iPhone 18 Pro Max shows SOS for cellular network strength

This issue was resolved by going to the AT&T store and having them assign a new eSIM to my phone.

The AT&T guy did say that others were having the same problem.

หาก iPhone แสดงสถานะ **SOS** หรือไม่มีสัญญาณเซลลูลาร์จากปัญหา eSIM สามารถดำเนินการแก้ไขตามขั้นตอนได้ดังนี้:

**รีเซ็ตการเชื่อมต่อผ่านโหมดเครื่องบิน**

*15 วินาที*

เปิด การตั้งค่า (Settings) > เปิด โหมดเครื่องบิน (Airplane Mode) ค้างไว้ประมาณ 15 วินาที แล้วทำการปิด เพื่อบังคับให้ระบบค้นหาและลงทะเบียนกับเครือข่ายใหม่

วิธีตรวจสอบ: สังเกตที่มุมบนของหน้าจอว่าชื่อผู้ให้บริการเครือข่ายกลับมาแสดงแทนคำว่า SOS หรือไม่**ตรวจสอบและเปิดใช้งานสาย eSIM**

*การตั้งค่าระบบ*

เข้าไปที่ การตั้งค่า (Settings) > เซลลูลาร์ (Cellular) จากนั้นเลือกรายการ eSIM ที่ใช้งานอยู่ และตรวจสอบว่าได้สวิตช์เปิด "เปิดสายนี้" (Turn On This Line) เรียบร้อยแล้ว

วิธีตรวจสอบ: สัญญาณเซลลูลาร์จะเริ่มแสดงขีดความแรงของสัญญาณ**อัปเดตการตั้งค่าผู้ให้บริการ (Carrier Settings)**

*ผ่าน Wi-Fi*

เชื่อมต่อ Wi-Fi แล้วไปที่ การตั้งค่า (Settings) > ทั่วไป (General) > เกี่ยวกับ (About) หากมีรายการอัปเดตจากผู้ให้บริการ ให้กดอัปเดต

วิธีตรวจสอบ: หากมีป๊อปอัปแจ้งอัปเดต ให้กดตกลงและรอสักครู่**รีเซ็ตการตั้งค่าเครือข่าย (Reset Network Settings)**

*ต้องใส่รหัสผ่าน Wi-Fi ใหม่*

ไปที่ การตั้งค่า (Settings) > ทั่วไป (General) > ย้ายหรือรีเซ็ต iPhone > รีเซ็ต > รีเซ็ตการตั้งค่าเครือข่าย (การทำเช่นนี้จะลบรหัสผ่าน Wi-Fi และการตั้งค่า Bluetooth ที่เคยบันทึกไว้)

วิธีตรวจสอบ: เครื่องจะรีสตาร์ทตัวเอง และพยายามค้นหารับสัญญาณเครือข่ายใหม่อีกครั้ง

### กรณีที่ทำตามขั้นตอนแล้วยังขึ้น SOS

หากทำตามขั้นตอนเบื้องต้นแล้วยังไม่สามารถแก้ไขได้ อาจเกิดจากปัญหา **eSIM Profile หลุดหรือขัดข้องจากระบบของผู้ให้บริการ (Provisioning Issue)** แนะนำให้ดำเนินการต่อดังนี้:

1. **ติดต่อผู้ให้บริการเครือข่าย (ค่ายมือถือ):** แจ้งให้ทางค่ายทำการส่ง Profile eSIM ใหม่ หรือสแกน QR Code สำหรับ eSIM เครื่องใหม่เพื่อเปิดใช้งานอีกครั้ง

2. **อัปเดต iOS:** เข้าไปที่ **การตั้งค่า** > **ทั่วไป** > **ซอฟต์แวร์อัปเดต** เพื่อให้มั่นใจว่าระบบปฏิบัติการเป็นเวอร์ชันล่าสุด

We are having the same issue. AT&T. Set up phones Friday, worked fine Friday and Saturday, then today around 2pm PST sos and no service, spent 2 hours on the phone trouble shooting, no answers. Went into and AT&T store and they said yep, we know it’s an issue and don’t know when it will be fixed. Here is a $15 dollar credit. If it’s not resolved in the next 24 hours we are returning the phones and going with a different carrier.

Just spoke with tech support at att, it’s a known issue they had to put a ticket in for me and he said they have seen this get resolved already hopefully will take 48 hours

You're not connected to AT&T. Contact AT&T for help to get service moved to your iPhone.

As it stands, you are not connected to AT&T's network.

If you have an AT&T store nearby, take the phone to them so that can set up your account properly.

Apscholar wrote:

Anyone at @ATT or @Apple addressing the iPhone 18 Pro Max cellular/eSIM issue? Brand-new phone repeatedly dropping into SOS despite multiple AT&T troubleshooting attempts. I’m clearly not alone. Wi-Fi Calling works, but AT&T cellular registration keeps failing. We need an actual answer.”

