Michael Johnson

Hi there! When you see “SOS” at the top of your iPhone screen, it means your phone can’t connect to your regular carrier network, but it’s still able to connect to any available emergency network. So yes—you can only place emergency calls (like 911 in the U.S. or equivalent numbers abroad). This usually happens if you’re in an area with no signal for your carrier but another provider has coverage. I once drove through a rural mountain area, and my iPhone switched into SOS mode. I couldn’t send texts or browse the internet, but if something bad had happened, I could have dialed emergency services. To fix it, you generally need to move back into an area with service or restart your phone if it’s acting up. Sometimes toggling Airplane Mode off and on also helps. It’s not a bug—it’s actually a safety feature built into iOS.

Go to your profile > scroll down > “Create Public Profile.” Accept terms and you’re live. You must be 18+, with no policy violations. It’s super quick if you already have an established account.

When I set up mine, I didn’t realize there were two kinds. The basic IR one just worked once I aimed it at the Roku stick. The enhanced voice remote took more effort—pressing the pairing button and letting the Roku detect it. After pairing, I set it to handle TV power and volume through Settings. Honestly, that was the best part—no more juggling two remotes. If yours isn’t responding, re-seat the batteries and re-try pairing.

I used to think the blocked list was hidden in Messages only, but Apple centralized it. Head into Settings, then Phone, then Blocked Contacts. You’ll see everyone you’ve blocked. If you go to Messages → Blocked Contacts or FaceTime → Blocked Contacts, they point to the same list. So you don’t have to check in three places. I like this because you don’t have to remember where you blocked someone. Just one list covers calls, texts, and FaceTime.