If you’ve noticed your Verizon phone suddenly showing “SOS” instead of full service this afternoon, you’re not alone. A massive Verizon outage is affecting customers across the country, leaving many unable to make calls, send texts, or use mobile date.
Is Verizon currently down?
Reports first started surfacing online shortly before 1 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14, when users noticed their phones stuck in “SOS only” mode. This statue means your device can still place emergency calls, but it’s not connected to Verizon’s regular network.
The issue appears to be widespread, possibly nationwide.
Verizon confirmed the outage on X (formerly Twitter), stating:
We are aware of the outages impacting our customers and are working diligently to resolve this and get all of our customers reliable service again. Thank you for your patience.
At this time, the exact cause of the disruption and estimated repair time remain unclear.
Important to note, Verizon users also experienced a massive outage at the end of August last year where thousands of customers were without service and stuck in “SOS mode”.
Who’s currently impacted?
According to Downdetector, which tracks service disruptions, more than 460,000 outage reports were logged as of 1:25 p.m. ET.
iPhone and Android users alike are reporting the same “SOS only” message. While Verizon users are the most affected, other carriers like T-Mobile and AT&T are also experiencing isolated outages, with over 1,600 reports in total.
What should you do during a Verizon outage?
If your phone is showing SOS only, you can place emergency calls. Otherwise, it’s a good idea to rely on Wi-Fi for texting, calling, and internet access while the company works on restoring service.
Keeping an eye on Verizon’s official X account or Downdetector can provide real-time updates.
Stay tuned for the latest on this developing Verizon outage and tips for staying connected while service is down.