Apple has confirmed that some iPhone 18 Pro Max units connected to the US carrier AT&T suddenly lose cellular service. Calls, texts and data stop working, and the phone shows SOS where the network indicator should be. For anyone already affected, a software update does not fix it: the only way out is a free replacement of the device.
What happened
According to Apple’s statement, the problem affects a “small number” of users. Apple has seen the fault only on the iPhone 18 Pro Max and only on the AT&T network in the United States. Other iPhone models and other carriers are not, for now, believed to be involved.
The most worrying point is that once the damage appears, it can’t be repaired with software. Apple itself says the affected devices cannot restore service with an update. Apple has not explained the cause, and it is unclear why an update cannot fix it.
On forums and Reddit, many users describe an uphill struggle before the official confirmation: repeated eSIM replacements and pointless network resets, with the feeling of being passed back and forth between Apple and the carrier.
What iPhone 18 Pro Max owners should do
Apple released iOS 27.0.1 this week, along with a carrier settings update for AT&T, aimed at stopping more phones from ending up in the same situation. The company is urging all iPhone 18 Pro Max owners to install the update straight away from Settings > General > Software Update.
The AT&T carrier settings will arrive automatically within 14 days. Anyone who wants them sooner can look for them manually under Settings > General > About.
If you have already lost the network, contact Apple Support, go to an Apple Store or get in touch with AT&T: the replacement is free.
What about Italy?
For now, there are no reports from Europe or any other region. One technical detail is worth keeping in mind, though: according to MacRumors, models sold in the United States use the Qualcomm Snapdragon X80 modem, while the international versions use the Apple-designed C2 modem. Apple hasn’t said whether this difference has anything to do with it, so it can’t be assumed that anyone living in Italy or Switzerland is safe, but the opposite can’t be assumed either.
For anyone who bought an iPhone 18 Pro Max here, the practical advice is simple: install iOS 27.0.1 as soon as it is available. Anyone using their iPhone in the United States with an AT&T SIM or eSIM, while travelling for example, should check with particular care. If you want to get ready for the upcoming updates, here is how to prepare your iPhone for the iOS 27 update.
What we think
A fault that can’t be cured with an update is a different category from the usual bugs in a first iOS release. If the phone is permanently out of action, the problem lies in the hardware or in a modem state that the software can no longer restore. That is why a free replacement is the right answer, and Apple was right to say so clearly.
Less convincing is the lack of explanation. Without knowing what is breaking, users can’t weigh up the risk, and Apple can’t show that the 27.0.1 update is enough to stop the problem. The fact that it is confined to a single carrier suggests an interaction between the modem and AT&T’s network configuration, but that is a hypothesis, not a confirmation.
The small number of cases is reassuring for iPhone 18 Pro Max owners, but communication remains the weak point: until the causes and the scale are clear, it is worth updating right away and keeping an eye on Apple’s next release notes.
Written by the SpazioiTech newsroom with the help of AI tools, from facts verified across at least two independent outlets, and checked before publication. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Translated from the Italian original. Read in Italian