Verizon outage leaves thousands unable to call or text: what happened and what you can do
If your Verizon phone suddenly won’t place calls or send texts, you’re not alone. The carrier has confirmed a network outage and says restoration is underway. According to the company, a software issue is disrupting wireless service for some customers. Engineers are actively working on a fix, and Verizon has apologized for the interruption.
What users are seeing
– More than 23,000 customer reports at the peak of the outage, around 12:38 a.m.
– About 60% of reports tied to mobile service problems; roughly 40% cited no signal at all
– Phones dropping to SOS mode or showing zero reception for extended periods
– Frustration on social media over limited communication and calls for compensation
Verizon’s response
The carrier says a software-related problem is impacting service for certain users. Teams are engaged to identify and resolve the issue quickly, and the company is directing customers to its network status tools for area-specific updates. Verizon has also reiterated how much people rely on its service and issued an apology for the inconvenience.
Not the first time
Customers have dealt with similar disruptions before. In a major incident reported in October 2024, outage trackers collected roughly 100,000 reports. As with that event, the company says it is pushing ongoing updates and service is gradually coming back online in some areas.
Quick troubleshooting tips while you wait
– Toggle Airplane Mode off and on to refresh your connection.
– Restart your phone.
– Switch between 5G and LTE in your network settings if available.
– Enable Wi‑Fi Calling and use a Wi‑Fi network for calls and texts.
– Remove and reinsert your SIM card, or briefly disable and re-enable your eSIM line.
– If your device shows SOS, emergency calls may still work, but normal service is limited.
How to check your status
– Use Verizon’s network status page or account support channels for area-specific updates.
– If you rely on your phone for work or critical communication, consider setting call forwarding from your Verizon line to a secondary number once service resumes.
Will there be credits or compensation?
Some customers are asking for bill credits. Carriers sometimes offer credits after significant outages, so it’s worth monitoring official updates and checking your account once service is restored.
Bottom line
A widespread software glitch has knocked out calling and texting for many Verizon customers, with thousands of reports surfacing overnight. Verizon says it’s working to restore service as quickly as possible and is providing updates as the fix rolls out. In the meantime, Wi‑Fi Calling and the steps above can help keep you connected.
