
Verizon internet outages can be frustrating, especially when you're in the middle of a critical task. The causes of these outages are often related to equipment failure or maintenance.
One common cause of Verizon internet outages is equipment failure, which can be due to age, wear and tear, or manufacturing defects. This can happen at any time, even if you've had your internet service for years.
Verizon often conducts maintenance to upgrade its network and improve performance, which can also lead to outages. These maintenance windows are usually scheduled during off-peak hours to minimize disruptions.
In some cases, Verizon internet outages can be caused by issues with your local network or equipment, such as a faulty router or modem.
The Outage Begins
Reports have been flooding in on Down Detector, with a significant spike in complaints about Verizon, indicating that something is amiss.
As of this writing, there have been 1,644 reports, a substantial amount for the popular mobile carrier.
The outage seems to be centered around the East Coast, particularly around Washington DC, and is also affecting Fios users in the area around Wichita, Kansas.
We're monitoring the situation closely, so stay tuned for updates on the number of reports and what else is happening with the developing Verizon outage.
It's worth noting that the outage won't just go away, and we'll keep you posted on any developments.
Troubleshooting
If you're experiencing an internet outage, checking the lights on your gateway is a good place to start. A white light indicates your internet is connected, while a red or amber light may indicate an issue.
Verizon's wireless gateways, used for Fios and 5G home internet services, can give you a quick visual cue about the status of your connection. This can be especially helpful if you're in the middle of an important task.
If you've checked your gateway and still can't get online, it's worth checking the Verizon status page to see if there are any known issues in your area.
Check Gateway Lights
The lights on your gateway are a quick way to check if your internet is connected. A white light indicates your internet is connected, while a red or amber light may indicate an internet outage.
If you're experiencing issues, check the lights on your Verizon gateway, which functions as both a router and modem.
A white light is a good sign, but a red or amber light may need attention.
Mobile Infrastructure Upgrades
Mobile Infrastructure Upgrades can cause short-term network outages. If you're affected, you'll get a text message or email directly from Verizon.
Verizon has been busy upgrading its 5G network, which means new cell towers, upgraded capacity on existing towers, and additional bandwidth.
This upgrade will result in faster and more reliable service, but be prepared for temporary outages.
If you're tired of Verizon outages and slowdowns, you can explore alternative internet providers in your area.
Here are some local internet providers to consider:
NYC Not Listed

New York City is not listed on Verizon's website as currently experiencing an outage.
I tried an address in Lower Manhattan and it showed the last Verizon outage as taking place on 5/5/2025, suggesting the company may not have acknowledged the issue yet.
Downdetector, a tool that tracks reported outages, only reports an incident when the number of problem reports is significantly higher than the typical volume for that time of day.
Users Reach Out
Users are contacting @VerizonSupport to complain about the problem, which is causing issues with mobile data.
Most users can make calls and send texts, but they're having trouble using mobile data, which is a major inconvenience.
Users are taking to social media to express their frustration, and some are even accusing Verizon of cutting back on diversity initiatives to gain favor with the Trump administration.
The network disruption started on May 13, which is when users began experiencing problems.
Additional reading: Mobile Packet Data Service
Fix in Progress

A fix is in progress, but the estimated time to restore service keeps changing.
The Verizon status page initially estimated a resolution time of about an hour, but that's no longer the case.
Using a Los Angeles area code, the current estimated time to restore service is nearly 4 p.m. Pacific or 7 p.m. Eastern.
The issue was acknowledged as a "known" problem, but the status page has not provided a clear update on the cause of the problem.
The estimated time to restore service has increased, leaving many users wondering when they'll have their service back.
Related reading: Twitter Cannot Retrieve Posts at This Time
Outage Information
Verizon internet outages can be frustrating, especially if you're in the middle of an important task. Less than 10% of Verizon Fios customers reported frequent problems with their service.
Verizon 5G customers also reported relatively low outage rates, with about one in six customers experiencing frequent outages or slowdowns. This makes sense, as the reliability of 5G internet depends on your distance from the nearest tower and network traffic.
You might like: How to Connect Devices to Verizon 5g Home Internet
Some Verizon customers may have access to older copper wiring for their landline services, which reported slowdowns and outages just barely higher than the national average. This is likely due to the outdated technology used.
If you're experiencing an outage, you can check the Verizon Fios outage map on Downdetector to see if others in your area are reporting issues. This map only shows incidents when the number of problem reports is significantly higher than usual.
Reports of outages can be found on Downdetector, where users can track the number of problems and see if others in their area are experiencing issues. As of one report, there were 1,644 reports of Verizon outages.
The expected restore time for an outage can be found on Verizon's Check Network Status page. For example, one outage in Washington, D.C. was expected to be restored on May 20, 2025 at 10:44 PM EDT.
Discover more: The Number You Have Texted Is Not in Service Text
Mobile Issues
Mobile issues with Verizon can be frustrating, especially if you're experiencing outages or slow data service. Verizon has been upgrading its 5G network across the country, which may result in short-term network outages.
These upgrades aim to provide faster and more reliable service, but they can cause disruptions. If you're affected by an outage, you'll likely receive a text message or email directly from Verizon.
Verizon's upgrades involve new cell towers, upgraded capacity on existing towers, and additional bandwidth. The company is also building new fiber for its towers.
If you're tired of Verizon outages and slowdowns, you can explore alternative internet providers in your area. Here's a list of local providers with their customer satisfaction scores and starting prices:
Note that customer satisfaction scores are subjective and may vary depending on individual experiences.
Status Updates
Things seem to be settling down. Reports on Down Detector are in steady decline, sitting around 500 as of this posting.
The number of reports has been hovering around 500 for the last half hour.
Outage Resolved
The outage appears to be over, unless something drastic changes.
Reports of the outage have significantly dropped, down to 1,112, which suggests it could be coming to a close.
The official status page still lists a 4 pm Pacific time resolution, but it's possible this is just a precaution.
We're not seeing any changes elsewhere, which is a good sign that the issue is being addressed.
It's worth noting that reports have been steadily decreasing, which is a positive trend.
Featured Images: pexels.com


