Is Verizon down? How to check for an outage, and get a credit
Verizon has separate outage tools for Fios and for its wireless network, which also carries 5G Home and LTE Home. Here's which one to check, how to tell an outage from a problem at home, and when Verizon credits you.
Where to check depends on your service.
Check the light on your Verizon Router, then Verizon's Fios service outage page.
Sign in to My Verizon for a network alert or use the Check network status page.
If Verizon was at fault and you lost service for more than 24 hours, ask for a credit.
Before anything else, run a quick speed test. If it fails or shows almost nothing, the problem is the connection, not the app.
If you have Fios
- Check the router light. Solid white means the connection reaches your home. Blinking white means it's starting up. Yellow, red or no light means no connection.
- Restart the router. Unplug it for a minute, plug it back in and wait for a solid white light. Check the power cord and the cable from the wall.
- Test with a cable. Try another device, then a computer plugged into the router. If that works, the problem is Wi-Fi, not Verizon.
- Check the outage page. Sign in to Verizon's Fios service outage page. It shows known outages and the estimated repair time.
Fios outages are uncommon, so repeated problems often come from the wiring or equipment at your home. If the router light stays red after a restart, contact Verizon so a technician can test the line. Our Verizon Fios review covers plans and equipment.
If you have 5G Home, LTE Home or a Verizon phone
- Sign in to My Verizon. If Verizon knows of an outage in your area, a Network Notification alert appears at the top of the screen.
- Use Check network status. No alert? Enter your address on Verizon's Check network status page. It shows affected services and the status of repairs.
- Restart the receiver or phone. On 5G Home, restart the gateway and check its signal. On a phone, turn Wi-Fi Calling off so you're testing the Verizon network itself, then turn Airplane Mode on and off.
- Check Downdetector. A sudden jump in reports means a wider outage, sometimes before Verizon's page shows it.
5G Home and LTE Home run on the same network as Verizon phones, so a wireless outage takes them down too. Fios doesn't depend on the cell network. If 5G Home is slow rather than down, see our Verizon 5G Home review and why your internet is slow.
How to get a Verizon outage credit
For wireless and 5G Home, Verizon's terms allow a credit if you lose service in your coverage area for more than 24 hours in a row and Verizon is at fault. You have to ask within 180 days. Fios and other home services generally qualify after 24 hours or more. Contact Verizon through My Verizon chat or 1-800-837-4966 with the date and time the outage started and ended.
After big outages Verizon has sometimes offered credits without being asked. After the wireless outage of January 14, 2026, it gave affected customers a $20 credit, redeemed by tapping Accept in the My Verizon app after a text message.
Getting online during an outage
If Fios is down, your phone's hotspot is the quickest fix, as long as your phone isn't on Verizon too. If the cell network is down, Wi-Fi Calling on another connection keeps calls working. If outages cost you work, a second connection on a different network may be worth it: see the best backup internet for home. If outages keep happening, compare what else reaches your address.
Pick a backup on a different network from Verizon, so one outage doesn't take out both.
Sources (4)
- Verizon support, "Verizon wireless outage & network notifications FAQs" (verizon.com), checked Oct 11, 2026: Network Notification alerts, Check network status, troubleshooting
- Verizon Router LED status indicators (verizon.com support)
- Verizon News, "An update on our network outage," January 2026: $20 credit via the My Verizon app
- Verizon outage credit terms as summarized by HighSpeedInternet.com, "Is Verizon Internet Down?": 24-hour threshold, 180-day window
Verizon's tools and credit rules can change; check your account for the current terms. How we research
Questions
How do I check if Verizon is down in my area?
For your phone, 5G Home or LTE Home, sign in to My Verizon: an outage in your area shows as a Network Notification alert, or use the Check network status page. For Fios, use Verizon's Fios service outage page, which shows known outages and the repair time.
Is Verizon Fios down or is it my router?
Look at the Verizon Router light. Solid white means the connection reaches your home, so the problem is likely Wi-Fi or a device. Yellow, red or no light points to the line or an outage: unplug the router for a minute, then check the outage page.
Does Verizon give credits for outages?
For wireless and 5G Home, Verizon says you can get a credit if you lose service for more than 24 hours in a row in your coverage area and it was Verizon's fault. You have to ask within 180 days. Fios has a similar 24-hour rule. After large outages Verizon has sometimes offered a flat credit, such as $20 in January 2026.
If Verizon wireless is down, does Fios still work?
Usually, yes. Fios runs on Verizon's fiber network, not its cell network, so a wireless outage doesn't normally take Fios down. 5G Home and LTE Home use the cell network and go down with it.