Verizon outage map: cities hit, fixes, and what to do now

TL;DR:

Verizon users saw “SOS” and “Emergency Calls Only” on October 9–10.
Reports spiked in New York, D.C., Chicago, Seattle, and more.
Verizon cited a software issue and worked on a fix.
Use the official network status page and outage map to check service.
Try Wi-Fi calling, reset network settings, and toggle LTE/5G.

On October 9, 2025, Verizon users across the United States reported outages. Many phones showed “SOS” or “Emergency Calls Only.” Reports concentrated in large cities, including New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Seattle, Phoenix, and Atlanta. Verizon acknowledged a software issue and said engineers were restoring service the same day, with continued updates on October 10.

Independent trackers showed spikes in complaints overnight into October 10. News outlets shared maps of affected areas and customer reports. Verizon directed users to its official network status page.

Where service was affected

Reports centered on dense metro areas. Some users lost voice and data. Others saw degraded 5G but working LTE. Home internet and Fios users also reported issues in some markets on October 10.

How to check the Verizon outage map

Verizon maintains two helpful pages. The network status page lets you enter a location to see current issues. The California outage map shows site-level incidents and gives a sense of how pins appear when towers are offline. Together, these tools help confirm if a problem is local or wider.

What you can do now

Try these steps before contacting support.

Turn airplane mode on for 20 seconds, then off.
Toggle 5G off to force LTE.
Enable Wi-Fi Calling if available.
Reset network settings. This clears saved networks and APNs.
Remove and reseat your SIM, or reboot an eSIM profile.
If calls fail, use Wi-Fi apps for voice and chat.

If service is still down, note the time, your ZIP code, and device model. Share that when you contact support. It helps engineers trace the fault.

Small checklist

Step	Where	Why
Check official status	Verizon network page	Confirms known issues
Try Wi-Fi Calling	Phone settings	Keeps calls working
Toggle 5G/LTE	Cellular options	Bypass a bad 5G cell
Reset network	Settings > General	Clears stuck configs
Report details	Support chat or call	Aids faster fixes

Background

Large carriers sometimes fail after software pushes. Past Verizon outages hit thousands within minutes, then tapered as fixes rolled out. Many iPhones show “SOS” when the device connects to any network for emergency calls only.

What happens next

Expect a formal post-incident note if the outage was sizable. Watch the status page for “resolved” flags by region. If you rely on Fios for work, set a cellular hotspot plan as a fallback.

Why it matters

Phones are core tools for work, banking, and alerts. Knowing how to check the official map, switch to Wi-Fi calling, and log a clean report saves time and stress during the next incident.

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