samsung Pay. It further seems that, for now, Walmart is committed to its own Walmart Pay platform, which is a QR code-based system designed exclusively for Walmart shoppers.

The only mobile payment that Walmart takes is Walmart Pay. You can, however, use Walmart Pay with your iPhone. Here is how:

Using your iPhone to make purchases at Walmart

Walmart Pay is a feature in the Walmart app. Download the Walmart app. Open the App Store app on your iPhone and then tap the Search icon and find the Walmart app and tap Get and download it.
Open the Walmart app on your iPhone.
Go to Services > Walmart Pay.
Tap Set Up Walmart Pay.
And follow the onscreen instructions and register your card. And your Walmart Pay is ready to use when you go to your Walmart store next time.
To use the app, you need to scan a QR code at the register.

Furthermore, it seems that Walmart has no plans to accept Apple Pay.

You can use your Apple Card at Walmart.

Apple Pay is Apple’s payment service that lets you use your iPhone or Apple Watch to make purchases.

Finding Apple Pay places

Do you avoid stores that do not accept Apple Pay? Do you want to know which stores take Apple Pay before you go? Then there is an easy want to do that. Here is how:

On your iOS or iPadOS device, open Apple Maps.
Find the place you want to go.
Tap the result you want to check. An info card will be displayed.
Scroll down and find the “Useful to Know” section.
If the place takes Apple Pay, it will say “Accepts Apple Pay”.

Costco, one of the world’s largest retailers, accepts Apple Pay.

In conclusion, Apple Pay is not accepted at all Walmart locations. How long will Walmart refuse Apple Pay? We do not know. But we know that Walmart may change this in the future. Because this policy does not attract the tech-savvy customers. We will update this article if Walmart changes this.

Apple Pay launched in October 2014.

Tag: Apple Pay

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The 7 Best Call Blockers for iPhone and Android

Sunday February 22, 2026 11:27 pm EAT by Moses Johnson

Phone spam and scam are on the rise, with no signs of stopping. Luckily, you can take a few actions on your own to get rid of spam calls. For instance, you can set your iPhone or Android phone to block specific phone numbers. Mobile carriers offer blocking tools too. On top of that, you can register your mobile and landline phone numbers with the FTC’s Do Not Call Registry, though that won’t stop scammers and disreputable telemarketers from calling you.

The best option is to install a call blocking application on the smartphone to automatically block scammers, telemarketers, robocalls, and other spam. Many call blockers strive to protect you from spam and identify unknown callers. Let’s get a closer look at the best call blocking apps for iPhone and Android smartphones.

#1 REKK Call Blocker

REKK is relatively new on the market, but it has already gained trust among iPhone and Android users. It’s a powerful solution for identifying unknown callers with an option to block unwanted phone numbers. The database with spam numbers is frequently updated, which makes REKK a perfect tool for identifying spam. Besides, the app allows you to block incoming messages with specific keywords, like "special offer", "sale", and others. Thanks to this feature, you’ll forget about annoying SMS during Black Friday.

Additionally, you can use a reverse number lookup to check data about the caller if you’ve missed a call, including the company, its category, location, official website, and additional contact information. To make the app work, you’ll need to configure the app in the settings of your smartphone. The built-in instruction in the app will help you set up the call blocking feature.

REKK is compatible with iOS and Android

#2 RoboKiller: Block Spam Calls

With RoboKiller, you can eliminate up to 99% of spam calls coming to your phone number. The utility helps you filter and control incoming phone calls by automatically blocking and adding to the blocklist any unwanted caller. Unwanted callers are blocked without bothering you. On top of that, you can keep essential contacts or any new number safe by adding it to your Allow List. So the app will never block important callers by mistake. If you’re expecting an important call from an unknown number, you can temporarily pause the call blocking feature.

RoboKiller allows you to recognize SMS spam by notifying you of unwanted text messages. It’s also possible to report any specific number or an unknown caller to RobKiller’s spam blocker and protect other users from spammers. RoboKiller is free to download. A subscription is required to use the service, but you can try it out completely free for seven days.

RoboKiller is compatible with iOS and Android.

#3 Truecaller

Truecaller is among the most-used free spam blocking apps on the market with many valuable features. It’s a multifunctional app that allows you to identify and block spam calls or SMS, search for unknown numbers, call and chat with friends. To help you avoid spam calls and text messages, Truecaller identifies spam automatically before you pick up and filters unwanted callers. Besides, the app provides users with the reverse lookup feature to search for any spam number in the app’s database to check who its owner is.

