iPhones Showing ‘SOS’ Due to Major Verizon Outage Across U.S.

Major Verizon Outage Leaves iPhone Users in 'SOS' Mode Across the U.S.

A widespread service disruption has hit Verizon, affecting a significant number of its customers across the United States, including those using iPhones. The outage, reported on Monday, has resulted in many iPhone users seeing "SOS" or "SOS only" displayed in their device's status bar, indicating a lack of connection to the cellular network.

Extent of the Outage

Reports of the outage have flooded social media and outage tracking websites, with over 70,000 reports logged on DownDetector as of 10:15 a.m. ET. The affected areas span from New York to Los Angeles, with major cities such as Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Cincinnati, Columbus, Indianapolis, Omaha, and Seattle among the most impacted.

Users have shared their experiences on various platforms, highlighting the unpredictability of the outage. For instance, some users in the same household or using the same type of phone have reported mixed results, with some phones having service while others are in SOS mode.

Impact on Services

Affected users are unable to make or receive phone calls, send or receive text messages, or use cellular data. Despite these limitations, iPhones in SOS mode can still make emergency calls, such as dialing 911, by connecting to other carriers.

The outage has also shown inconsistent effects, with some users reporting that their Verizon 5G home internet services are functioning normally despite their mobile phones being in SOS mode.

Verizon's Response

Verizon has acknowledged the issue and is actively working to resolve it. In a statement, a Verizon spokesperson said, "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".

Troubleshooting Steps

For users trying to regain service, Apple recommends several troubleshooting steps. Users can try reconnecting to their cellular network by turning on airplane mode for at least 15 seconds and then turning it off. Restarting the iPhone is also suggested, which can be done by pressing and holding the volume button and the side button for iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, or later models.

Emergency SOS via Satellite

For iPhone 14 models or newer, Apple's Emergency SOS via satellite feature can be used to text emergency services in areas lacking cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. This feature is particularly useful during such outages, allowing users to stay connected in emergency situations.

User Experiences

The outage has been described as "weird" and "random" by many users, with some experiencing service disruptions while others in the same area or using the same type of phone remain unaffected. For example, a user in northeastern Colorado reported being in SOS mode for several hours, while a coworker with the same iPhone and Verizon plan had no issues.

In Southern California and Northern California, including areas like Los Angeles and northeast of Sacramento, several users have reported their phones displaying SOS, with some unable to use even Wi-Fi calling.

The situation remains fluid, with Verizon working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Users are advised to check with Verizon for updates and to use the recommended troubleshooting steps to try and restore their service.