Bug Tracker
Prevent onlyWi-Fi and CellularUpdated November 14, 2026
4readers have this

Up 1 in the past week. 2 tapped I have this too and 2 wrote in with details.

Oct 28Readers over timeNov 14

I have this too is free and needs no account. Email me the fix signs you up for the free Should I Update? email and tags you for this problem.

What is happening

In late September, some iPhone 18 Pro Max owners on AT&T saw their phones drop into SOS and stay there, unable to call, text or use data. Apple confirmed it in a statement, saying it had "identified an issue affecting a small number of iPhone 18 Pro Max users on the AT&T network." iOS 27.0.1 is now required to set up a new 18 Pro Max, and Apple released AT&T carrier settings 72.1 on October 2.

Apple released iOS 27.2 on October 26. Its release notes don't mention this problem, so the steps above still apply.

Apple released iOS 27.2.1 on November 9. Its release notes list only bug fixes and security updates and don't mention this problem.

What to try

  1. If your Pro Max on AT&T works normally, install iOS 27.0.1, then open Settings > General > About and accept the carrier settings prompt if one appears.
  2. Those updates are designed to stop the problem from starting.
  3. They do not repair a phone that has already lost service.
  4. Apple says those phones need a replacement, so ask Apple or AT&T for one.
  5. Our iPhone 18 Pro problems report has the full timeline.
  6. Apple sent a further AT&T carrier settings update, version 72.0.3, to iOS 27.2 beta testers on October 9.
  7. It does not change the advice for phones that have already lost service.

What readers are telling us

  • Phone remains in SOS mode after update

    iPhone 17 on iOS 27.2.1, November 10

  • Cellular signal disappears and shows SOS

    iPhone older on iOS 27.0.1, October 30

Short summaries of reader reports. We never publish names or a reader's exact words.

Have more detail?

A written report tells Apple and other owners what your device was doing when it happened.

History

  1. Nov 14
    4 readers have it so far.
  2. Next
    Waiting on Apple. We mark it Fixed only when Apple's release notes or a statement name the fix.

Where the reports come from

Source: Apple statement, plus AT&T carrier settings 72.1 released October 2.

Related problems

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