We have 2 x iPhone 8Plus. Earlier today we installed the apple - recommended iOs update to v 16.7.13 to address Triple Zero issues here in Australia.
Now we can not make calls, send SMS and have no 4G connection. I have tried the steps suggested online, namely
Turn off & on again, remove and reinsert SIM, resett network settings
Can I revert to the version prior to that one?
Earlier iPhone models
Per Telstra page, Update is now available:
Update 29 Jan 2026 at 3:30PM (AEDT):
Per Telstra page, Update is now available:
Update 29 Jan 2026 at 3:30PM (AEDT):
this is an 16.7.13 issue. after updating on iphone X no network connection. downgraded to 16.7.12 and connection restored. 16.7.12 is still signed so can be restored with Itunes. download from here https://ipsw.me/download/iPhone10,3/20H364
Michael_McCarthy wrote:
It seems that Telstra and/or Apple haven’t pushed the Telstra 54.1 carrier settings update to all models. I’m using an iPhone 8 Plus (A1864 model (which have a Qualcomm modem rather than an Intel modem)) and there’s no carrier settings update. It’s still on Telstra 54.0.1. Anyone else in the same boat?
According to the Telstra website:
From their website it is not clear if you have to had already installed iOS 16.7.13 before you would have access to the Carrier Update. Currently it is not possible to update to 16.7.13, so not clear what version you are on.
We just got home from visiting Apple in Canberra ( a 3 hour trip each way to our nearest Apple Store). They had many clients visit today with this issue and confirmed that reverting to iOS16.7.12 could lead older iphones exposed to the inability to contact 000.
A full reinstall was tried just before the Telstra announcement and it didn't work on iPhone 8.
They confirmed that this was now flagged by both Telstra and Apple as a P1 - their top priority- problem to resolve, but exact timeframe unknown.
We were offered the option to get new iPhones and then return them when the issue was resolved, but with the additional travel, decided to tough it out cold turkey.
If the X roll-back works, great - but check that you can call 000 in poor reception areas, or you may be leaving yourself at risk in case of future emergency, which is what the update was meant to address.
Otherwise - stay near wifi and see what happens.
Nope.
I'm the OP and we have two 8Plus devices.
Once the fix came through on Jan 29, everything was fine
We went from fully functional on 16.7.12 on 26 Jan to 16.7.13 on 27 Jan when the wheels fell off and back to fully functional again on 29 Jun.
the 54.1 version was there after I went to the Settings>General>Software Update as per the instructions on the Telstra site that has been reposted here.
So no issues with 8's.
If you are still having issues, maybe call Apple support or go visit a store if you have one nearby.
This is an issue with an Apple released urgent iOS 16.7.13 update for older iPhones such as my X, after emergency-call issues in Australia and a 2027 certificate deadline. Calling a US number is no use to us here, we should only call 1300 321 456.
Reg F wrote:
We have 2 x iPhone 8Plus. Earlier today we installed the apple - recommended iOs update to v 16.7.13 to address Triple Zero issues here in Australia.
Now we can not make calls, send SMS and have no 4G connection. I have tried the steps suggested online, namely
Turn off & on again, remove and reinsert SIM, resett network settings
Can I revert to the version prior to that one?
As I understand it, that was one of the reasons that the 16.7.13 update was withdrawn. Most owners were unable to verify the update, you must have updated very soon after release.
However only your carrier working with Apple can resolve this, there is no workaround until the new ios update or a carrier update is released.
Re tryinh the SIM card successfully in another phone does NOT prove the carrier is not at fault. They need to issue a carrier update for ios 16.7.13
In your case particularly, and also in KimSBok’s, it may still be worth ringing Apple Australia up and being quite direct in asking them to run remote diagnostic check on the cellular modem (and battery in your case just to put that issue to rest). When I rang up for my friend’s iPhone X, the Apple guy said that historical information (I.e. past two weeks) came though also, to give an idea what is going on, so might at least be able to explain what is going on and whether it is finally time to retire it or if it’s another update gremlin.
They were on different firmware versions from iOS 16.7.13. The issue is now resolved — the threads confirm that iOS 16.7.14 is available to download and install. I’ve updated and back to normal.
Ok, given that you’ve since updated to 16.7.14 (which hopefully doesn’t have its own issues), and are having connectivity issues, I would definitely contact your cellular provider, and check that the phones IMEI hasn’t been blocked due to not meeting requirements to make emergency services calls.
But I would suggest first contacting Apple over the phone first/going into a Apple Store and getting them to run (remote) diagnostics on the device - they should be able to tell you if the cellular modem is working properly or not. And since there have been recent issues should now be more aware of checking if it is an Apple or provider issue.
To rule out “weak battery” you can also leave the phone on charge and try again (and check the health in Settings).
On the Telstra outages webpage:
“We're currently investigating an issue making and receiving calls, including calls to 000, on older Apple devices. We're working on this as a priority with Apple and will share updates as we have them. We recommend customers using these devices delay updating the software on their device until we confirm the issue is resolved.”
That explains it. I downgraded to iOS 16.7.12 via iTunes and restored from an iCloud backup. When I saw reports that the issue had been resolved, I tried installing the 16.7.13 update that still appears on my iPhone X. But now I’m getting the “Unable to Verify Update – iOS 16.7.13 is temporarily unavailable” message, which makes sense if Apple has stopped signing it. The screenshot confirms it’s still listed as available, but clearly not installable anymore.
I tried the same approach. I was able to downgrade via iTunes to 16.7.12, but when I tried to restore my backup, the iPhone wouldn’t accept it because the backup was created on 16.7.13.
Luckily, I found an older iCloud backup from about a week earlier that was made on 16.7.12, so I could restore from that — but I did lose anything I’d done in the last week.
1800CONWAY wrote:
I tried the same approach. I was able to downgrade via iTunes to 16.7.12, but when I tried to restore my backup, the iPhone wouldn’t accept it because the backup was created on 16.7.13.
Luckily, I found an older iCloud backup from about a week earlier that was made on 16.7.12, so I could restore from that — but I did lose anything I’d done in the last week.
Correct, you need a backup from the prior version and not sure why that important detail was left out in the prior post and follow up questions were never answered. Thank you for stepping in. Not everyone is so lucky as to have a backup from a prior version and all their data may have been lost.
Anyway, the issue with the update appears to be solved now.
No Calls or SMS after iOS16.7.13 earlier today