Other than call blocking and identification, the app comes with in-built call dialer and messenger. You can call your friends directly from the app and chat with them at no cost. The app is free, but you get more features with the premium subscription: know who viewed your profile, get 30 contact requests per month, and remove all ads.

You can install the app on Android and iOS smartphones.

#4 Hiya: Spam Phone Call Blocker

Hiya is one of the most-used spam blocking tools on the market. It comes in very handy when you’re looking for reliable protection from telemarketers, robocalls, fraud calls like neighbour spoofing, and debt collectors. The app identifies and blocks spam calls automatically and allows you to get rid of the "neighbor spoofing" calls from numbers that look similar to yours. The global database will let you know who’s calling you, where they work and if they make annoying calls to other Hiya users.

Additionally, the app provides a number lookup that lets you check any phone number and find out the caller’s true name. The app is paid and offers monthly and yearly subscriptions.

Download the app from Google Play or App Store.

#5 Robo Shield Spam Call Blocker

Robo Shield is a perfect tool to stop annoying spam calls. The app was developed by Pango, a mobile security company trusted by over 650 million users worldwide. Robo Shield allows you to create blocklists of your contacts or block callers by categories such as spam, scam, political, telemarketers, etc. Unlike other apps from the list, this service updates its spam number database every six minutes.

With Robo Shield, you can quickly look up any unknown number and instantly know if you have been contacted by scammers, spammers, telemarketers, etc. The app comes with a monthly subscription that costs $2.99/month.

The app is compatible with iOS and Android.

#6 Nomorobo Robocall Blocking

Nomorobo is one of the best call blockers that can bring peace and quiet back to your life. The app protects users from annoying robocalls, telemarketers, spam texts, and phone scammers. It comes with real-time protection from over 3,200,000 spam numbers and identifies over 1,500 robocallers daily. On top of that, Nomorobo protects you from text spam and phishing attempts. It also allows you to send spam calls directly to voicemail.

The app is privacy-friendly and never accesses your call logs. It has already stopped 1.5 billion robocalls since 2013 and is trusted by over 2,500,000 people every day. Nomorobo provides a 14-day free trial for you to try the app and decide if it meets your needs.

You can download the app from App Store and Google Play.

#7 AT&T Call Protect

This is a well-received tool that may benefit AT&T network users. The app provides you with 24/7 automatic fraud call blocking and detects spam before your phone even rings. It sends unknown callers to voicemail and warns you of telemarketers, nonprofits, surveys, account services, private or political callers. You can also add particular callers to your personal blocklist.

AT&T Call Protect isn’t just a call blocker app. It is a community of people who help one another get rid of spam and report spam numbers. The app comes with a premium subscription that offers a caller ID feature and reverse number lookup.

You can download the app from the App Store and Google Play.

Tag: iOS apps

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How to Turn Off Google AI Overviews on iPhone and Mac

Saturday February 14, 2026 8:32 am EAT by Dave Johnson

You can turn off Google AI overview. Here’s How to do it on iPhone, iPad or Mac

Annoyed by AI summaries taking over your search results page? There’s no official way to turn off Google AI overview on iPhone or Mac, but there are a few tricks you can try to stop seeing them so often.

Google’s AI Overviews have largely taken over Search at this point. The feature, which summarizes information and answers questions without requiring you to click on any links, has decimated web traffic for publishers, and produced numerous factual errors. Google has since upgraded AI Overviews with Gemini 3 as the default model globally, and is now merging the feature with a deeper conversational AI Mode—making overviews even more pervasive. I also just find the feature intrusive.

When it comes to AI products, it’s hard to tell if you’re dealing with a work in progress or a finished product. This is why I’ve invested so much time in trying to remove Google AI overviews from my web searches. Unfortunately, there’s no official way to disable them. Still, I’ve discovered that a few tweaks can make Google’s AI-infused answers a little less prominent.

How to turn off Google AI Overviews on iPhone and Mac

As mentioned above, you can’t really turn off AI Overviews — at least not officially. But you can hide and avoid them. Here’s how.