This is a user to user only forum, not Apple or AT&T support. We can't speak for either Apple nor AT&T. I have AT&T on iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max without any issues. It's AT&T who needs to resolve this for you. Apple doesn't sell, nor deliver cellular service. Contact AT&T and elevate your issue to a higher level technical support person. The first line people you speak with can solve simple issues, but an issue like you're having needs higher level support.

Same issue, AT&T is having account provisioning issues. AT&T does not participate here, or Apple. We’re all users like yourself. But if you review the iPhone AT&T community on Reddit this issue is being widely reported.

Returning the device won’t resolve the issue, because it’s an AT&T issue. Sorry.

AT&T can’t get it together. They’ve been having eSIM issues since the rollout of the 18. I haven’t had cellular access except for a couple of moments here and there since Friday. Support replaced eSIM, same issue. Searching Reddit shows this is a known issue on AT&T. They are going to owe a lot of credits!

AT&T reports that many iPhone 18 devices are not compatible with their network. The do not have a solution or a timetable for resolution.

So I got my phone Friday worked fine til Sunday 3pm EST . Spent 10 hour Monday over instagram with them in between went to store for new eSIM. Towards the end they said call tomorrow as if they don’t care . Yesterday I called . They told me it’s a known issues . So they gave me service back on my iPhone 11 Pro Max and told me everything is expected to work October 2 which is a Friday . So after that I have to call them to do the same process of getting a eSIM or go to store for one . They gave me a $30 credit but it goes based on phone plan that you have.

Strandedintexas wrote:

AT&T reports that many iPhone 18 devices are not compatible with their network. The do not have a solution or a timetable for resolution.

Carriers, including AT&T are famous for the BLAME GAME. Don't buy it. Elevate your issue. This is an issue with AT&T, not Apple.

My phone has been on SOS since I received it on Monday. I first went to an AT&T store, and they said there was nothing they could do. I was able to go to the Apple Store today. They ran a diagnostic and said this was definitely a cellular issue. I was the 7th customer that came in today with that issue. They did not replace my phone, and told me to go to AT&T and have them replace the eSIM. I went to another AT&T store and they did replace the eSIM, but it didn’t work. They told me that there should be an update tomorrow which I highly doubt. I just switched back to my old phone.

CoachChuck wrote:

Thank you!!

You're welcome. I'm sure AT&T can get your account provisioned on your new iPhone for you. Enjoy it!

Having the same issue day 5 no service brand new iphone 18 pro max now my old 17 max cannot regain service either, ran diagonostics phone is fine its the service at&t will put in for an exchange soon

I got my new iPhone 18 Pro Max on September 18th, and I’ve been having this same issue ever since I got it. My service provider is AT&T, and I took it into an AT&T store, but they told me there wasn’t anything they could do and that I’d need to take it to an Apple Store. So essentially if I’m not connected to WiFi I can’t do anything on my phone that relates to using data. My outgoing and incoming calls are also rarely working even on WiFi.

I called AT&T Support, and they walked me through some troubleshooting steps, but unfortunately nothing resolved the issue. They ended up submitting a ticket, but I haven’t received any updates or an ETA on when it might be fixed.

Is this issue specific to AT&T, or is it a broader issue affecting new iPhone 18 models in general?

PLEASE BE AWARE the more you add and delete esim itll reset the timer to fix, try and ride it out if not exchange

tbarwick wrote:

AT&T can’t get it together. They’ve been having eSIM issues since the rollout of the 18. I haven’t had cellular access except for a couple of moments here and there since Friday. Support replaced eSIM, same issue. Searching Reddit shows this is a known issue on AT&T. They are going to owe a lot of credits!

We activated iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max on Friday, both with eSim and both on AT&T, without any issue whatsoever on either phone. I'm not suggesting AT&T doesn't have an issue, but it's not a universal issue. That said, in the Author's case here, it appears they simply aren't connected to AT&T to begin with on their new iPhone.

No issues at all on the iPhones here with AT&T.

Things may not be quite as dire as you imagine. If there were serious issues with any of the major carriers, this site would be flooded with posts. It's not.

Anyone at @ATT or @Apple addressing the iPhone 18 Pro Max cellular/eSIM issue? Brand-new phone repeatedly dropping into SOS despite multiple AT&T troubleshooting attempts. I’m clearly not alone. Wi-Fi Calling works, but AT&T cellular registration keeps failing. We need an actual answer.”

My 18 pro max worked fine for the first few days, but today it started the SOS issue. It now only works when I'm a few feet from a tower (5G+). As soon as it drops off 5G+ to basic 5G, data immediately stops and it falls to SOS.

Thank you!!

Thank you!!

Now my IPhone again shows SOS, so I'm not sure WHAT is going on!

Multiple add and deleting of Esims did not work - 5 hours w support off and on yesterday