Cellular service disabled after iOS 15.3.1 update

Tried inserting different sim, reset network settings a few times, factory reset phone a couple of times but nothing works. Factory reset made the phone connect to mobile data but when the iCloud data is restored, it’s the same issue. Tried it through iTunes too and it’s the same issue. Apple support through phone or in person apple store visit are unable to give a solution to this either. Apple personnel say maybe there’s a file which might be creating the problem but do not say how to identify that file without loosing the entire backup. It’s strange that issue is only after update to 15.3.1. Hope apple fixes this issue with an update.

Call your wireless provider three times and Apple once get a new SIM card, factory reset your phone, reset your network settings on your phone, connect to Wi-Fi, wait three days and then it will work.

It sounds like nonsense but that is exactly what I did and then my phone started working. My phone wasn’t working for about week and I literally tried everything, those were the steps that I took. I can’t help that Apple made me go through such nonsense with no help from them.

Same thing happened to me and now I have a nonfunctional phone, so this is a cautionary tale. I tried to update over wifi but it wouldn’t verify. I then backed up and updated over iTunes with no problem. Still no service. Tried everything listed on the Net to fix, short of a factory reset, no success. Spent 3 hours on the phone with Apple Support. They told me to do a factory reset. After that I couldn’t set up the phone. I could get as far as choosing a wifi network and then get a message “Unable to Activate, An update is required to activate your iPhone ”. Apple Support made me an appointment with Apple Genius. They couldn’t fix it either. “So sorry, these things happen sometimes, it’s out of warranty so we can’t do anything for you. We’ll sell you a new one, but, oh, since the phone is now no longer operational in any way, we can’t offer you a trade in on a new phone” . So Apple totally breaks my phone and can offer me nothing at all to recompense me for what they did. I’m posting this to let you know the kind of support you’ll get from Apple. If your phone has no cell service but everything else is fine, DO NOT FACTORY RESET IT, no matter what Apple experts tell you to do. There is another update coming out next week, IOS 15.4, wish I’d known that before I called Apple Support. Maybe downloading that will fix the No Service, who knows? Off to look at Androids.

I am so sorry to read this. What I did, and hopefully it helps you, is, went to ITUNES and Restored from there. This re-installed 15.3.1 and cellular/data is back on, everything is ok now, after almost 2 weeks.

Besides the fact that iTunes is dead on Mac for at least two years now, restoring is no option for me, since banking software then requires new tokens. So any kind of factory reset and restoring is no solution for me.

As a workaround I activated WiFi-call on both profiles. I rarely use the iPhone for phone calls, usually I've been called, but mostly I am then in the office or at my home desk within WiFi-range. So if cell signal drops during a call the Wifi-connection keeps the call alive.

I want Apple to have this issue being fixed! I am tired of hearing something about resetting anything.

I’m also having intermittent drops to my cellular connection and also unable to make wifi calls when that happens, even though my phone is connected to wifi and I can send/receive emails or use internet. I have spent a lot of time with my carrier and gone through all troubleshooting steps and concluding this is a major issue with IOS 15.3.1 as the wifi calling also gets disabled.

Why is Apple not addressing this major issue where users are unable to make a phone call with their phone? (Isn’t that functionality #1 of an iphone?)

Still happening after 15.4 update. Note that this is not a problem of the cellular provider – even if I remove the SIM and start the phone, it shows that mobile data / cellular is not available on this device until it is updated. The device is practically unusable now.

When I tell you this is word for word the EXACT same thing that happened to me! And Apple tried to sell me a lie like my phone just happened to break and that it’s out of warranty. I had no choice but to upgrade and when I sent my phone in for trade in they rejected it because it wasn’t apple to be activated because of the activation error I got after Apple suggested to restore from factory setting. This just isn’t right for Apple to take advantage of their customers like this.

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GLORY BE!!! I didn’t have cell service for abt 6 wks. Verizon wasn’t able to help me. I walked in to a Verizon store. The lady flipped through a couple of settings. Switched 3G off to voice and data. She allowed me to give her a hug. She also told me I have 4G. Whew! I don’t have to buy a new phone!!!!

This is also happening to me after updating to 15.3.1. So frustrating!

I hace exactly the same problem. I can not make calls and incoming callers get the message that forwarding is on……have I been hacked or is this a 15.3.1 problem?

Yes-exact same thing happened today. Still can‘t make calls. I was stuck at a hospital after medical procedure, unable to let my husband know to come get me. Nightmare. Still trying to fix it.

Yes and it's very frustrating to say the least. Apple doesn't have to worry about me doing anymore updates or getting their products. Zero help from them.

Still doing good on Verizon. No issues so far.