If you're a Verizon customer, you might be having trouble making calls, sending texts, or using mobile data today. The wireless carrier appears to be experiencing a widespread outage, and thousands of users have reported service interruptions across the United States.

Headline: Is Verizon down? Here's what's going on

Verizon's network is down for a significant number of customers, according to outage tracking website Downdetector. Reports began surging around 12:40 PM ET on August 12, 2026, with the number of complaints peaking at over 2,500. As of the latest update, the number has dipped to just below 2,000, but service issues are persisting in several major metropolitan areas.

Key facts

• Verizon customers are reporting widespread outages on August 12, 2026.
• Downdetector recorded over 2,500 outage reports at the peak.
• The first major wave of reports appeared around 12:40 PM ET.
• New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, and Los Angeles are among the hardest-hit areas.

What is Downdetector?

Downdetector is a widely used website that compiles user reports of service interruptions. The platform gathers data from social media, crowdsourced reports, and user submissions to create a real-time picture of outages for internet providers, mobile carriers, and online services. It is not an official source, but it has become a go-to resource for customers who want to quickly determine whether an issue is widespread or specific to their own device.

What are customers experiencing?

Based on the complaints logged on Downdetector, customers are experiencing a range of issues, including an inability to place or receive phone calls, slow or non-existent mobile data, and problems with SMS and MMS text messaging. Some users also report that Wi-Fi calling is not working, while others say that their phones are showing 'SOS' or 'No Service' in the status bar. Verizon's official status page has not yet posted a detailed explanation, but the sheer volume of reports suggests a large-scale network problem rather than isolated device issues.

Where is the outage affecting users?

The outage appears to be national in scope, but the Downdetector heat map shows that the largest clusters are in New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, and Los Angeles. These major urban centers often have dense concentration of Verizon customers, which may explain why the reports are more numerous in those areas. However, users in smaller cities and rural regions have also filed outage reports, indicating that the issue is not limited to just a few states.

Why are some cities harder hit?

There are several reasons why an outage can appear more severe in certain cities. Population density plays a role, as more users in a smaller area will naturally generate more reports. The severity of the network failure may also vary by region if certain infrastructure components are affected differently. In many cases, the areas that see the highest number of reports are simply the places with the largest concentration of Verizon subscribers, not necessarily the places where the outage originated.

How does this outage compare to previous Verizon outages?

Verizon has experienced several high-profile network outages in the past. In late 2020, a widespread disruption affected thousands of users for several hours, with problems ranging from dropped calls to no data connectivity. In 2021, a smaller but still significant outage hit the East Coast. More recently, in 2024, Verizon faced another major service interruption that prompted the company to issue a statement apologizing to customers. Today's outage appears to be comparable in scale to some of these past events, though the company has not yet confirmed a root cause.

What could be causing the outage?

Network outages can be caused by a variety of factors, including software bugs, fiber cuts, power failures, or issues during planned maintenance. In some cases, Verizon's core network infrastructure, which routes calls and data, can fail and cause a cascading effect. Without an official statement from Verizon, it is difficult to determine the exact cause. However, the pattern of waves of reports suggests that the problem may be intermittent, with some regions recovering before others. The fact that the number of reports has dipped below 2,000 could be a sign that the network is slowly stabilizing, but it is too early to say definitively.

How to check if Verizon is down in your area

There are several ways to determine whether the issue is on your end or with Verizon's network. First, you can visit Downdetector's Verizon page, where users share real-time outage reports. You can also try toggling airplane mode on and off, restarting your phone, or checking if other devices on the same account are affected. Another useful step is to visit Verizon's official network status page, though it may not always reflect an active outage. Social media platforms like X and Facebook can also be a quick way to see if other customers are complaining about the same problem.

What should you do if you need to make an emergency call?

If you need to reach emergency services and your Verizon phone is not working, try using a landline or a phone on a different carrier if available. In many cases, emergency calls can be made even when your carrier's network is congested, but during an outage, this is not guaranteed. You can also check if Wi-Fi calling is enabled on your phone, as it may route your call over an internet connection rather than Verizon's cellular network. However, if the outage affects Verizon's backend systems, Wi-Fi calling may not work either.

How are customers reacting?

On social media, Verizon customers have expressed frustration over the lack of communication from the carrier. Some have reported being unable to contact family members or colleagues, while others have joked about going back to older forms of communication. Small business owners who rely on Verizon for their daily operations have said they are concerned about lost revenue if the outage lasts for an extended period. Several users have also asked Verizon to provide a timeline for when service will be restored, but the company has not yet responded to those requests publicly.

What can businesses do during the outage?

For businesses that depend on Verizon connectivity, this outage can be disruptive. Teams that use mobile hotspots or Verizon-powered point-of-sale systems may need to find alternative solutions. If you have a physical store, you can consider using a backup internet provider or asking customers to pay with cash. For remote workers, finding a nearby coffee shop with a different ISP or using a personal hotspot from another carrier may be the quickest temporary fix. The key is to communicate with employees and customers about the situation and to keep an eye on Verizon's updates.

Verizon's response so far

As of the time of this writing, Verizon has not issued a detailed public statement about the outage. The company's support account on X typically responds to customer complaints and may acknowledge the issue within the next hour. Verizon also operates a company blog where it sometimes posts network maintenance notices. Based on previous outages, customers can expect the company to release a statement once engineers have identified the root cause. Until then, the best course of action is to wait and to avoid repeatedly restarting your phone, as this can put additional strain on the network.

Tips for staying connected during a network outage

If you are affected by the outage, there are a few things you can do to stay connected. If you have access to a Wi-Fi network, enable Wi-Fi calling on your smartphone. You can also use messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal, or iMessage, which rely on internet data rather than cellular voice services. If you need to send a message to someone and you have a friend with a different carrier, you could ask them to relay the message. Keep your phone charged and avoid unnecessary background data usage, as this can help preserve battery if you are in an area with weak signal.

How to report a problem to Verizon

If you are experiencing issues and want to report them directly to Verizon, there are several options. You can call customer service from a landline or a different carrier's phone, though wait times may be longer during an outage. You can also use Verizon's mobile app if you have Wi-Fi access, or message Verizon's support team on social media. Some customers prefer to use the My Verizon app to check their account status, but the app may also be affected if it relies on cellular data. Reporting the issue is important because it helps the company identify the scope of the problem.

What to do if your phone is still not working after the outage

Once Verizon announces that the outage has been resolved, some customers may still experience lingering problems. In that case, try restarting your phone and toggling airplane mode for about 10 seconds. You can also update your device's network settings or reseat the SIM card. On Android devices, there is an option to reset network settings, and on iPhone, you can go to General then Transfer or Reset iPhone and choose Reset Network Settings. If the problem continues, contact Verizon support for further troubleshooting, as there may be an issue with your specific account or device.

When will service be restored?

There is no official word yet on when Verizon's network will return to normal. Outage durations can vary depending on the severity and cause of the problem. In past incidents, Verizon has restored service within a few hours, but some outages have lasted longer. The fact that the number of outage reports has decreased from 2,500 to below 2,000 may indicate that progress is being made, but the network is not fully stable yet. We will keep monitoring the situation and will update this article if Verizon provides an official update or if the reports continue to decline.

Source: Android Authority News