Verizon Outage: How to Check Service in Your Area and What to Do

To check whether Verizon is down in your area, sign in to My Verizon and look for a Network Notification alert at the top of the screen. If no alert appears, enter your location on Verizon’s Check network status page. Then compare with someone nearby who uses Verizon and with our live Verizon status page before you reset anything.

How do I check for a Verizon outage in my area?

Verizon describes two official checks in its wireless outage and network notifications FAQ. Use them in this order.

1. Open My Verizon and sign in. If Verizon knows about a network outage in your area, a Network Notification alert appears at the top of the screen.
2. Read the notification. Verizon says these notifications show which services are affected and the status of repairs.
3. Look at the Device Overview page. Verizon’s FAQ points to this page in My Verizon for outage alerts and to confirm that your line is active.
4. Use Check network status if no alert appears. Enter your location and the type of service that is failing, and the tool returns the status for that area. It can also check Verizon home internet for an address.
5. Compare with the coverage map. Verizon’s coverage map shows the coverage type at an address. It helps you separate an outage from a weak-signal spot, but it is not a live outage map.

Open My Verizon from the app on your phone or by typing verizon.com yourself. Do not follow a link in an unexpected text that claims to show an outage.

Is it a Verizon outage or a problem with my phone?

An outage affects many Verizon customers in the same area at the same time. A phone problem follows one device wherever it goes. The quickest test is to ask someone nearby who also uses Verizon. If their phone works in the same spot and yours does not, the cause is probably your phone, SIM or account.

What you see	What it usually points to	What to do first
Network Notification in My Verizon	A known Verizon outage in your area	Switch to Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Calling, wait for repair updates
Other Verizon phones nearby also lost service	A network or tower problem	Check the status page, then wait
Only your phone has no service, in every location	Phone, SIM or line	Restart, check the SIM, confirm the line is active in My Verizon
Service drops only inside one building	Weak coverage at that spot	Move outside or near a window
iPhone shows SOS in the status bar	Not connected to Verizon, emergency calls may still work	See the SOS section below

What does Verizon tell you to try first?

Verizon’s outage FAQ lists these steps for when you suspect a problem. They appear here in the order Verizon gives them.

1. Turn off Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Calling so you can confirm the phone is on the Verizon network.
2. Restart the device. If the signal bars are low or blinking, move to an area with stronger coverage.
3. Confirm you are in a coverage area.
4. Make sure Airplane Mode is off.
5. Remove the case or cover.
6. If you use Wi-Fi Calling, switch its preference to Cellular.
7. On an iPhone, reset network settings.
8. Install the latest device software.
9. Check the Device Overview page in My Verizon for outage alerts and to confirm the line is active.
10. Inspect the SIM card for marks or scratches on the copper plating, and order a new one if it is damaged.

Resetting network settings on an iPhone also clears saved Wi-Fi networks and their passwords, so keep that step for after the simpler ones. If every step fails and the tools still show no outage, contact Verizon through My Verizon or the number printed on your bill.

What does SOS mean on a Verizon phone?

On an iPhone, SOS or SOS only in the status bar means the phone is not connected to Verizon’s network but can still make emergency calls through other carriers. Apple says this works in the United States, Canada and Australia, in its article on SOS, No Service and Searching. Android phones usually show No service or Emergency calls only instead. Our guides to iPhone SOS only and Android No service cover the device fixes step by step.

If many Verizon phones around you show SOS at the same moment, treat it as a network problem. Restarting again and again will not fix an outage on Verizon’s side.

Can I still call and text during a Verizon outage?

Often yes, if you have a working Wi-Fi connection. Verizon’s FAQ says to connect to Wi-Fi for data during an outage and to turn on Wi-Fi Calling for voice calls. Wi-Fi Calling has to be supported by your phone and plan. Set it up before you need it, because the first setup may ask you to confirm an address for emergency services.

Phone	Where to turn on Wi-Fi Calling	Source
iPhone	Settings > Cellular > Wi-Fi Calling, then turn on Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone	Apple Support, Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling
Google Pixel	Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Wi-Fi calling	Google Pixel Help
Other Android phones	Menu names vary by maker, usually under the phone or SIM settings	Your phone maker’s help pages

There is a trade-off. Verizon’s troubleshooting starts with turning Wi-Fi Calling off, so you can see whether the phone reaches the cell network at all. Turn it back on once you know the network is down. Apple notes that when cellular service is available, an iPhone uses it for emergency calls, and when it is not, emergency calls might use Wi-Fi Calling.

Does Verizon give a credit for an outage?

As of November 2026, Verizon’s outage FAQ says that if you have a standard monthly mobile plan and lost service in your coverage area for more than 24 hours in a row, and Verizon is at fault, you can contact Verizon within 180 days for a credit for the time lost. The FAQ does not describe this credit as automatic, so you have to ask for it.

Verizon has also made one-time offers after specific events. In its update on the January 14, 2026 network outage, Verizon said the outage was resolved as of 10:15 PM ET and offered affected customers a $20 account credit, accepted in the myVerizon app. Verizon’s credit FAQ says the redemption window for that credit closed on February 16, 2026.

Be careful with texts or calls that promise an outage refund. Verizon told customers in January 2026 that a text would announce the credit, and scammers copy messages like that. Open My Verizon yourself instead of tapping a link, and never share your account PIN, password or a one-time code with someone who contacted you first.

What should I do while Verizon fixes an outage?

• Use Wi-Fi for data and Wi-Fi Calling for calls and texts.
• Check My Verizon for an updated Network Notification instead of calling over and over.
• Dial 911 in an emergency even if the phone shows SOS, and move to open ground if the call fails.
• Restart your phone after the repair if service does not return. Verizon gave that advice after the January 2026 outage.

For a longer checklist that works for any service, see what to do when a big service is down.

Bottom line

Start with My Verizon and the Check network status page, then compare with a neighbor on Verizon. If the tools show an outage, switch to Wi-Fi Calling and wait. If they show nothing and only your phone is affected, work through Verizon’s steps from the top. For a side-by-side look at the big three carriers, see how to check Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile outages.

FAQ

Does Verizon have an outage map?

Verizon’s main tool is the Check network status page, which shows the status for a location you enter. The coverage map shows coverage types, not live outages.

Why does my Verizon iPhone say SOS?

SOS means the iPhone is not connected to Verizon but can still reach emergency services through other carriers, according to Apple. Try Airplane Mode and a restart, then check for an outage.

Will Verizon credit me automatically after an outage?

As of November 2026, Verizon’s FAQ describes a credit you request within 180 days, for a loss of service longer than 24 hours in a row on a standard monthly mobile plan. One-time offers, such as the January 2026 credit, came with their own instructions and deadline.

Is Downdetector proof that Verizon is down?

No. It counts reports from users, which can rise for many reasons. Treat it as a clue and confirm with Verizon’s own tools.