To get your Android phone out of emergency call mode, often referred to as SOS mode, you typically need to access and disable the Emergency SOS feature within your device settings.
Understanding Emergency Call (SOS) Mode
Emergency call mode, or SOS mode, is a crucial safety feature designed to allow you to quickly contact emergency services, even when your phone is locked or has limited functionality. While incredibly useful in genuine emergencies, sometimes phones can accidentally trigger this mode due to a series of rapid button presses (commonly the power button multiple times) or occasional software glitches. When your phone is in this mode, it might restrict normal operations, allowing only emergency calls until the feature is disabled.
Steps to Disable Emergency SOS on Android
If your Android phone is stuck in emergency call mode due to the Emergency SOS feature being activated, follow these steps to turn it off and restore your phone's normal functionality:
- Open Settings: Locate and tap on your phone's Settings application, usually represented by a gear icon.
- Navigate to Safety & Emergency: Scroll down through the settings menu and tap on Safety & Emergency. This section centralizes various safety features.
- Select Emergency SOS: Within the Safety & Emergency menu, you will find and tap on Emergency SOS.
- Access Settings under "How it works": Look for a section or option labeled "How it works" and tap on its associated Settings. This will lead you to the specific controls for the Emergency SOS feature.
- Turn off Emergency SOS: Finally, tap the option to Turn off Emergency SOS. This action will disable the feature, allowing your phone to exit emergency call mode and return to its standard operational state.
What If Your Phone is Unresponsive or Still Stuck?
If the above steps don't resolve the issue, or if your phone is frozen and you can't access the settings, you might need to try additional troubleshooting steps:
Force Restart Your Device
A force restart can often resolve temporary software glitches that might be causing your phone to remain stuck. The method varies slightly by phone model:
- Most Android Phones: Press and hold the Power button and the Volume Down button simultaneously for about 10-20 seconds until the phone screen turns off and the device restarts.
- Older Samsung Phones: Press and hold the Power button and the Volume Down button and Home button simultaneously.
- Some Other Models: Simply press and hold the Power button for about 30 seconds.
Check for Software Updates
An outdated operating system can sometimes lead to bugs, including issues with emergency modes.
- Go to Settings > System (or About Phone) > System update (or Software update) and check for any available updates. Install them if prompted.
Boot into Safe Mode
Safe Mode starts your phone with only essential system apps, helping you identify if a third-party application is causing the problem.
- To Enter Safe Mode: Press and hold the Power button until the power options appear. Then, press and hold the Power off option until you see a prompt to reboot into Safe Mode. Tap OK.
- To Exit Safe Mode: Simply restart your phone normally. If the problem disappears in Safe Mode, an installed app is likely the culprit; you may need to uninstall recently added apps.
Factory Reset (Last Resort)
If all other steps fail, a factory reset will return your phone to its original state, but it will erase all your data. Always back up your data before performing a factory reset.
- Go to Settings > System > Reset options (or Backup & reset) > Erase all data (factory reset).
Preventing Accidental Activation
To minimize the chances of your phone accidentally entering emergency call mode again:
- Be Mindful of Button Presses: Avoid repeatedly pressing the power button unless necessary.
- Review Emergency Settings: Periodically check your "Safety & Emergency" settings to understand how the feature is configured and to ensure it's set up to your preference.
