Why Your Verizon Phone Might Be in SOS Mode Right Now

If you’re a Verizon customer and have noticed your phone going into SOS mode throughout the day, there’s now an official explanation: As confirmed by Verizon itself, the carrier was experiencing a nationwide outage throughout the afternoon.

“We are aware of an issue impacting wireless voice and data services for some customers,” Verizon told Lifehacker’s sister site Mashable. “Our engineers are engaged and working to identify and resolve the issue quickly. We understand the importance of reliable connectivity and apologize for the inconvenience.”

The company also issued an acknowledgment on They reached a peak of over 170,000 reports around 12:50 p.m. EST, and although they have steadily declined since then, the last update at the time of writing still contained over 60,000 problem reports.

I’m a Verizon customer, but my phone doesn’t seem to be affected at the moment, even if I turn off my wifi and just rely on my cell signal. This is a bit surprising, because according to Downdetector, the areas with the most reports include both New York (which probably means Manhattan) and Brooklyn, which would include where I am. Other regions reporting major disruptions include Charlotte, North Carolina; Houston; Atlanta; Dallas; Philadelphia; Miami; and Ashburn, Virginia.

As for the services affected, 61% of reports only report mobile phone problems in general, but 35% of reports specifically complain about a lack of signal, while 4% report problems with mobile Internet.

You’ll know if you’re affected if your signal strength is weak, which is usually indicated by four vertical bars in the upper right corner of your phone. Your phone may also display that it is in “SOS” mode. This does not mean that you or your phone are in danger, but rather that this signal is only present to contact emergency services like 911.

Unfortunately, the best you can do while the outage is resolved is probably to wait, but if you’re connected to Wi-Fi and still having problems calling or texting, you can try an alternative messaging app like WhatsApp and make sure Wi-Fi calling is enabled on your phone. The loss of cell service is expected to primarily affect those who rely on data from cell towers, rather than those connected to an internet router.

While Verizon faces the brunt of user reports, T-Mobile and AT&T also see their own share of outage complaints on Downdetector. Some of them, however, can be confusing. On AT&T displayed similar sentiments, but with a more aggressive tone.

Meanwhile, municipalities are issuing their own warnings. An AlertDC emergency notification sent to Washington, DC residents stated: “If you have an emergency and cannot connect using your Verizon Wireless device, please connect using another carrier’s device, a landline, or go to a police district or fire station to report the emergency.”

While the city’s advice is understandable, as it wants to prepare readers for the worst possible scenario, it’s worth remembering that for emergency calls, phones can use any viable network nearby. If you’re a Verizon customer and need immediate 911 help, it’s always best to try contacting us by phone (or even text, depending on your area) before taking the extra time to go to emergency services in person. As a reminder, connecting to Wi-Fi and enabling Wi-Fi calling can help.

As for New York, it is taking a more measured approach in its messaging. The New York City Office of Emergency Management told X that it was aware of the outage and that the government was “working closely with our partners” to assess possible impacts.