Phones across the country suddenly dropped to “SOS” mode Wednesday, leaving customers unable to make calls, according to RochesterFirst. The outage hit users of Verizon in multiple states, including New York, with reports spiking mid-morning.
Outage tracker DownDetector showed problems starting before noon, as customers flooded social media saying their devices lost service. Verizon confirmed a disruption affecting wireless voice and data and said engineers were working to restore service, but gave no timeline.
Phones in SOS mode should still reach 911 using other networks or satellites. Verizon advised customers to connect to Wi-Fi and enable Wi-Fi calling if possible while repairs continue.
Phones stuck in SOS? Try this
A nationwide Verizon disruption left many phones stuck in “SOS” mode Wednesday, cutting off regular calls and service, according to Nexstar. The issue hit customers of Verizon across the country.
Phones in SOS mode can’t make standard calls but should still reach 911 using other networks or satellite connections. To stay connected, users can turn on Wi-Fi and enable Wi-Fi calling in their settings, which allows calls even during outages.
If service seems restored, Apple recommends toggling Airplane Mode on for 15 seconds, then off, to force a reconnection. Some apps, maps, and payment services may still work offline while cell service remains down.
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