Why Your Phone Shows “SOS Only” or “No Service” in New Zealand (and What It Means)
Seeing “SOS Only” or “No Service” on your phone can be confusing — but both messages tell you something very specific.
Here’s what each one means, why it happens, and what we do at EziRepair to fix it.
1. Phones showing “No Service” are among our most common repairs.
Many New Zealand customers walk into our shop thinking their SIM or plan is the problem —
but in most cases, the phone itself needs diagnosis.
We’ve restored signal on hundreds of iPhones, Samsungs, and imported models by fixing tiny board or antenna faults.
2. “SOS only” and “No Service” look similar — but mean very different things.
Have you ever seen “SOS only” and still been able to call 111?
That’s because your phone still connects to the emergency network.
But “No Service” means it can’t find any network at all — not even for emergencies.
3. Real-world cases from our Christchurch & Auckland workshops
- ✅ Imported iPhone from Japan – showed “SOS only”; found to have SoftBank carrier lock. Unlocked and working on One NZ.
- ✅ Galaxy S21 – water-damaged mainboard; signal circuit corrosion repaired, full network restored.
- ✅ iPhone 12 Pro – customer thought it was a SIM issue; diagnosed as antenna flex break after rear glass repair.
4. Technical breakdown: what causes each message
📶 “SOS Only” — network detected, access denied
- Carrier lock or country-locked phone from overseas
- Blacklisted / stolen IMEI (check at IMEIcheck.co.nz)
- Suspended account or unpaid bill
- SIM card damaged or inactive
- Old carrier settings or firmware mismatch
🚫 “No Service” — phone can’t detect any signal
- Mainboard or RF amplifier damage (often from impact or corrosion)
- Antenna cable or connector fault after repair
- SIM slot damage or no SIM detection
- Severe water damage around modem area
At EziRepair, we diagnose both hardware and software causes.
If the problem is mechanical, we repair the logic board or replace the antenna module.
If it’s software or lock-related, we help you unlock, update, or reset the phone safely.
5. Related guides you might find helpful
If your phone shows “No Service” or “SOS Only,” visit us for a same-day diagnosis.
We test with multiple NZ SIMs, check for IMEI blocks, and inspect antenna & mainboard faults — all while you wait.
📍 EziRepair Christchurch & Auckland
www.ezirepair.co.nz | ☎ Christchurch: 03 343 1078 | Auckland: 09 392 0039