What To Do if You Don't Have Phone Service (2024)

AT&T outages swept across the nation on Feb. 22, 2024, leaving around 72,000 AT&T and Cricket Wireless customers without service by 10 a.m. Many Apple iPhones affected by the outage went into SOS mode, as shown above, which allows users to make only 911 calls through neighboring cellular networks, like Verizon and T-Mobile.

But what do you do if you need to make a call or send a message? We go over a few ideas to keep the lines of communication open when a massive outage strikes your cellular service.

Step 1: Tap on Settings.

Step 2: Tap on Cellular.

Step 3: Tap on Wi-Fi Calling.

Step 4: Tap on the toggle next to Wi-Fi Calling on This Phone.

Step 1: Tap on the Phone app icon.

Step 2: Tap on the three-dot More icon.

Step 3: Tap on Settings.

Step 4: Tap on Calls.

Step 5: Tap on Wi-Fi Calling.

* This feature won’t appear if your carrier doesn’t support it.

Another way to make calls and send messages without cellular service is to use internet-based services. You can do this using your home internet connection or through public ones made available in Walmart, coffee shops, and community spaces.

But how? Simple. Use an app.

We have a standalone guide that covers how to use the best apps to make calls over the internet. But first, let’s take a brief look at your options, which are broken down into two categories: call landlines and call apps.

Landline calling is still a thing, although most internet providers with voice services now send your calls across the internet versus the traditional telephone line. Spectrum Voice is a good example, which includes unlimited nationwide calling, voicemail, caller ID, and so on. However, to get voice service, you typically need an existing internet or TV service to use it.

Here are several examples of the bundling you can get when you pair voice calling with other services:

See disclaimers.

Another way to make important calls when your cellular service is down is to use a different one. Find a friend or family member who uses a different cellular service, or visit a neighbor and see if you can make a call.

Prepaid mobile services are an excellent backup should your primary cellular service go down. Most cellular providers have prepaid options, like T-Mobile and Verizon, or you could walk into Walmart and purchase a relatively cheap phone alongside prepaid plans from Walmart Family Mobile, TracFone, Straight Talk, and more.

You need a hotspot plan to use a standalone hotspot device. Some of our top picks include T-Mobile’s 2GB plan for $10 per month and Verizon Pro for $90 per month. But keep in mind that some plans are only compatible with specific hotspot devices, so your options may be limited by your budget.

Here are a few guides to get you started:

• Best Hotspot Data Plans
• Best Unlimited Hotspot Plans
• Best 5G Hotspot Data Plans

The T-Mobile Inseego MiFi X Pro 5G is our top pick for the best standalone 5G hotspot device you can get. If you want one that’s not locked to one specific carrier, NETGEAR’s Nighthawk M1 4G LTE is our top pick for the best unlocked hotspot. Again, some hotspot devices only work on specific plans, so keep that in mind when you’re shopping for a hotspot.

Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

• Best 5G Hotspots
• Best Unlocked Hotspots
• Best Mobile Hotspots

• Mobile Hotspot vs. Phone Tethering: What’s the Difference?
• Why Is My Hotspot So Slow? How To Improve Your Hotspot Speeds
• Don’t Bother Using a Hotspot for Home Internet (Except in Certain Cases)