iPhone XS Max poor signal

I had the same problem. I solved my problem by resetting my network on my iPhone. I was advised by my carrier to do this. At the same time the carrier reset my network settings on her end. This is what I’ve had to do every time I’ve bought a new iPhone. My iPhone Xs Max was dropping calls and I wasn’t getting a strong signal. All of this changed after I did the resetting of my network settings. You go to settings > general > reset > reset network settings. If you do this you must do this in conjunction with your carrier resetting your network settings on their end also. This is what I’ve had to do every time I’ve bought a new iPhone for it to work properly. I hope this can work for you.

Some people are reporting issues, yet others (I am one of them) find their XS Max can keep calls going in areas that always dropped calls before.

Many who have reported this issue have also had them largely ameliorated by a carrier settings update.

Then there are a few who still see the issue regardless of the carrier settings update, and those people are best off notifying Apple Support directly of their problems.

Make sure you do two things:

1. Make sure you update to iOS 12.1, if you haven't already
2. Check for a carrier settings update - Update your carrier settings on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

Hey Alexwho,

If I understand correctly, your signal strength could be better.

There are a few things you can do.

1. Restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
2. Check you iPhone Update latest version of iOS
3. check for Update your carrier settings on your iPhone
4. Finally reset your Network setting
   1. tap Setting
   2. General
   3. Reset
   4. Reset Network Setting

BE careful This resets Wi fi networks and passwords of wifi, cellular settings, APN Setting, and VPN connection

Best Regards

MAbdElaty

I found out if you turn Enable LTE off and then turn it back on you will get the same bars you had before you bought the new Xs Max. I was only getting 1 or 2 bars, now I’m g3 bars like I was getting before I bought the new Xs Max.

I’ve already responded to this before but I’m so excited about what I found. I went to settings>cellular>Cellular Data Options>Roaming On>Enable LTE. I turned Enable LTE off and back on and the signal strength went to 3 to 4 bars. It doesn’t keep the 3 to 4 bars for a long time but after I turn Enable LTE off and on again it goes right back to 3 to 4 bars. It has to be a software problem somewhere that needs fixing. All of my older iPhones have full bars.

This is a long shot — so don't complain if it doesn't help. Anyway, in Settings > Airplane Mode Off...

Cellular > Network Selection > ...

...If it's set to Automatic, turn it Off and then tap on your Carrier's name below that setting.

I only suggest this as it solved an issue on my iPhone 7 Plus which was taking a long time to connect with that Network Selection setting on Automatic. But after turning that setting off, connection is immediate. ...Yes, it's a different problem, but it's related — so perhaps worth checking that Network Selection setting.

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Try a full restore iPhone via a pc , this is said to fix the issue .

Also make sure data romming is switched on

Not a carrier problem

Multiple people are having the same issue on all carriers.

Apple is aware of this problem this is my 3rd Xs MAx and I’m getting poor reception as well after swapping it out 3 times. My data speeds are fast but reception Is just terrible getting 1 or 2 bars of service. If I’m lucky it will stay at 2.

If you can do something leave your iPhone alone don’t touch it for a bit then tap the screen and check the signal.

With me every iPhone X’s Max I’ve had has this isssue where I leave it alone and it goes up to full signal but once I pick it up and use it. It drops down to 1 or 2 bars of signal.

I’m at this time almost certain that it’s a problem with your network settings. I know you’ve tried this before. What I think is that your carrier needs to update their software. I would look around your area to see if someone else with a phone like yours is having the same problem. I’ve been reading about this problem all around the world and sometimes it’s a defective phone and most of the time it’s the network you’re using. Have you switched phones at your carrier? I’m at this point thinking it’s not Apple and it’s your carrier. You need to definitely change the phone out and see what happens. Don’t look in one direction to solve this problem. If your old iPhone is still getting a good signal and your new phone isn’t getting a good signal that leads me to your carrier’s network settings. Sometimes one tech can do things that another tech can’t do. This happened to me before. I called to reset my network settings and the tech tried but didn’t succeed. I called and asked for the manager and the problem got solved. Don’t stop looking for the solution. I’m a person who loves to find the solutions to any problem. I’m a firm believer that if you keep trying you’ll succeed. Good luck.