1. Use ‘-AI’ in your search query

Of all the ways to remove AI Overviews from Google, this one is my favorite because it’s the easiest and works on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. All you have to do is use the NOT (–) operator that modifies search to exclude certain parameters. In this example, searching who owns Instagram will generate an overlay, as seen below.

However, by adding something like -AI at the end of the search query, the AI Overview will be stripped from the results page. This isn’t because Google added an AI kill switch in its code. Rather, the modifier is breaking Google’s algorithm to surface the AI overlay. In my testing, I got the same results if I added random characters at the end, such as -i or -efewg, but I find -AI to be more fun.

2. Switch Back to Web Results

Around the same time Google rolled out the AI Overviews in full, it also introduced a new Web filter for search results. This essentially returns you to traditional search results. When AI snippets annoy me, I can get rid of them by clicking the Web filter underneath the search bar. If it isn’t visible, click the More button and select it from the menu that appears. Once the Web filter is selected, the AI Overview panel will be removed from Google search results.

Unfortunately, I can’t set it to be the default view for all my searches, so it’d be a pain to manually choose the tab each time Google serves up an AI result (which is basically every time at this point). This filter isn’t a magic button that brings back the old Google; it’s simply meant to be for web links what the Image filter is for images. That means YouTube previews and search snippets won’t appear when this filter is used—it’s web links only all the way down.

Note: You may also see an AI Mode tab alongside the Web, Images, and Videos filters. AI Mode is a separate, deeper conversational search experience powered by Gemini—tapping it will take you further into AI-generated results, not away from them. Make sure you’re selecting Web, not AI Mode.

3. Use a Proxy Site (or Create Your Own)

When you click the Web tab, Google adds a short string of characters to the URL, which signals it should only show you web links. You can do this manually by adding &udm=14 to the end of a search results URL. If that seems too tedious, the proxy site udm14.com works as a Google search bar with AI Overviews stripped out. As a word of warning, a proxy site can potentially read your search queries, so consider your comfort level before proceeding.

If you don’t want to risk it, just make your own. this website has instructions on how to set Google Web as your default search engine in Chrome and Firefox. I tested it out in Chrome on my iPhone, and it seems to really work! All I had to do was visit the link above, then open a new tab and search for something with Google. I then tapped the three-dot menu in the bottom right corner of the browser, went to Settings > Search engine, and selected the Google Web entry under Recently visited.

I also decided to set it up on my Mac, which works a bit differently. I went to Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, then clicked the Add button next to Site search. Chrome had me enter a name (Google Web) and shortcut (@web), but most importantly was the {google:baseURL}search?q=%s&udm=14 code I added to the URL with %s in place of query box. I then had to locate the Google Web entry in the list of site search shortcuts, click the three-dot icon, and choose Make default.

Now, when I search from Chrome on my iPhone or Mac, it only gives me web links in the results—and no AI overviews in sight! However, keep in mind that this also means no multimedia links too, but if I can’t find what I’m looking for, all I have to do is use the Videos or News tabs. I can even hit the All filter to get back to the AI-filled version of Google, if there are any results I might be missing.

4. Use AI free search engine

If you use Safari instead of Chrome, things are more limited. Safari on iPhone (iOS 26) and Mac (macOS 26 Tahoe) only lets you choose from a fixed list of search engines—Google, Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuckGo, and Ecosia—and does not support custom search URLs like the udm=14 trick.

On iPhone: Go to Settings > Apps > Safari > Search Engine and pick an alternative like DuckDuckGo, which doesn’t use AI overviews in its results.

On Mac: Open Safari, go to Safari > Settings, click the Search tab, then use the Search engine dropdown to select an alternative.

If you prefer to stick with Google results but want to avoid AI Overviews on your iPhone or Mac, your best bet is to use Chrome instead of Safari. Chrome on both platforms supports the custom search engine method described above. Alternatively, you can look for Safari extensions in the App Store (such as "Customize Search Engine") that allow you to set a custom default search URL, though availability and reliability of third-party extensions may vary.

Tag: Google

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How To Fix iPhone Screen Not Responding To Touch

Tuesday February 3, 2026 1:19 am EAT by Dave Johnson

Summary

If your iPhone screen is not responding to touch, there are a few things you can try when troubleshooting the problem.
First, clean off your screen, and your fingers. If you have a case or a thick third party screen protector on the iPhone, remove them.
Next, try a force-restart. If that doesn’t work, you can update or reinstall the operating system.
If you’re still having problems, you can always contact Apple support.

