Why Your Verizon Phone Might Be in SOS Mode Right Now
If you’re a Verizon subscriber and have noticed your phone switching to SOS mode throughout the day, there’s now an official explanation: Verizon itself has confirmed that the carrier experienced a nationwide network outage throughout the day.
“We’re aware of an issue affecting wireless voice and data services for some customers,” Verizon told Lifehacker’s sister publication Mashable . “Our engineers are working to identify and resolve the issue as quickly as possible. We understand the importance of reliable service and apologize for any inconvenience.”
The company also posted a confirmation on X , and on the popular outage tracking site Downdetector (owned by the same parent company as Lifehacker), user reports of issues have been steadily pouring in since around midday. The peak number of reports, exceeding 170,000, was reached around 12:50 PM EST, and while the number has steadily declined since then, at the time of writing, over 60,000 issues were reported.
I’m a Verizon subscriber, but my phone doesn’t seem to be experiencing any issues yet, even when I turn off Wi-Fi and rely solely on cellular service. This is somewhat surprising, since according to Downdetector, the most outage reports are coming from New York City (presumably referring to Manhattan) and Brooklyn, which matches my location. Other areas reporting significant outages include Charlotte, North Carolina; Houston; Atlanta; Dallas; Philadelphia; Miami; and Ashburn, Virginia.
In terms of which specific services are affected, 61% of reports only mention problems with mobile communications in general, but 35% of reports specifically complain about a lack of signal, and 4% report problems with mobile internet.
You’ll know your phone is in range if the signal strength is low, typically indicated by four vertical bars in the upper-right corner of the screen. Your phone may also display a message indicating it’s in “SOS” mode. This doesn’t mean you or your phone are in danger, but rather that the signal is only available for contacting emergency services like 911.
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Unfortunately, until the problem is resolved, the best thing you can do is probably wait. However, if you’re connected to Wi-Fi and still experiencing problems with calls or messages, you might want to try an alternative messaging app, such as WhatsApp , and ensure Wi-Fi calling is enabled on your phone. The loss of cellular service will primarily affect those using mobile data from cell towers, not those connected to an internet router.
While Verizon faces the brunt of user complaints, T-Mobile and AT&T are also receiving reports of network outages on the Downdetector website. However, some of these may be due to confusion. On the X site , T-Mobile stated that its network is “operating normally and as expected,” but some customers may still experience issues, especially if they are trying to contact someone on a Verizon plan. AT&T issued a similar statement , albeit in a more aggressive tone.
Meanwhile, city officials are also issuing their own warnings. An AlertDC emergency alert sent to Washington residents states: “If you have an emergency and cannot reach someone using your Verizon Wireless device, please contact them using another carrier, a landline, or contact your local police or fire department to report the emergency.”
While city officials’ recommendations are understandable, as they want to prepare readers for the worst-case scenario, it’s worth reiterating that emergency calls can be made using any available network nearby. If you’re a Verizon customer and need immediate assistance by calling 911, it’s still best to try calling them ( or even texting , depending on your area) before spending additional time visiting emergency services in person. As a reminder, connecting to Wi-Fi and enabling Wi-Fi calling can help with this.
New York City, however, is taking a more measured approach to communicating its findings. The New York City Office of Emergency Management told X that it was aware of the power outage and that the government was “working closely with its partners” to assess the potential impact.