Editorials
7 Common Verizon Problems & Fixes
Verizon problems and Verizon Wireless problems can stop you from making calls, using the Internet, texting and more. We’ll show you how to fix the most common Verizon problems so you can get back to using your phone even if you can’t go to a Verizon store anytime soon.
From using your phone to Verizon billing problems, we’ll walk you through the ways you can fix the problems yourself and how to get faster and better help from Verizon when you can’t handle everything on your own.
Here’s how you can fix Verizon problems in a few minutes and what to do if you need more help with your problems. When possible we will help you identify if you have a Verizon problem or phone problem.
Verizon Problems Today
There is a massive spike in reports of All Circuits Are Busy when trying to make calls on Verizon today, August 23rd. This came as Verizon switched to a new Unlimited plan and made other changes. The issue appears to impact users who are not using HD Voice. You should be able to make a FaceTime Audio call or by turning on HD Voice. Here’s how to turn on HD Voice on your iPhone or on Android.
Are there Verizon problems today? Ken Wolter / Shutterstock.com
If you cannot use your Verizon phone there is a chance that there are Verizon problems today impacting more than just your phone. You need to look to see if Verizon is down for a lot of users. This doesn’t happen often, but there are times when Verizon is down for some areas and even for large numbers of users.
The first thing to do is check with people around you to see if they are having Verizon problems today. There is a good chance something is wrong on your phone, rather than on Verizon’s network. The next thing to do is to check to see if Verizon is down.
Is Verizon Down?
If people around you are having the same Verizon problems you can look to see if Verizon is down on a variety of websites. There are plenty of places where people can share Verizon wireless problems when the service goes down, and DownDetector is one of the most common.
Is Verizon down today?
This service catalogs complaints so you can see what is slowing down other Verizon customers. Keep in mind that a spike in complaints doesn’t mean that Verizon is down necessarily. Some complaints even state that no one else is having the same problem.
If there are more than 100 complaints in the last hour, there is a good chance that there are bigger Verizon problems that you cannot fix on your own. If you see a lot of complaints here, check on Twitter to see if Verizon confirmed any problems. If you use Twitter you can check in with the company there for help while you are at it.
How to Fix Verizon Data Problems
When you cannot visit web sites with your Verizon phone or you lose an LTE signal you can take some steps immediately to fix Verizon data problems.
Look in the upper left on the iPhone or in the upper middle on most Android phones to see if you have an LTE connection. If you see nothing but bars, you may not be connected.
The first thing to do is turn Airplane mode on for about 15 seconds and then turn it off. On the iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the phone to open Control Center. Tap on the Airplane button, wait and then tap again to turn it off.
On Most Android phones, swipe down from the top and then tap on the airplane icon or go to settings and turn Airplane mode on. After 15 seconds turn it off.
What to do when you can’t get online with Verizon.
If this doesn’t fix the issue, you should turn your phone off for 30 seconds and then turn it back on. This can solve problems that aren’t fixed with the instructions above.
After restarting your phone, if you still have problems, you can try resetting your network settings or updating your carrier settings.
On the iPhone, go to Settings -> General -> Reset -> Reset Network Settings. Follow any prompts. This resets your WiFi, Bluetooth, and cellular settings. It can solve a range of problems. You can also check for carrier updates. Go to Settings -> General -> About and then a pop up will tell you there is a Carrier Settings Update if one is available.
On Android go to Settings -> Backup and Reset -> Reset network settings. Follow any on-screen prompts to complete this process.
In most cases, this will solve your Verizon data problems. If you still have issues, you should contact Verizon for more help, especially if you are the only person on Verizon with this issue in your area.
How to Fix Verizon Phone Problems
When you can’t make or receive calls on your phone, it may be a problem with the settings on your phone. You may need to change the settings or update software. In some cases, you may need to wait for Verizon to fix a problem on their end.
Use the same directions outlined above to turn Airplane mode on and off to see if that solves your problems. You can also try restarting your phone.
If you can make calls, but you cannot receive them, check to make sure you don’t have Do Not Disturb turned on. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of your screen and make sure the moon icon is not lit up. If it is, tap on it to turn Do Not Disturb off. On most Android phones, swipe down from the top and look for a Do Not Disturb option and turn it off.
Remove the SIM card and put it back in.
You can remove your SIM card and then put it back in. This can solve some problems on the iPhone and Android without the need to call Verizon. Use the steps in the section above to reset network settings, as this could remove a problem on your phone.
If you have an update for your phone, you should install it to see if it fixes your ability to make and receive calls. This is not normally the problem, but in rare cases, it can be the problem.
When all else fails, you need to contact Verizon. You can go to a store, call with another phone or use online chat.
How to Fix Verizon Texting Problems
When you cannot send texts on Verizon you can often fix this by rebooting your phone. In fact, it’s the first thing that Verizon asks you to do when you can’t send a text or a picture message on your iPhone or Android.
Turn your phone off and leave it off for a few seconds. If you have a battery that you can remove, do that while the phone is off. Turn your phone back on and see if you can send a message.
If you are using iMessages or something other than basic texting, you should look at problems with those. Sometimes you cannot send an iMessage when you have a poor signal or data issues.
You can also try removing the SIM and putting it back in, but more than likely if rebooting your phone doesn’t fix this issue you need to contact Verizon.
How to Fix Verizon Voicemail Problems
How to fix Verizon Voicemail problems.
Verizon offers visual voicemail and normal voicemail. You may run into problems with either service and you can fix some of them on your own.
If your Voicemail indicator isn’t working, you can call voicemail using *86 on your phone, then in the main menu choose 4 and then tap 1 to turn on the message waiting indicator.
You can reset your Verizon Voicemail password easily with your phone or a computer. Login to My Verizon and then choose a new password. You can also call *611 on your phone, tap 2 and then tap 1 to change the Verizon voicemail password. You need to confirm your account, but in a minute or two, you can get a new password.
How to Fix Verizon Billing Problems
If you have a billing problem with Verizon the first thing you need to do is get an understanding of why they charged you what they did. You can often get the basic explanation of this with Customer Support online, in-store or on the phone.
The first phone call should be to find out what the charges are for. Once you know this, you can ask this representative for help. Remember to ask nicely and if they cannot help you it’s a good idea to politely hang up and call back later. If there is an honest mistake in data usage or a real billing problem it is often a matter of getting the right person on the line who can help you out.
If you cannot get help at a local store or with Verizon on the phone, you should try the Verizon Twitter Support account, which can often connect you to specialists who can help.
Another option is to reach out for Verizon Executive Customer Support. You can email the CEO of Verizon or use Elliot.org to look for the latest contacts to get help. Remember to calmly explain the problem and state what kind of resolution you want.
How to Fix Annoying Verizon Problems
How to fix other Verizon problems.
If you run into especially annoying Verizon problems, you may need to take some additional action on your phone or even leave for another carrier.
At this point, you should go to a store to see if there is a problem with your phone. If problems are constant and reoccurring, you may be able to get a replacement device or you may need to factory reset your phone.
If you are using a very old phone, you may even need to upgrade. This isn’t often the case with Verizon problems, but if you have a lot of phone problems it could be due to a very old phone.
When it comes to constant dropped calls or other problems it may be that you live or work in an area with poor coverage. In our experience, Verizon coverage is one of the best, but there are some areas where competing companies deliver better service. If this is the case, look into deals for switching carriers. In many cases, you can go to AT&T, T-Mobile or Sprint and you will not need to pay an ETF.