Define reception? I'm not talking about how many bars of service I have, i know those things are arbitrary and don't tell the whole story. My point is this, I have an Iphone X, works perfect. I take the SIM card out of it and put it in an iphone XS Max, same location, and attempt to make a call to my wife, sitting 10 feet away from me. Her phone rings and the XS max instantly says call failed, I try again, call failed, etc. I did that 15 times in a row, and not a single call would connect. I put the SIM card back in my iphone X, call my wife, and low and behold, it connected and was still connected 15 mins later when we hung up.

I put the SIM card BACK in the XS max, call my wife, it connects, then fails after 10 seconds, called again, fails after 5 seconds, called again and it failed instantly. I have done that with 5 new iphones, even the XR that has a different modem than the XS or XS max, and it still wouldn't work as a phone. I even did that test with a verizon rep, and she couldn't get two words out before my phone would disconnect. So if I were you i'd buy a lottery ticket with the luck you are having with your new iphone, as you sir are an anomaly.

I'd be curious as to your cellular provider and how much you use your phone away from WiFi and how many calls you make and receive in a day. That may tell more of the story.

And I'm not the only one in my town to experience this. Two other people have either the XS or XS Max and they both are experiencing the same problem. In fact, we can't even call each other with our phones, they simply refuse to hold a call. And if they do connect, they fail within seconds, and the phones "signal bars" go blank, it shows no service, then it says 1x and finally ends on 3g. All 3 of them do that.

This tells me it's not a location, or provider issue, it's a phone issue. I'll change my mind when I can see something that tells me different.

As of today I have simply upgraded to a new Iphone X with more storage, and will wait for the next round of new iphones to come out in 2019. My job relies on the ability to make and receive phone calls and I can't risk it with anything that fails to perform.

Alexwho,

Hmm, see if there is a carrier update:

Update your carrier settings on your iPhone or iPad

If no help, the next step would be to contact your cellular carrier.

Good luck.

I'm having the exact same problem on my iPhone XS. Had 3-4 bars on my old iPhone 6 at home and now am barely getting 1 bar. Spent 2 hours on the phone with Apple support and they collected all kinds of logs from my phone. The rep said there certainly seems to be a problem and will forward the logs to the engineering dept. Hoping to hear back by next week. I have gone through all the trouble shooting steps like resetting the network, toggling airplane mode, removing and re-inserting the SIM and even a factory reset but the issue still remains. In spite of numerous customer complaints on various sites, seems like Apple is still not accepting the fact that that there is something wrong with their new phones. I have yet to read Apple's response with regards to these issues. I am with TMobile.

You clearly have no idea. We are talking about our phones not functioning as phones. I’ve personally had five new iPhones, 1 xs, 3 xs maxs and 1 XR. Guess what. Reset network settings on all of them, even had the carrier Verizon do the same thing. Phones still don’t work as phones. Meanwhile everyone else with any other phone not named xs xs max or XR have just wonderful luck with reception. So tell me how it’s my carrier and not inferior hardware problems. I still have my X and it does everything it should and have never had to reset anything EVER this years iPhones feature intel modems (I believe) and bar none they aren’t working as good as the Qualcomm modems in the prior iPhone models. Apple needs to figure this out. I’m tired of people telling me I need to try this and try that to get a phone to work. It should work straight outta the box

Well, i had same problem with two iPhones I have bought. I also showed Apple with thousands of people complaining, however, Apple claimed that they were not awared of this issue. They gave me a new phone with same connectivity issue. There is no software that can fix this problem, "Intel" is not a good chip maker, period. If you go back to iPhone 8 or earlier with Qualcomm, you will not have this issue. Unfornately, Apple will no longer use Qualcomm chip in the future to maximize their profit.