The iPhone is one of the best smartphones out there, but even the best smartphones can experience hardware and software glitches from time to time. One common issue is when the iPhone touch screen stops working or becomes unresponsive to touch. It’s obvious when this happens, you’ll touch the screen and nothing happens, swipes will be ignored, taps don’t do anything, and other touch on the screen doesn’t register any behavior. It’s clearly annoying if the iPhone screen is no longer working and not responding to touch, and it’s not subtle. In this article, I will explain why the iPhone screen is not responding to touch and how to fix the problem.

Why is my iPhone screen not responding to touch?

Your iPhone screen may not be responding to touch due to several reasons. Sometimes it’s due to a software bug, crud on the screen, damage to the iPhone touch screen or iPhone itself, or perhaps some other issues as well. Read on to learn more.

We’ve got several steps to troubleshooting an unresponsive touch screen on an iPhone. If your iPhone is not responding well to touch and the screen seemingly is not working as well as it should with touch input, follow along and you should be able to fix the issue for good. I just experienced this problem on my iPhone, so this is the set of steps I used to troubleshoot the issue, for my specific situation the iPhone just needed to be hard rebooted and some storage freed up for the touch screen to work as expected again.

How to Fix an Unresponsive iPhone Screen

Try these troubleshooting tips one by one. Hopefully, one of these will resolve the issue. If not, it’s likely you have a hardware problem that may only be fixable by contacting Apple customer service to repair or replace your phone.

Clean Your Screen, And Your Fingers

The first thing you need to do when your iPhone screen is not responding to touch is to clean off your screen, and your fingers. If you have a case or a thick third party screen protector on the iPhone, you’ll want to remove those as you troubleshoot this as well.

Give your iPhone screen a good look in bright direct lighting and tilt it around a bit to reveal any obvious gunk, oil, residues, liquids, moistures, dried crust or food, or anything else that may be interfering in the screen. In the sunnier weather, sunscreen is another common thing that can get on a screen and make the iPhone touch screen unresponsive or erroneously responsive. You’ll want to make sure the iPhone screen is clean and clear of anything that can interfere with the ability to detect touch properly. Wiping it down with a soft cotton cloth is often sufficient to remove anything from the iPhone displays touch screen, but you may need to use a slightly damp (and I do mean slightly, never enough moisture to drip) cloth to wipe the screen free.

As for your fingers, just make sure they’re clean and dry. Wash your hands or your fingers if in doubt and if you have a bunch of gunk on them. Unusually dry skin or callouses generally don’t matter and should not cause any issue with the touch screen, though if your hands are wet that may cause issues.

Just make sure the screen is clean, and that your hands are clean and dry.

Force your iPhone to restart

Often times simply restarting the iPhone will fix the unresponsive touch screen. Unfortunately, if your iPhone screen is not responding to touch at all, you won’t be able to move the power-off slider to shut down your device. In this case, you’ll need to resort to a forced restart, which is basically like rebooting your iPhone without powering it down first.

When your iPhone boots back up, the touch screen should work just fine again if it’s a simple software issue like a bug or a software freeze with iOS or an app. The exact steps to force restart your iPhone will depend on what model you have. If you’re not sure which iPhone model you own, check out this article on how to identify your iPhone.

Quick tip: The button we call the Power buttonis also sometimes called the Lock button or the Side button.

If you have an iPhone 8, iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generations), iPhone X, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, iPhone 15, iPhone 16, iPhone 17, or iPhone Air

1. Press and release the Volume Up button.

2. Press and release the Volume Down button.

3. Press and hold the Side button (the Sleep button).

4. Wait until you see the Apple logo, and then release the button.

If you have an iPhone 7

1. Press and hold the Volume Down and Side (Sleep) buttons at the same time.

2. Hold the buttons until the Apple logo appears, then release the buttons.

If you have an iPhone 6s, iPhone SE (1st generation), or earlier

1. Press and hold the Home and Side (Sleep) buttons at the same time.

2. Hold the buttons until the Apple logo appears, then release the buttons.

Disconnect any accessories from the Charging Port

On rare occasions, an accessory plugged into the phone’s charging port could interfere with the touchscreen. If anything is plugged into the port — including a microphone, power bank or charger — unplug it. If your screen works after removing an accessory, try using a different outlet, cable, or charger.

