iOS 26 Cellular doesn't work after update

White screen, 69% battery, 100% nervous breakdown

After the update, the 14 Pro’s display decided to embrace minimalism: a nice big white screen, and nothing else. No apps, no menus, just “Zen” mode. Of course, not intentionally. We tried restarting, forcing it, plugging it into the charger – but the result was always the same: a white screen, while the phone was probably laughing at us on the inside.

Apps open… then freeze

On the rare occasions when we managed to breathe some life into the device, half the apps would launch… only to instantly freeze on a white screen. The app switcher, with its jumping, broken cards, looked more like a glitch-art exhibition than a premium smartphone.

Reset, recovery, DFU – again and again

We went through the full ritual: reset all settings, then erase everything, then recovery mode. Finally DFU mode – the iPhone world’s nuclear option: all data flushed away, a clean reinstall, as if we’d just unboxed it. And not once, but over and over. Because, of course, the installation bar kept freezing mid-way, so we had to retry with a different cable, a different port. A classic Apple experience – the part they don’t show in the ads.

The result?

The phone is still unstable, still freezing with white screens. And here’s the punchline: if you’re still under warranty, you might get a replacement device. If not? Then better get your wallet ready, because Apple’s service will “delight” you with a several-hundred-dollar motherboard or display replacement.

pawanbhurtel wrote:

Here is the solution: Follow the instructions below — it is 100% effective.

this would only work if there was some damage to SIM contacts, but could well damage good contacts.

Far better to convert to eSIM if contacts are damaged.

s.pam wrote:

Did you buy a dual sim tray and try inserting your sim on the other side?

That is a terrible workaround and could damage good contacts.

You would be better recommending eSIM for phones with bad SIM contacts

Hmm, looks like it was the opposite for me. I had no issues on iOS 26, but I updated to 26.0.1 last night and cellular data is dead for me. If I toggle Airplane Mode on/off, I get internet for 5-10 seconds.

agosta240 wrote:

Update to 26.0.2, remove the SIM card before the phone restarts. Fixed for my 14 pro max!

There is no iOS 26.02. Unless of course you're talking about a beta, in which case you've violated your NDA.

After update iphone 15 pro isa e sim varient in ios 26 next day on call my mobile restart after that see my network issue came dont get signal and no service show. Some time moderm firmware gone but its show 80% what was the problem its software or hardware ?? . Even try iso 26.0.1 to problem not solve help me

[Edited by Moderator]

Hello apple support is there is any fix update for this ive tried all the troubleshooting on my phone after ios 26 update my sim is no longer detecting, i tried it to other phone the signal network works!

Iphone 15 Pro Max Ireland user here. I had tried everything such as resetting network settings, restoring my phone, Airplane Mode, checking APN settings and everythin. Mine is Dual esim, I updated my Iphone to ios 26.0.1 still no network its been 3 days there is no network in my mobile. Can anyone know when the apple is going to releasing a fix for this problem?

I’m experiencing the same now. I didn’t have a problem with ios 26 but now that I’ve updated I have full service showing with bars and 0 connection. I’ve tried restarting my phone and factory restarting, turning my data on and off and airplane mode on and off there is nothing that is fixing this issue so far…

I have updated my iPhone 14 to 26.0.1 but it seems like it did not help. I keep on getting in and out of service and into SOS mode. Even when I get full bars again the service still have issue until after a few seconds. I went ahead and set it to LTE only so let see if it’s the 5G that has the issue.

I'm on iPhone 17 Pro, can't connect one of my eSIMs.

Can't switch off automatic network selection either, so I can't connect it manually.

This needs to be fixed ASAP, I can't receive 2 factor authentication messages for government logins.

Same issue occured to my iPhone 16 Pro after updating to iOS 26.0. Network bars keep disappearing, with long episodes of no network, call failed and taking time to connect a call.

I tried the following:

1) Replacing eSIM - didn't help

2) Upgrading to iOS 26.0.1 (didn't help either!)

[Edited by Moderator]

You have gone to the very top of my Christmas Card list (apologies if you do not celebrate this) as like you I have spent hours trying to restore various functions on my phone following the update to iOS 26 which I regret doing. Everything under the sun was tried - like you - and on one occasion the Apple restore lost some of my apps (fortunately retrieved from iCloud). And now, like you, (mine is iPhone 13 Pro) I seem to have a phone again and fingers crossed later today I will be able to confirm if the roaming is working (I travel across the border on a daily basis). So a huge thanks to you for having posted this workaround. As you say a ridiculous problem that surely Apple could have avoided with all its wealth and technical expertise.

iPhone 15 Pro Max here.

No mobile service.

Brought it to Genius Bar.

I was to be told that there is no issue with the components.

However, if I wanted it fixed it is going to be around £400-£500.

Fun times. Greed is good 💯

Im in the UK as well and I was given the exact same answer.

After doing some research, the only way to avoid or minimise the fee is to raise a case with the Ombudsman. However, even that will require a lot of evidences and will take up time.

iOS 18 security support is not ending anytime soon which means the only options are:

1. Trade in for android.

2. Get an android phone while keeping your iPhone 15 Pro. Use it as paper weight until iOS 18 end of life and issues of iOS 26 killing older iphones will come up that might force Apple to fix it.

Sadly enough this also killed the chances of me picking up another iphone in the future. Goodluck!

Adding that £502 and trading in your iphone will allow you to get a new phone already! 😅