How to restore mobile data functionality post iOS 17.4.1 update

After Speaking to Apple and AT&T for a few hours and trying many of the same solutions that people suggested:

• Airplane mode
• Restart Phone
• Reset Network settings
• Refresh Connection (AT&T Dashboard)
• Delete eSIM and add new eSIM

I was told that factory reset may be the only possible option, and it seems to have worked>

I deleted all data but kept the eSIM and then restored from the most recent iCloud backup. As the backup is now populating the data back onto the device I was successfully able to make an outgoing call, and my number shows up in the iMessage settings as before.

Strange, because the iOS is still 17.4.1,

BUT THIS SEEMED TO BE SUCCESSFUL

Had same issue with iPhone 14 pro max and Verizone after ovcernight iOs upgrade.

After trying all the provided steps including settings reset and also spend 1 hour with Verizon support end up with:

1) connected to wifi

2) Created full backup

2) factory reset and Erase my phone (choose to keep existing eSim)

3) Restore from iCloud backup.

Please note the backup created after iOS upgrade to 17.4.1 but I still thinking the problem is related to iOS upgrade.

Turned off automatic upgrade. What is happening is really frustrating.

Exactly the same thing happened to my wife’s iPhone 14 after updating to 17.4.1. Really helpfully the day we went on a 2 week vacation!

Kept getting a ‘Cellular Data is Turned Off’ pop up, even though there was the full 4 bars of 4G or 5G service showing.

Tried everything including soft reset, resetting network settings and even resetting all settings. Drove me mad as I hate to be beaten by a stupid bit of tech.

I did fix it though.

Backed up iPhone to iCloud.

Total Reset of the phone.

Set up as new phone and restore apps and data from iCloud using her iPad to initiate the set up. (Hold phone close to another iOS device using the same Apple ID.

Just restored and tested with Wi-Fi turned off. All working as it should.

I had the same issue but got a result from posting on my provider’s community page: someone said to download the specific iOS 17.4.1 version called 21E237 (a 7 at the end rather than a 6). He told me you can’t get this one over wifi so have to do it plugged in to a computer - I found it online, downloaded it and then updated while plugged in via iTunes. At first I thought nothing had happened - as I still had nothing written there in the top left hand corner of my phone (eg 3G) but when I went out (and obviously off wifi) and gave it a few minutes - ie it’s not immediate - I got LTE (which I believe is similar to 4G, and now have data, texting etc back and able to be used when away from wifi. So if all the usual (switch on and off, data on and off, aeroplane made on and off) and other suggestions don’t work for you, find and get the specific 21E237 version (ending with a 7 - not a 6, which is the one which has caused the issue) of 17.4.1 and you should be able to resolve it.

I have now been able to solve it on my phone by finding iOS 17.4.1 (21E237) - note the 7 ending. I was told by someone in my provider’s community forum that this should sort the issue caused by the version with the 6 ending and it has for me. He told me you have to get it while connected by wire, and I’ve been able to get it over wifi, and download the update while connected to my laptop and iTunes. A few mins after doing it, it was working again… all be it that it now says LTE instead of 4G (a similar thing). I now have data, calls, texts etc back when off wifi. Hope this works for you too.

I had the same issue on my iPhone 13.

I had already restarted my iPhone several times but it did not solve the issue

I contacted Apple support via chat. They had me "Force Restart" the phone ("press-release volume up / press-release volume down / press-hold the right-side button until the Apple logo appears").

The phone restarted & it fixed the issue. My mobile data is back. Everything now works perfectly fine, just like before the iOS upgrade

Hope this helps

After cycling power, turning cellular data off and back on, turning off 5G etc with no success. Finally I turned on airplane mode waiting for a minute or two and then turned it off and Cellular Data started working again.

This happened to me too. I did the 17.4.1 update and my phone turned into a fancy brick when I was off WiFi. Nothing worked. I called Apple and they couldn’t fix it either. I reset network settings, reset my cellular data rebooted my phone, force restarted my phone. Everything short of a factory reset. I found a reply in this post that said they went on airplane mode for 2 minutes and when they turned it off their data came back. I had tried everything but that and a factory reset so I figured I would try it. I forgot about the airplane mode and ended up leaving it on all night, but when I turned it off my phone started working off of WiFi again. I don’t know how long it takes to make work, like I said I forgot about it, but it’s worth a shot to try.

Just fixed my wifi issue. Delete a VPN if you have one on your phone. Delete not disconnect. Restart phone. Thanks to Apple chat help for this and it fixed my problems!

By now, many of you have probably found the solution that fixed the error, but for those of you who are still struggling with this problem, I've just updated to iOS 17.5 and the problem is gone for me (iPhone 11 Pro).

For everyone facing this issue, the chances are high that you need to install a carrier settings update. See this on how to do that

1. Make sure that your device is connected to Wi-Fi or a cellular network.
2. Tap Settings > General > About.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions to install your carrier update.

i believe the latest iOS releases are blocking certain frequencies and network IDs being exchanged with your cellular service provider. That is why, iPhone keeps searching for cellular service.

I fixed this issue by getting the latest physical SIM from my cellular service provider and inserting it in my iPhone. If your iPhone supports eSIM, delete it and revert back to latest physical SIM.

hope this helps!

If you have an iCloud backup PRIOR to this recent iOS update, use that to restore after a factory reset and that worked for me!

Same with me but my issue of no cellular data came about 12 hours after the update was successful. Aside from no data, Bluetooth broke and I could not access any apps. Tried customer service and they were zero help. Tried the process they outline online to fix it, it fails and does not fix it. They claimed maybe I have bad wifi, but I don’t. Eventually I did a hard reset and it worked. Cell data came back and I was able to access all my apps again.

After many other options, I decided to try the factory reset and restore. The backup was AFTER the 17.4.1 update and, to my surprise, it worked. While I will now spend hours getting all apps configured, at least I have a functioning phone again.