Delete and Update / Reinstall the Problematic App

Sometimes an iPhone touch screen is unresponsive in just one particular app. If this is the case, the problem is likely that app and not the iPhone touch screen at all, but since the app is open at the time the app stops responding as it "freezes". A frozen app will often not respond to any touch screen input at all, but swiping up from the bottom of the screen will often exit the app and go back to the Home Screen in these scenarios.

If your iPhone touch screen stops working while using a specific app, you’ll want to update it first. Open the App Store, tap your profile in the top-right and check to see if an update is available for the app in question, if an update is available, tap the Update button next to the app in question.

If there is still a problem with the touch screen not working in a specific app after you have updated that app, you can also delete the app, and then reinstall the problematic app. Relaunch it again to see if it works as expected. If it still fails, the app could have a bug that needs to be addressed. If the touch screen works with every other app except for the problematic one, that particular app is likely the problem and it’s probably nothing to do with the screen or iPhone at all.

Free up iOS Storage

When an iPhone has zero storage available, the device tend to misbehave, and that can include experiencing an unresponsive touch screen.

Make sure your iPhone has enough storage available. You can check this by going to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Aim to have at least a 1GB, as iOS really starts underperforming with less space available.

Deleting unused apps is an easy way to recover some storage space.

I have noticed this is particularly true with modern versions of iOS when an iPhone is totally full and has 0 bytes of storage remaining, in which case many apps become unresponsive as does the touch screen. Sometimes even the buttons along with the touch screen may be unresponsive and not work at all for a while on a totally full iPhone, until whatever software cache clearing mechanisms complete. This is often easily reproducible too; just fill up an iPhone so that it has zero bytes remaining, and then start trying to use apps that rely on a lot of caching like Instagram, X, Facebook, Spotify, etc, once those app caches build up you will likely notice the touch screen becomes unresponsive for short periods of time as iOS struggles to deal with having zero storage available. In such a case, just free up some space, then reboot the iPhone, it should work again.

Reinstall iOS

As a last resort before contacting Apple Support, you can try updating or restoring iOS. This is a good option if your iPhone successfully restarts but can’t get past the Apple logo.

Even if your iPhone screen is not responding to touch, you can update or restore iOS by connecting your device to your computer and using Recovery Mode:

1. Connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable.

2. Open the Finder on your Mac, or open the Apple Devices app on your PC. If your PC doesn’t have the Apple Devices app, or your Mac is using macOS Mojave or earlier, open iTunes instead.

3. Put your iPhone in recovery mode following these steps:

iPhone 8 or later, including iPhone SE (2nd generation and later): Press and release the volume up button, press and release the volume down button, then press and hold the side button. Hold down the side button until you see the Connect to computer screen.

iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus: Press and hold the volume down button and Sleep/Wake button at the same time. Hold down the buttons until you see the Connect to computer screen.

iPhone 6s or earlier, including iPhone SE (1st generation): Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and Home button at the same time. Hold down the buttons until you see the Connect to computer screen.

4. When you see the option to restore or update your iPhone on your computer, chooseUpdate. iTunes or Finder will update the phone without deleting your apps and data. Do not choose Restore, which will erase all of your data.

5. If the Update doesn’t work, your final option is to choose Restore. This option will restore your iPhone to its factory settings.

Important: If you choose Restore, iOS will be reinstalled and all of your data will be erased. You will, however, have an opportunity to restore a backup from iCloud. For this reason, it’s important to back up your data.

Is the iPhone Touch Screen Cracked? Is the iPhone Touch Screen Damaged? Was the iPhone damaged or dropped?

This is probably obvious from the get-go, but if the iPhone touch screen is cracked it can become unresponsive, partially unresponsive, or just not work at all. Likewise if the iPhone is damaged, it may not work at all, or the touch screen may not work reliably.

Water damage can also ruin an iPhone touch screen, or the entire phone as well. If an iPhone has been dropped, it’s also possible that internal components came loose, which may cause the touch screen to not be working.

