26.3 & 26.3.1 breaks eSIM in some cases?

[FrostLK8]

I'm about to buy a new phone and I just realized that a lot of people seem to be reporting that 26.3 and 26.3.1 broke their eSIMs, connectivity, 5G and so on.

Any experiences with this here? The phone apparently detects a "hardware issue" and recommends service once 26.3 gets downloaded. Sources:

https://www.reddit.com/r/applehelp/comments/1r8rqq9/cellular_issue_after_updating_to_ios_263_was

- show screenshots as well

https://www.reddit.com/r/iphonehelp/comments/1r9cmj6/ios_263_having_issues_with_cellular_signal

- another thread with multiple people complaining

https://www.reddit.com/r/ios26/comments/1re77tm/ios_263_update_bug_cellular_not_working

- another

https://www.reddit.com/r/ios/comments/1rf6gu0/no_sim_after_263_update

- some users report it even with a physical SIM, though it's mostly eSIM

 

[robvalentine]

It's fine with my three UK sim on 26.3.1 (and 26.3) on my 17 pro max

 

[kitKAC]

I don't think I've seen any threads here with people having issues? The eSIM in my 14 Pro on 26.3.1 is fine.

 

[GoofyCyborg]

My wife and two sons all have an eSIM and are running the latest iOS without any issues. We installed our eSIMs about a year ago and I’m not sure if that makes a difference.

 

[Maloney~888]

eSIM here. No issues with iOS 26.3.1

 

[FrostLK8]

I see reports from Europe, Asia, US; really not sure what this could be. But I have even seen sellers (outside of Apple stores) saying to consider physical due to this, which is bonkers

 

[FrostLK8]

I'm trying to get to the bottom of it but I checked and found even more reports, and it's people on various continents, carriers, even phones (from 15 to 17). Really not sure what it could be but even sellers (outside of Apple stores) are saying to consider buying physical SIM apparently, which sounds crazy but apparently there is a real problem with 26.3

 

[Artemiz]

One more here with zero problems on eSIM only 17 Pro.
Recently DFU restored to 26.3 and set it up from scratch. No issues during eSIM setup and no issues either after installing 26.3.1.

 

[jetsam]

I'm about to buy a new phone and I just realized that a lot of people seem to be reporting that 26.3 and 26.3.1 broke their eSIMs, connectivity, 5G and so on.

Any experiences with this here? The phone apparently detects a "hardware issue" and recommends service once 26.3 gets downloaded.

I have an iPhone 16 Pro Max, AT&T eSIM, on 26.3.1 (and all previous versions of 26). No problems at all.

A few weeks ago I even deleted my eSIM and downloaded a new eSIM from AT&T, hoping that would allow me to enable 5G SA (it didn't).

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Haven't heard of it here, which tells me it's not a wide-spread issue. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[CMoore515]

2 eSIMs on my 17 Pro Max in the US. No issues

 

[iPhonNick]

iPhone 16 Pro on iOS 26.3.1 with 2 eSIMs, both KPN (the Netherlands, Europe). No issues at all.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I had this problem when I upgraded to 26.3. A couple reboots, and re-downloading the eSIM fixed it. Been having wi-fi calling problems ever since, however.

Verizon.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I had this problem when I upgraded to 26.3. A couple reboots, and re-downloading the eSIM fixed it. Been having wi-fi calling problems ever since, however.

Verizon.

It's just calling functionality.
Do you really need that on your phone?

 

[WarmWinterHat]

It's just calling functionality.
Do you really need that on your phone?

It's on my work phone, which gets 10-20 calls a day, so I guess not!

...plus my office is the basement, which gets great cell service...

 

[turbineseaplane]

It's on my work phone, which gets 10-20 calls a day, so I guess not!

...plus my office is the basement, which gets great cell service...

Sounds awesome to have that not working right or intermittently.
Great fun when trying to take work calls!