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How do I fix cellular update fail

How do I fix cellular update fail?

iPhone 7, iOS 12

Posted on Sep 23, 2018 9:45 AM

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Posted on Oct 13, 2018 5:36 PM

Well, I had an appointment at the Genius Bar, so I drove an hour and a half just to be told by Apple after they ran some checks and reset on my phone, that it was not a software problem it is a hardware problem and they can’t/won’t fix it. This is not true Apple. My 6S was brand new four months ago , out of the box, and I had no problems with it until I updated to 12.0. The manager, if she was actually the manager, even told me she had never seen that message before. I said, “really? Because if you go on Apple support under community discussion there are quite a few people that this is happening to. “. She replied with “ no, we don’t read those because you can basically hear anything you want to hear“. APPLE THIS IS WRONG WRONG WRONG! I have to buy a new phone all because my phone software loaded 12.0 while I slept and it’s a HARDWARE problem???? This is UNETHICAL APPLE!!!!!

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Question marked as Best reply

Oct 13, 2018 5:36 PM in response to powersaxo

Well, I had an appointment at the Genius Bar, so I drove an hour and a half just to be told by Apple after they ran some checks and reset on my phone, that it was not a software problem it is a hardware problem and they can’t/won’t fix it. This is not true Apple. My 6S was brand new four months ago , out of the box, and I had no problems with it until I updated to 12.0. The manager, if she was actually the manager, even told me she had never seen that message before. I said, “really? Because if you go on Apple support under community discussion there are quite a few people that this is happening to. “. She replied with “ no, we don’t read those because you can basically hear anything you want to hear“. APPLE THIS IS WRONG WRONG WRONG! I have to buy a new phone all because my phone software loaded 12.0 while I slept and it’s a HARDWARE problem???? This is UNETHICAL APPLE!!!!!

Oct 11, 2018 3:40 PM in response to aliciafromgalt

I'm having the same issue after I plugged my device into a computer in a location that has terrible cell service. I keep having to reset network, turn off the phone after reboot, remove the SIM card, reinsert it, reboot, turn off cellular, reboot, and it would come on JUST for a little bit. But it keeps going into NO SERVICE/Searching when I'm in that bad zone. When I am at home (where it has a good connection) and I perform these steps I am able to get cell service throughout the night. But once i'm in the bad zone area it goes back to that.


I have tried resetting network settings, removing SIM card, and restoring from iTunes yet (which my gut is telling me will fix the problem). I will check back once I complete this process tonight.


Would you guys suggest that I wipe the phone before restoring from iTunes? I saw an Authorized Apple Technician do this before.

Oct 13, 2018 2:53 PM in response to abhi_t

This issue is exactly me!! I made an appointment at a Genius Bar a few weeks ago and I was told to ship the phone in. BUT my glass is cracked so the rep told me that I would have to pay to have the glass fixed ($100 or $150, don’t remember) for sure). Understood that in order to fix the phone, it has to be opened up and the cracked glass can’t be put back after that. But the crack didn’t mess up my phone. Apple put a defect in my phone and they need to fix it. Not force me to pay a glass tax to get them to repair my phone. Sooo not cool Apple!

Oct 27, 2018 1:11 PM in response to aliciafromgalt

All you got to do is turn your phone off than power it back on than quickly go to setting and click on cellular, click on carrier service than choose your provider( means who your phone service with.. it should be listed . This happen when you update your device..Don’t reset your networks. Let me know if it works... this is a carrier issue when you get that error message for cellular failure.

Nov 16, 2018 8:37 AM in response to aliciafromgalt

Just went through this after I insulated IOS12, thought it was my SIM card which it wasn’t. Reset network settings, toggled airplane mode, tried everything to no avail. Unfortunately this is a problem with model A1660 Iphone 7’s only. You have to bring it back to apple and they give you a new phone. Just don’t restore it! Or you’ll mess it up more. GL

Dec 8, 2018 5:28 AM in response to aliciafromgalt

Problem may be that you have a defective or faulty cellular antenna and you are receiving a “No Service “ messages even though a strong signal exists. Replacing an antenna is an inexpensive fix relative to replacing a phone and may be worth trying. Apple has determined that some iPhone 7’s have been produced with defective antennas and will replace them st no charge. If you have an iPhone 7, look for a model number A1660 on the back of your phone in VERY fine print below where it says “iPhone”. If you have this model number you may have a defective antenna that can be replaced at an authorized Apple repair facility at no charge.

It is my personal opinion that Apple has done a disservice to it’s customers by not notifying them of this defect and it has resulted in many unnecessary phone replacements. I suspect that this was a conscious decision to not publicize a product defect and because it would drive revenue through unnecessary upgrades. Maybe I am just cynical.

I hope this helps someone.

Jan 5, 2019 8:47 AM in response to NC-Hokie-Fan

When I went to the Apple store because the cellular wasn’t working they told me it had to shipped to a repair depot to be fixed which would take 5-7 days. They handed me a loaner phone for which I didn’t realize was only 16GB making it very difficult to use for work.


Its now day 15 and they still have my phone with the repair status stating that it’s still being diagnosed.


No one from Apple can tell me what the delay is or when I should be getting it back. HORRIBLE customer service as they all say the same thing “ I don’t know”.


Jan 11, 2019 5:05 AM in response to Lovelylisa32

I think Apple knew it was missing it’s sales targets and decided to drop an update that crippled phones older than the 8 to force people to update. I’ve had an iPhone since the first one, and this is the first time anything like this has happened. I very well may switch to Android. My iPhone 7 has never been dropped and is in pristine condition, and now I’m dealing with the same issue everyone else is having. I’m sharing this article to FB to generate some awareness to this.

How do I fix cellular update fail

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