If your iPhone has obvious visible damage and the iPhone touch screen is not working, the damage is likely to be the cause. In such a situation, take the iPhone to an authorized Apple repair center or an Apple store and have them give it a look.

iPhone touch screen STILL Unresponsive? Contact Professional Help

If all above troubleshooting methods have failed, it’s time to contact Apple support, go to an Apple Store, or visit an Apple authorized repair center. Have them inspect your iPhone touch screen to figure out what’s wrong with it, it may need a repair. It may be a hardware problem that is unseen, or it could be some other issue that you overlooked.

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Did these troubleshooting tips fix your iPhone touch screen issue? Do you have any tips or tricks to resolving problems with an unresponsive or non-working touch screen on iPhone? Let us know in the comments below.

Tag: Screen

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Is Your iPhone Showing SOS? Here’s Why

Thursday January 15, 2026 12:13 am EAT by GeeksModo Staff

A portion of Verizon’s network crumpled on Wednesday, with up to 175,000 customers across US seeing "SOS" in their iPhones’ status bars instead of connection bars.

iPhone users with Verizon may see "SOS" in the status bar, as the device cannot connect to Verizon’s network. As a result, you may not be able to make or receive most phone calls, send or receive text messages, or use data over 5G or LTE.

Apple explains what "SOS" means in a support document:

If you see SOS or "SOS only" in the status bar, your device isn’t connected to your cellular network, but you can still make emergency calls through other carrier networks. This feature is available in Australia, Canada, and the United States.

Verizon is aware of the outage, and it is working on a fix.

"We are aware of an issue impacting wireless voice and data services for some customers," said Verizon, in a social media post, shortly after 1 p.m. Eastern Time. "Our engineers are engaged and are working to identify and solve the issue quickly. We understand how important reliable connectivity is and apologize for the inconvenience."

At 2:14 p.m. Eastern Time, Verizon said it is still investigating the issue.

Tag: Sos only

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How to fix SOS Only at the Top of iPhone 17 or iPhone 17 Pro

Wednesday January 14, 2026 11:28 pm EAT by Chris Smith

KEY TAKEAWAYS

SOS or "SOS only" on an iPhone 17 or iPhone 17 Pro means your device isn’t connected to your cellular network.
The warning appears when your iPhone 17 can only make emergency calls, like 911, due to being out of your carrier’s range.
To fix SOS or SOS only on an iPhone 17, try moving back into your carrier’s coverage area or toggle airplane mode on and off, or restart your iPhone to re-establish a connection.

If you see SOS or SOS only on your iPhone 17 or iPhone 17 Pro status bar you’ll have trouble making calls, sending texts, or accessing the internet. In this article, I’m going to explain how to Get Rid of SOS at the Top of iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.

What Does "SOS Only" Mean on iPhone 17?

The "SOS Only" or just "SOS" warning appears in the carrier field, at the top of the screen on the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. If you see SOS or "SOS only" in the status bar, your iPhone 17 isn’t connected to your cellular network, but you can still make emergency calls through other carrier networks. This feature is available in Australia, Canada, and the United States.

Normal calls to standard numbers won’t work and you won’t be able to send text messages. Data services that connect to the internet also won’t work. Your phone is effectively limited to calling police, fire, ambulance, coastguard, mountain rescue, or similar emergency services you may have in whatever country you are in.

Why Does My iPhone 17 Say "SOS Only"?

There can be four reasons why your iPhone 17 goes into SOS mode:

These SOS messages may appear if you are in a place without cellular coverage. For example, if you are in a rural area without any cellular towers. Or, you are in a tunnel. If this is the reason, the SOS message will disappear as soon as your iPhone connects to a network. This is normal behavior.
The second reason is that something is not working with your iPhone 17 and is causing this SOS message to appear randomly or to be stuck there. This is probably a software issue.
Your cellular carrier is having outages, causing you to have this issue.
SIM card issues may also lead to this problem. However, this only apply to iPhone 17 models with physical Sim card. If your SIM card is damaged or placed wrongly, this message may also be displayed because your SIM card could not authenticate the connection. Additionally, if you are using your iPhone without a working SIM like many people do when they give their old phone to a child, you will see SOS at the top of the iPhone screen.

How to get your iPhone 17 out of SOS mode

According to Apple, if you see "SOS" or "SOS only" in the status bar, you can do the following to get your device out of this mode:

1. Turn Cellular Data Off and On

Your iPhone’s cellular data may not be working properly. If that’s the case, sometimes the best fix is the easiest fix: turning it off and on again.

