Apple said it will replace a “small number” of iPhone 18 Pro Max phones on the AT&T network after a bug left some devices unable to connect to cellular service.
In a statement given to media outlets, the company said it had “identified an issue affecting a small number of iPhone 18 Pro Max users on the AT&T network that may cause a device to lose service and be unable to make calls.” Reports from affected customers describe phones that also cannot send or receive texts or use mobile data, leaving them usable mainly on Wi-Fi and, in some cases, stuck in SOS mode.
The problem is limited to the iPhone 18 Pro Max on AT&T. Apple said it has not seen the same failure on other iPhone models or on other carriers. The $1,299 handset had been on sale for about two weeks when the reports surfaced. Apple has not said how many devices are affected; MacRumors noted that thousands of users had posted complaints on Apple’s support forums and elsewhere, while the company continues to describe the group as small.
Software fixes will not restore phones that have already lost service. Apple released iOS 27.0.1 earlier in the week and began pushing an AT&T carrier settings update intended to stop the bug from hitting more devices. “These updates together are meant to help prevent this issue from occurring,” the company said. It urged all iPhone 18 Pro Max owners on AT&T to install the updates now. The carrier settings update is expected to download automatically over about 14 days; users can also trigger it manually by opening Settings, tapping General, then About.
Customers whose phones have already dropped service need a hardware replacement. Apple said those users should contact Apple Support or AT&T, or visit an Apple Store or AT&T store, to arrange a swap. Once a replacement is issued, the line has to be activated on the new handset.
MacDailyNews Note: For everyone else on AT&T with a working iPhone 18 Pro Max, the immediate step is to update. Owners of other iPhones, and iPhone 18 Pro Max users on other carriers, are not affected.
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