iOS 26 Cellular doesn't work after update

My iPhone 15 Pro Max is now effectively a useless brick unless it’s connected to WiFi. Certainly can’t be used as a phone as it has had no cell service since updating to IOS 26 on the day it was released. 26.01 has not fixed the issue. I’ve read and tried lots of so-called fixes but nothing has worked permanently. Does anyone know if Apple even care enough to produce a proper fix for this issue? Talkmobile have no clue how to fix this and, yes, the SIM

works fine in a different iPhone so it’s the case that IOS 26 caused some catastrophic event that made this fairly crucial point of having phone cease to work. Simply not good enough Apple!

I’m using an iPhone 11 Pro and just received another as an express replacement a couple of weeks ago from apple. The day after I got it, I noticed it wasn’t connecting to the mobile network. When people try to call me, they hear messages like “unable to connect,” “switched off,” or “out of range.”

Today, I checked the details of the iOS 26.0.1 update and saw a note saying: “A small number of iPhone users may be unable to connect to a mobile network after updating to iOS 26.” That’s when I realized I had updated to iOS 26 right after getting the replacement phone.

I’ve contacted Apple Support several times before, but they say they can’t find any issue. I’ve tried using SIM cards from different carriers, but the problem remains. Network diagnostics show a hardware issue, yet Apple Support insists everything is fine.

So I’m wondering, if this is an iOS issue, then why the Apple does not fix it?

The SIM flipping solution works. iPhone 14 here. My tray only had space for one SIM, so I bought a generic one for dual SIM and problem "solved," phone working normally. Calls, data, everything.

Do you have a single or a dual sim tray currently?

What did your cellular service provider say when you called their customer support team?

Please contact your cellular service provider.

None of the Ts provided has worked for me so far. Ive done:

1. Airplane mode
2. Reset the settings
3. Clean slate phone without backup
4. Clean slate with backup
5. Single tray sim so i cant change slots
6. Tray wont fit so I cant flip it
7. Downgraded to ios18 (worked there) but got upgraded back (no longer worked)

Apple support told me it was a hardware issue in the diagnostics TWICE and on the third time finally told me they are aware of the issue.

I downgraded to ios18.7 and the SIM card is recognizable again. The problem is not with the hardware. Only problem with my own downgrade was I lost everything on my WhatsApp because it required a key code to restore my backups which I never remembered creating.

miribenn wrote:

I downgraded to ios18.7 and the SIM card is recognizable again. The problem is not with the hardware. Only problem with my own downgrade was I lost everything on my WhatsApp because it required a key code to restore my backups which I never remembered creating.

If you used an IPSW from the internet you will have many more problems with that jailbreak iOS.

rexmar256 wrote:

I encountered the same issue did tried all possible solution to restore my data connection.

Toggling Data Connection, airplane mode, resetting Network Connection, Hard Reboot my phone, Checked APN, factory reset (Which I regret doing), even contacted apple support spent 3hrs for 3 daya just to get it fixed, Rep ran several diagnostic test, but nothing happen. Was told I will be contacted in 3 days but got no response. Since I was tired waiting without my data connection. I did the last option, which is downgrading it back to iOS 18, and it fixed the issue. And just to give it a second chance, I tried upgrading it again to iOS 26 thinking it might be an issue during update. And to my surprise it went back to the same issue, so I downgraded again to iOS18 hahah. Will just wait on the next patch instead.

You cannot legitimately downgrade , what you did was inadvertently jailbreak it

Wait for 26.0.1

Same persistant issue here. Did the update to 26.0.1 and no acces at al to mobile network.

I have tried everything suggested in this thread including hard reset, complete swipe and restore back up to.

nothing works.

My SIM has cellular in another phone > so no issue with the provider

and someone else's SIM works in my phone > no issue with hardware of my phone?

It seems to be the combination of my SIM and my updated iPhone.

Are there any other solutions or things i can try?

I am out of ideas and it's becoming urgent.

I need to be reachable via the mobile network for health issues!

Hi, no one that participates in these forums knows a specific release date for Apple’s next update, iOS 26.2. Those that do know are under a NDA and won’t say, as to do so jeopardizes their employment.

You don’t mention in your comment if you’ve spoken to your carrier about the issue. I’ve had similar issues and had one when I purchased my iPhone 17 PM back in September. A 15 minute call to my carrier and a simple restart resolved my connectivity issues.

Make sure whether Lockdown mode is enabled or not

Try flipping your sim to the other side of the tray, it worked 💪💪

it works for me witching the Roaming data on and service. thank you