Is My Phone Carrier Down? Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile Checks
To find out whether your phone carrier is down, use the carrier’s own outage tool first, then check your phone. Verizon has a Check network status page and a Network Notification in My Verizon, AT&T has an outage page that needs a sign-in or a phone number, and T-Mobile has a Network Outages support page. You can also watch live reports on our Verizon status, AT&T status and T-Mobile status pages.
How do I check a Verizon outage?
Verizon offers two official routes, described in its wireless outage and network notifications FAQ. The first is My Verizon: sign in and look for a network alert at the top of the screen or on the Device Overview page. A Network Notification tells you when Verizon knows about a mobile network outage in your area, which services are affected and the repair status.
The second is the Check network status page. If no alert appears in My Verizon, enter your location and the service type to see the status for your area. Verizon’s coverage map also shows what coverage type an address has, which helps you tell an outage from a weak-signal spot.
How do I check an AT&T outage?
AT&T’s service outage page lists two ways in. You can enter a phone number on your account and confirm it with a code, or you can sign in to your AT&T account to see outages tied to your address or account. AT&T also suggests checking the coverage map to confirm you are in a covered area.
Because the tool depends on your account, it will not give a public map of everything that is down. Use our status page for a wider view of what other people are seeing.
How do I check a T-Mobile outage?
T-Mobile’s Network Outages support page explains that a possible outage may mean routine maintenance on the tower you use most or an unforeseen problem with that tower. It says T-Mobile will notify you when the outage is resolved. That page describes notifications and Wi-Fi Calling and does not offer a live map, so the T-Mobile app or account, plus our live page, are the practical checks.
| Carrier | Official check | Needs sign-in? |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon | My Verizon network alert, Check network status page | Alert: yes. Status page: enter a location |
| AT&T | Outage page with phone number code or account sign-in | Yes, or a verified phone number |
| T-Mobile | Network Outages support page, T-Mobile app or account | Account notifications |
How can I tell a carrier outage from a phone problem?
An outage affects many people at once, while a phone problem affects one device. Ask someone near you on the same carrier whether their service works. If their phone works and yours does not, the cause is probably your phone, SIM or account.
- Turn Airplane Mode on for at least 15 seconds, then turn it off. Apple recommends this step in its support article on SOS, No Service or Searching.
- Restart the phone.
- Move to a different spot, ideally outside or near a window, since buildings can block signal.
- Check whether mobile data works while Wi-Fi is off.
- Check for a system or carrier settings update.
- Contact the carrier through its app or the number on your bill to confirm your line is active and nothing blocks the device.
What do SOS only and No service mean?
On an iPhone, SOS in the status bar means the phone is not connected to your carrier but can still make emergency calls through other carriers in the United States, Canada and Australia, according to Apple. No Service or Searching means the iPhone is not connected to any cellular network. Our guides on iPhone SOS only and Android No service cover the device steps in detail.
Can I still call and text during a carrier outage?
Often yes, through Wi-Fi. Both AT&T and T-Mobile suggest Wi-Fi Calling for voice calls during an outage, and AT&T also suggests connecting to Wi-Fi for data. Wi-Fi Calling must be supported by your carrier and phone and usually has to be switched on beforehand. On a Pixel phone the setting is under Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Wi-Fi calling, according to Google’s Pixel Help.
Verizon’s troubleshooting advice goes the other way: if you suspect a problem, turn off Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Calling so the phone reconnects to the Verizon network, then restart. Try the Wi-Fi route when the mobile network is clearly down and the reset route when you are not sure.
Do not rely on a text or call that “confirms an outage” from an unknown number. Carriers do not need your PIN or password to tell you about an outage.
Do carriers give credit for an outage?
Policies differ and change. As of November 2026, Verizon’s FAQ says a customer on a standard monthly mobile plan who lost service in their coverage area for more than 24 hours in a row, when Verizon is at fault, can contact Verizon within 180 days for a credit for the time lost. We did not confirm current credit rules for AT&T or T-Mobile, so check their pages or ask them directly.
Bottom line
Use the carrier’s own tool, compare with a neighbor, and restart your phone before you assume the network is down. If many people on the same carrier have the problem, switch to Wi-Fi Calling and wait. For general steps, see what to do during an outage.
FAQ
Why does my phone show no service but my friend’s does not?
That points to your phone, SIM or account. Try Airplane Mode, a restart and a different location before contacting the carrier.
Does 911 work during a carrier outage?
On an iPhone showing SOS, emergency calls can still go through other carriers’ networks in the United States, Canada and Australia, per Apple. Coverage is not guaranteed, so move to open ground and keep trying.
Is Downdetector an official source?
No. It collects user reports, so use it as a clue next to the carrier’s own outage tool.
How long do carrier outages last?
It varies and we cannot give a typical length. T-Mobile’s page says it will notify you when an outage is resolved. Check your carrier’s app for updates.