Is there a Verizon outage? What is SOS on my phone? Outage map, update
Is there a Verizon outage? What is SOS on my phone?

On January 14, 2026, the largest wireless carrier in the United States, Verizon, experienced a major nationwide network outage that disrupted voice calls, mobile data and text messaging for hundreds of thousands of customers across the country.

The outage began abruptly shortly before noon Eastern Time, with widespread reports surfacing across major metropolitan areas including New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Washington, D.C. and Miami.

Countless users have taken to social platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Threads to shout issues, but reported problems with Verizon have spiked on Down Detector to over 46,000.

New York City's official emergency notification system has commented on the situation, noting that if you're on Verizon and are impacted by this outage, it may affect your ability to dial 911 in an emergency. It advises you to try calling from a landline or another device, or to visit a precinct, if you have an emergency.

Verizon Down: What Happened

Around midday, thousands of Verizon customers began reporting that their phones were showing “SOS” or “SOS Only” in place of normal signal bars, indicating that devices could not connect to Verizon’s cellular network. This status means traditional cellular voice and data services were unavailable, though some emergency calling features may still work via wireless protocols on certain phones.

Outage tracking service Downdetector.com recorded hundreds of thousands of outage reports, peaking as high as approximately 260,000 reports before declining later in the afternoon, signaling one of the most significant service disruptions in recent Verizon history.

How to Contact Verizon Customer Support

Customers affected by the outage can reach Verizon Wireless technical support by calling 800-922-0204. Support agents are available daily from 8 a.m. to midnight (local time). Verizon also offers a 24/7 automated chat assistant on its website for basic troubleshooting, account help, and outage updates.

For home internet customers, Verizon Fios support is available around the clock. Users experiencing Fios internet, TV, or phone issues can contact Verizon Fios Customer Service at 800-837-4966 for assistance at any time.

Scope of Service Impact

Customers reported a wide range of issues:

  • Wireless voice calls often failed or could not connect at all.

  • Mobile data services were disrupted, leaving users unable to browse the internet or use apps that require cellular connectivity.

  • Text messaging, particularly standard SMS, was unreliable or unavailable for many users.

  • Many iPhones and Android devices displayed SOS mode, showing users were not connected to Verizon’s network even though service appeared functional otherwise.

Verizon engineering teams are continuing to address today's service interruptions. Our teams remain fully deployed and are focused on the issue. We understand the impact this has on your day and remain committed to resolving this as quickly as possible.
Verizon Outage Update: What is SOS on my Phone? And What I Can Do?
Verizon is down, with many users seeing 'SOS'

Other Carriers Affected Too

Although Verizon was the primary carrier impacted, some reports suggest that customers of AT&T and T-Mobile also experienced minor disruptions during the same window, likely due to network routing complications as calls and messages attempted to reach Verizon users. However, these issues were significantly lower in scale compared to Verizon’s outage.

Verizon Response

Verizon publicly acknowledged the outage via social media and support channels, confirming that engineers were actively investigating the root cause and working to restore service. A Verizon spokesperson stated:

“Our teams remain fully deployed and are focused on identifying and resolving the issue. We understand how important reliable connectivity is and apologize for the inconvenience.”

Verizon just shared another update via @VerizonNews on X. As expected, its engineering team is still investigating the issue and working to resolve it, but there is no estimate yet for when recovery will occur.

As of the latest updates, Verizon has not yet disclosed a specific cause or estimated timeline for full service restoration, leaving many customers waiting for clarity.

Safety and Emergency Services

In some areas, local emergency management offices warned that 911 calls from affected Verizon devices might not connect properly due to the network disruption. Users in need of emergency services were advised to try another carrier, landline, or alternate device if their Verizon service was not connecting.

Why Phones Show ‘SOS’

The “SOS” indicator appears when a phone cannot reach its primary cellular network. In this mode, some phones can still make limited emergency calls but lack normal voice or data connectivity. This requires the device to seek alternate emergency signaling paths, not full carrier service.

What You Can Do

If you’re experiencing the Verizon outage:

  • Restart your device to ensure it’s attempting the latest network reconnect.

  • Switch to Wi-Fi calling or messaging where available to stay connected.

  • Use alternative carriers or landlines for critical calls, especially emergencies.

  • Check Verizon’s official support pages and trusted outage trackers like Downdetector for real-time status updates.

History

Verizon has faced similar large-scale outages in the past, most notably in late 2024, which also left many users stuck in SOS mode and prompted regulatory attention due to widespread service failure.

This ongoing outage is a rapidly evolving situation. Verizon customers are encouraged to monitor official carrier communications and news outlets for the latest information as engineers continue efforts to restore full nationwide service.