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Apple has identified a cellular-service bug affecting a small number of iPhone 18 Pro Max users on AT&T, according to a statement reported by Bloomberg. Apple released software and carrier-settings fixes to prevent further cases, but users whose phones have already lost service reportedly need replacement devices.
Apple has identified a cellular-service bug affecting a small number of iPhone 18 Pro Max owners on AT&T, and users whose phones have already been affected reportedly must replace their devices. The issue can prevent calls, mobile data and text messages, according to Bloomberg News, which reported the problem on October 2.
Apple told Bloomberg that the glitch affects some iPhone 18 Pro Max users on the AT&T network and may cause a device to lose service and become unable to make calls. Bloomberg reported that affected users may also be unable to access cellular data or send and receive text messages. Without a working cellular connection, the phones are largely usable only when connected to Wi-Fi.
Apple has released iOS 27.0.1 and a carrier-settings update intended to stop the bug from affecting more users. The carrier update is expected to download automatically for AT&T customers within 14 days. Apple has also urged customers to install available software updates promptly. Users can check for an update through the iPhone’s Settings app by opening General, then About.
For phones already affected, Bloomberg reported that updating does not restore service: the reported remedy is to exchange the device through Apple or AT&T. The report did not provide the number of affected customers, and Apple described the group only as a “small number.”
When a Software Fix Is Not Enough
The reported need for replacement makes the glitch more disruptive than a routine update issue. A phone without cellular service cannot reliably handle calls, mobile data or text messages away from Wi-Fi, potentially interrupting communication and everyday tasks until the owner can arrange a replacement. The source report does not say whether all affected customers have already received replacement instructions.
The two-part response also matters to current owners. Apple’s software and carrier-settings changes are intended to prevent further cases, while the reported replacement process applies to devices already hit by the bug. Customers should not assume that installing an update will repair a phone that has already lost service; Apple or AT&T can advise whether a particular device needs replacement.
iPhone 18 Pro Max replacement device
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AT&T Network and iPhone 18 Pro Max
The reported issue is limited to a small number of AT&T customers who recently upgraded to the iPhone 18 Pro Max, Bloomberg said. The source material does not describe similar reports from other carriers or other iPhone models. That makes the carrier and device combination central to the reported scope; it does not establish that all AT&T customers or all iPhone 18 Pro Max owners are affected.
The report identifies the iPhone 18 Pro Max as a high-end Apple phone priced at $1,299. Apple’s statement, as quoted by Bloomberg, confirms that the company identified an issue but offers no technical explanation of what caused it. The immediate response described in the report is the release of software and carrier-settings updates, alongside device replacement for users already affected.
“We have identified an issue affecting a small number of iPhone 18 Pro Max users on the AT&T network that may cause a device to lose service and be unable to make calls.”
— Apple, in a statement to Bloomberg News
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The Number of Affected Phones
The total number of affected customers is not known. Bloomberg reported that Apple had described the group as small but did not give a count. The available reporting also does not explain the technical cause of the bug, how Apple determines which phones need replacement, or whether every affected owner has been contacted.
It is also unclear whether the reported issue has appeared on other networks or iPhone models. The source material describes the problem among some AT&T iPhone 18 Pro Max users, but does not establish a broader pattern. The reported replacement requirement is attributed to Bloomberg; Apple’s quoted statement confirms the service issue but does not itself spell out the replacement process.
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Updates and Replacement Guidance
AT&T customers should receive the carrier-settings update automatically within 14 days, according to the report, and Apple has advised installing available software updates promptly. Owners can check the General and About sections of Settings for available updates. Installing the update is a prevention step; the report says it is not a fix for devices already affected.
Owners who have lost service should contact Apple or AT&T about the reported replacement option and confirm the steps for their device. Further information about the number of affected phones, the cause and the replacement process would clarify the scope of the problem. The source report provides no timeline for when Apple or AT&T may release those details.
AT&T iPhone 18 Pro Max replacement
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Key Questions
Which iPhones are affected?
The report concerns a small number of iPhone 18 Pro Max devices used on AT&T. It does not say that every phone of that model or every AT&T customer is affected.
What does the bug do?
It can cause a phone to lose cellular service, according to Apple’s statement reported by Bloomberg. Affected users have reportedly been unable to make calls, use mobile data or send and receive texts; Wi-Fi may still work.
Can an update fix a phone that has already lost service?
Bloomberg reported that users whose phones are already affected need a replacement through Apple or AT&T. The software and carrier-settings updates are intended to keep the bug from affecting more users.
How can customers check for updates?
Apple advised customers to install available software updates. The report says users can check in Settings by opening General and then About; the carrier-settings update is expected to download automatically for AT&T customers within 14 days.
How many customers have the problem?
The count has not been reported. Apple described the affected group as a small number, but Bloomberg said the total was unclear.
Source: rss
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