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HardwareJEJ
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

iPhone SE 3rd Gen cellular data not working despite showing connection

I have an iPhone se 3rd generation that has inexplicably stopped being able to use cellular data even though it shows connected to LTE or 5G or 5Guw. I can only use wifi for browsing the internet. Calls and texts go through with no issue.


This started after I paid a late bill to turn the phone back on a couple weeks ago.


It was originally on the latest iOs 26 and was updated (twice) to iOs 27.0.1 and now iOs 27.2. Verizon has tried three different eSims; Apple has swapped the entire physical phone for a new (to me) identical model.


As it stands I now have a seven hour old se 3rd gen, on iOs 27.2, newer than that eSim from Verizon store, and no cellular data.


Any ideas?

Posted on Oct 26, 2026 5:05 PM

2 replies

LD150
User level: Level 10 (107,674 points)

Oct 26, 2026 5:58 PM in response to HardwareJEJ

So you have eliminated the phone and the provider.

Two more things to Test.


  1. No signal data in your location. Drive 3 miles away and try again.
  2. Conflicting software. Backup, erase all content and settings, set up without reference to any backup. Test it again. Erase again and set up using the backup on the same day or you will override your backup.
HardwareJEJ Author
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Nov 2, 2026 2:19 PM in response to LD150

I don't think it's fair to say I've eliminated anything.


Plenty of signal strength. It's not slow, it's zero data.


Phone has been reset multiple times, enough that backups may have lost some photos.


Current iPhone is a one week old iPhone SE 3rd gen 256MB. Apple tech people say it's working fine, Verizon tech support says it's the phone. Multiple network resets, multiple full phone resets, a passel of new esims tried and failed.


No VPNs, no software to conflict with anything. Just no cellular data.

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256383590