Go to Settings ⇒ Cellular. It should be already on, so turn the Cellular Data switch off. Wait about 15 seconds, then turn Cellular Data back on. It may have just needed a quick reset, but if there is still no luck, move on to our next solution.

2. Make sure that you’re in an area with cellular network coverage

Since "SOS Only" is more of a failsafe feature than a problem, the only "fix" is to move within range of your carrier’s network. If you see the message appear a lot, you might want to consider making use of your iPhone’s dual-SIM capabilities and subscribing to another mobile plan.

3. Try to reconnect to your cellular network

Sometimes your iPhone 17 can get "stuck" on the "SOS Only" warning, causing it to appear in areas where you normally get a signal. In this instance, you can try reconnecting to your cellular network. Follow these steps:

Open Settings.
Turn on Airplane Mode for at least 15 seconds.
Turn off Airplane Mode.

4. If you are traveling internationally

You may need to turn Data Roaming on, if you’re traveling internationally. This allows your iPhone to connect to another network in a different country without having to sign up for a new service. Beware that turning this on can come with additional fees on your phone bill.

To enable Data Roaming on your iPhone 17, go to Settings ⇒ Cellular ⇒ Cellular Data Options. Then, toggle on the Data Roaming switch.

5. Switch to LTE

Your iPhone 17 may have trouble picking up a specific type of cellular data, especially 5G. While 5G coverage has rapidly expanded over the past several years, LTE still blankets a larger portion of the United States. If your iPhone 17 is set to receive 5G in a location where it’s unavailable, you may need to disable 5G on your device and fall back on another option.

Go to Settings ⇒ Cellular ⇒ Cellular Data Options like before, but this time tap Voice & Data. If 5G On or 5G Auto is selected, choose LTE and see if that gets rid of the SOS Only status.

6. Restart Your iPhone

Of course, we have to mention the good old reboot technique. If you haven’t yet tried turning your iPhone off and on again, let’s go ahead and test it out. You’d be surprised how many little annoyances a quick restart can resolve.

7. Check for Carrier Settings Update

Sometimes, carriers roll out over-the-air updates that can solve problems with connectivity. If you can connect to Wi-Fi, you can check if carrier settings update for your iPhone 17 is available by going to Settings ⇒ General ⇒ About.

If your device needs a carrier settings update, you’ll get a pop-up on this screen. If you don’t see one, you’re up-to-date already.

8. Update your iPhone 17

If the software has a bug, it may be causing issues with your cellular service. To check for a software update, go to Settings ⇒ General ⇒ Software Update. You’ll need internet for this to work, so Wi-Fi would be your only option if you can’t connect to cellular.

9. Check your cellular line

Go to Settings ⇒ Cellular.

If you don’t see your line, you need to set up an eSIM or insert a physical SIM. If you have a physical SIM inserted, take it out and then reinsert it.

If you see that your line is Off, tap on it. Make sure Turn On This Line is on.

If Turn On This Line is already enabled, toggle the switch to turn it off, then turn it back on.

10. Reset Network Settings

Resetting your iPhone 17 network settings to factory defaults can fix all sorts of Wi-Fi and cellular-related problems on your iPhone. This “forgets” all your Wi-Fi networks, so you’ll have to reconnect to them and re-enter your Wi-Fi passwords. The SOS Only problem may disappear after your iPhone 17 reboots.

To Reset Network Settings, open Settings ⇒ General ⇒ Transfer or Reset iPhone ⇒ Reset ⇒ Reset Network Settings. Enter your iPhone passcode, then tap on Reset Network Settings when the confirmation pop-up appears near the bottom of your iPhone’s display.

11. Contact Your Carrier

When all else fails, you should contact your carrier to see what’s going on. Since having SOS Only status on your iPhone 17 greatly limits the features you can use, you wouldn’t want to have it for long.

There may be an issue with your cell service that’s worth getting to the bottom of. So, visit your carrier’s website and search for a contact or support page to get a customer support phone number.

Getting to the Bottom of "SOS Only"

It’s frustrating when you don’t have cell service on your iPhone 17. So, we hope one of these solutions aids in getting your service up and running again.

If "SOS Only" is appearing on your iPhone 17 frequently, and you know lack of coverage isn’t the problem, you may want to contact your carrier anyway, even if you managed to fix the issue temporarily.

Tag: Sos only

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