Apple Confirms AT&T Connectivity Bug on iPhone 18 Pro Max, Urges Users to Update

Devices already experiencing signal loss will require a hardware replacement.

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Following a number of complaints about network issues affecting iPhone 18 Pro Max devices, Apple has confirmed that there is indeed a problem. The issue appears to have affected only AT&T users in the US, and an iOS update is already available to address it. However, the update will not resolve the problem for those who have already been affected. Those users will need a hardware replacement, Apple told 9to5Mac.

What Apple says about the AT&T issue

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It is not difficult to identify if your device has been affected by this bug. If it is, your iPhone 18 Pro Max will display the “SOS” symbol in the status bar instead of signal bars. Additionally, calls, text messages, and data over 4G or 5G will stop working entirely. The good news is that not every iPhone 18 Pro Max owner on AT&T has been impacted. Apple states that the issue only affects a “small number” of users, and provided 9to5Mac with the following statement:

“We have identified an issue affecting a small number of iPhone 18 Pro Max users on the AT&T network that may cause a device to lose service and be unable to make calls. We released iOS 27.0.1 earlier this week and strongly encourage all iPhone 18 Pro Max users to update now, and are also issuing a carrier settings update today. These updates together are meant to help prevent this issue from occurring.”

Interestingly, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is the only model sold in the US that utilizes a Qualcomm modem instead of Apple’s proprietary chip — though it remains unclear whether there is any direct connection between the modem and the bug. If you ordered an iPhone 18 Pro Max with an AT&T SIM card, here is what you should do. First, update to iOS 27.0.1 as soon as possible. Simply navigate to Settings > General > Software Update and look for the latest version.

If you have already updated, it is also worth checking for the latest carrier settings. In Settings, go to General and tap About to trigger the update. If you do not see a pop-up regarding a carrier settings update, you likely already have the latest version. Unfortunately, if your iPhone has already lost its cellular signal, a software update or restore will not work. You should contact Apple Support or AT&T to request a phone replacement instead.

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