Verizon’s experiencing a network outage – here’s everything we know so far

And what to do if your iPhone says SOS

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If you’re on Verizon in the United States and you’ve been encountering dropped calls or slower service, you’re not alone. Based on dozens of reports on Down Detector, and customers taking to social platforms like Threads and X, Verizon may be experiencing an outage. 

Via Down Detector, it appears that the issues began around 9:35AM ET and have been spiking since, with customers posting that they are receiving no signal on the network. We’ve reached out to Verizon for comments on the outage and what’s happening with the network. We will update this story once we hear anything, but in the meantime, follow our live reporting ahead on the outage. 

Most customers are noting that outbound and inbound calls are failing, and users are reporting network instability. Additionally, some folks with an iPhone are seeing the cellular service bars in the top right replaced by SOS, which generally appears if there is zero network connection. 

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Like AT&T, T-Mobile has responded to us and is quick to note its network is running normally aside from restoration efforts related to Hurricane Helene, which are ongoing. 

The full statement reads, "Based on increased reports on Down Detector related to other providers, we believe our customers may be having challenges connecting with other networks. Outside of some areas where restoration is continuing from Hurricane Helene, our network is operating normally." 

Down Detector reports for T-Mobile are dwindling, currently at 840 as of 12:56PM ET.

Considering the largest spark in reported outages on Verizon via Down Detector occurred at 10AM ET, we're now about three hours into this outage. Reports peaked at over 105,000 but have since slowed down to a still sizable 62,001 as of 12:41PM ET on the site. Plenty of users across the United States are still reporting issues on Verizon's network, including not being able to make calls or send texts and even seeing SOS in the top bar if they have an iPhone.

Verizon has not commented further since its first statement at 11:53AM ET, noting that it's aware of the issue and working to solve it. 

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AT&T says its network is just fine

AT&T just posted on X (formerly Twitter) that its network is operating just fine, noting that the spike we posted about on Down Detector of reported outages is "likely reflecting challenges our customers are having attempting to connect to users on another network." This means the issue is on Verizon's end, not AT&T's. You can see the full statement above.

T-Mobile has yet to release a comment, but Down Detector still shows a spike in reported outages for them as well.

Reported AT&T outages on Down Detector as of 12:42PM ET on September 30, 2024.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Reported Verizon outages slowing down on Down Detector.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

While reported outages on Down Detector for Verizon spiked to over 105,000 at 11:37AM ET, it appears that nearly an hour later, outage reports are dwindling on the site. It currently shows over 70,000 outage reports and a similar heat map for impacted areas across the United States. 

Many affected customers are still posting to Threads and X, though. Some note that due to the outage, 2FA – or two–factor authentication – is failing as codes cannot be received. Similarly, others note they can't make calls and haven't been receiving calls.

If you're just joining us, here's a quick TLDR on what's going on with Verizon this AM. The United States based wireless carrier is currently experiencing a nationwide outage impacting folks all over the country. It's reported that impacted customers cannot make or receive calls and have zero access to data. Some with iPhone's are seeing SOS or SOS Only appear in the top status bar in place of network reception bars, meaning that phone cannot connect to the cellular network.

While outage reports began hours again in the 9AM ET hour, Verizon issued a response shortly after 11:50AM ET, noting that its aware of a service issue and is working fast to "identify and solve" it. 

"VerizonDown" and "VerizonOutage" are trending on Threads and X, as impacted users share there frustrations and expereinces. 

If you have an iPhone and Verizon but are currently seeing SOS or SOS Only in the top status bar on your device, your phone cannot connect to your carrier's cellular network. That lines up with the Verizon outage today if you're a customer, but your iPhone within the United States, Australia, and Canada can still make emergency calls.

Apple has a support document all about SOS or SOS Only appearing on your iPhone, but there isn't much to do aside from waiting for Verizon to fix the issue. You can try restarting your iPhone, or turning on Airplane mode for about 15 seconds to see if it resolves the issue.

Verizon customers impacted by the outage are still posting about the experience on Threads and X but are now using the tags "VerizonDown" or "VerizonOutage." Some even include the phrase, "Can you hear me now?" as a nod to the carrier's old advertisements. 

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Verizon responds to the network outage

Verizon has just responded to us, saying, "We are aware of an issue impacting service for some customers. Our engineers are engaged and we are working quickly to identify and solve the issue."

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the issue can be found and fixed quickly, as it's been ongoing for several hours in a few regions. Verizon has also shared the same statement on its social channels. 

Like the massive AT&T network outage earlier in 2024, while the reports first started with Verizon, Down Detector is now showing an increase in reports for AT&T and T-Mobile. It's important to remember that these might not be issues with these carriers specifically but rather that you're dialing a number connected to Verizon's network. Even so, we've reached out to both AT&T and T-Mobile to ask about any network disruptions this morning.

AT&T and T-Mobile Down Detector Reported Outages on 11:40AM ET 9/30/2024

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Verizon Reported Outages over 105,000

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Since reports of the outage first began appearing in the 9AM ET hour, there have been over 105,000 reports of an outage on Down Detector for Verizon, and that appears to be increasing as well. 

Folks note that they cannot dial out or have no network, which results in the SOS icon appearing to replace network bars on a newer iPhone. With this feature, the iPhone can connect to a satellite to help send messages or make calls. It was originally used for Emergency SOS via Satellite but now also functions for Messages via Satellite. 

Verizon Outage Map according to Down Detector.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Verizon customers have been taking to social platform Threads to ask if it's just them experiencing network issues and expressing frustration. Down Detector's outage map shows New York, Washington, DC, Atlanta, and Kansas as the areas with the most reported issues, with Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Fransisco following behind. 

Some users note that cellular service reception indicators – aka the bars at the top of a smartphone screen – have disappeared in favor of SOS and a satellite symbol.

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Wecome, we're here to report on this ongoing Verizon outage. According to Down Detector, there has been a spike of outage reports since 10AM ET. 

Verizon Outage, September 30 2024 11AM ET.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)