iPhone not working after 17.2.1 update

You likely had an eSIM for service so when you wiped it, you wiped the eSIM. You will need to contact your carrier to have a new eSIM generated. Also, will need ot be connected to WiFi for the eSIM to download.

Maybe you should take your phone to your cell phone carrier. They can put a different Sim card in just to check it to see if your Sim is damaged ……. or go to an Apple Store, to the Genius Bar, and have them do a free diagnostic check on your phone

I had this and after I turned on Airplane mode and then turned it back off it worked fine. Not sure if this is what actually fixed it but it works now.

Do not pay Apple to fix the problem that their update caused. I had the same thing happen to my 12 Pro - no cell connection after multiple calls to Apple and replacement sims by T-Mobile. Luckily I had done diagnostics online with Apple Support who had verified that my hardware was working. Then when I took it to the Apple store, they claimed their diagnostics showed a hardware problem, and wanted me to pay $600 fix it! The result - I finally got Apple Customer Care to give me a new phone at no cost. See my earlier post for details.

This workaround seems to get tethering to work via a usb cable on the Mac for me.

The issue seems to be related to IPv4 DHCP address negotiation that arbitrarily fails between the iPhone and the Mac. When it fails, the Mac self-assignes a 169.254.x.x address, which is useless for tethering.

1. On the Mac, open System Settings and search for Network.
2. In the Network panel, click on the ellipsis (...) at the bottom right.
3. Under Locations, choose 'edit locations'.
4. Click + to add a new location. The name you choose is arbitrary. I just leave it as 'untitled'.
5. Click 'Done'
6. Now click on the ellipsis again, choose locations, and select the new location's profile as the active location. Everything should start working again at this point - for awhile.
7. When it stops working, repeat the process and add a second location ('untitled2') and select that one as the active location profile.
8. After that, each time it quits working, just toggle back and forth between the two locations and like magic it all starts working again.

Hope this helps. Your mileage may vary.

zamokaren wrote:

Is there any updates to this issue? Has it been fixed?

It’s only fixed if you fixed it by deleting your VPN profile and app.

I feel that it's important to point out that there is nothing to indicate that Apple is monitoring these complaints, or is doing anything about them. I would suggest that if your problems continue, you get in touch with Apple Technical Support, who has spent hours with me running diagnostics to at least document the problems. And then ask to be sent to Customer Service to see what they can do to get you a working phone. Don't waste your time going to an Apple Store, as they can't fix the problem, and told me that they would charge me to repair my phone which stopped connecting to the cellular network immediately after the update.

You will notice that, except for some early success with people getting rid of VPNs, there is nothing in this discussion that solves these problems, or that indicates that Apple is taking any action to come up with solutions. If you want action, you need to communicate with them directly, and don't stop until you find someone who can help you.

Possible solution

Verizon customer. After 3 trips to the Verizon store, new sim cards, Apple tech support saying it’s a service provider issue then Verizon says go to an Apple Store which is over an hour away.

I connected to my computer, opened iTunes. Of course it won’t update because the most recent update caused the problem. I did a complete reset, wiped everything and started from scratch. Make sure you have wifi. At one point I got the attached picture I connected to my laptop and iTunes and through a series of trying every option I think I fixed it. At one point it said I needed an update which then did it over wifi. 12 hours with service and it’s so far good

Reset your Network Settings

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset [Device] > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This also resets Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, and VPN and APN settings that you've used before.

Apple is not going to fix it globally, because it is YOUR issue, not an issue for hundreds of millions of iPhones that have been successfully update to iOS 17.2.1.

If you have neither cellular voice nor data, contact your carrier. If you can make and receive calls and make and send SMS messages, and use VPN, go to Settings/General/VPN & Device Management/VPN and delete your VPN profile.

If you don’t have VPN installed, contact your carrier’s tech support.

After destroying my old SIM card and installing two new eSIM cards, my phone is able to reconnect to TMobile network again. Fingers crossed that third time is a charm. Apple support seemed to have no clue, and seems to knee jerk wiping your phone clean and staring all over. Not necessary if you get a new eSIM that works.

If your phone is unlocked you could try another carriers SIM ? Verizon is GSMA , CDMA network. Others are GMST whatever that’s worth. Maybe ask Verizon to unlock your phone.

when you do a reset through iTunes on a PC or Mac laptop. Can you do the reset without having the Sim card in it that should be possible see what happens. Then see if the phone works OK through Wi-Fi only, toggle off Bluetooth and cellular data

I will never buy an Apple product again.

iPhone 15 Plus here, right after installing the IOS update 17.2.1 my hotspot stopped working immediately. Apple asked me to return the phone for service / repair and then replaced the handset like for like and the replacement handset had exactly the same hotspot issue!

Spent hours on the phone through Christmas with Apple technical support and my mobile carrier too just to isolate whether the problem was hardware, software or carrier/SIM related and am now considering returning the phone for a refund.

I need the Hotspot functionality for my job and now I'm having to carry a second Android phone with me to work.

Yesterday to test my theory on the IOS update being the problem I borrowed my father's iPhone 12 Pro Max which was still running IOS 17.1.2 - hotspot functionality absolutely fine. I installed the recent 17.2.1 update and it immediately rendered the hotspot useless.

How can they blatantly ruin so many people's phones like this?

I had to do this for my IPhone to connect to the internet. Turned the VPN off and it popped back on, I now can get on the internet. Hope this helps

Ohhhmymy wrote:

What are they doing about it?

Who is “they”? No one is doing anything about anything because of posts in this user-to-user forum. Apple support is willing and happy to help with whatever issue you are having if you contact them:

Apple’s formal support can be reached several ways:

• You can provide feedback to Apple at→ Product Feedback - Apple where your issue or suggestion will be recorded, but you will not get a reply

For personalized support:

• Click on “Support” at the top of this page
• Go to Contact Official Apple Support

Note that both of the above have options to receive a callback or chat

• Install the Apple Support app on your iPhone or iPad - you can contact support directly from the app, and the tech will have (with your permission) access to diagnostic data on your phone
• Call Apple Support; the phone numbers are in this link→Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support
• Make a Genius Bar appointment at an Apple Store→Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple
• Find an Apple store or Apple partner service provider→Find Locations