Experiencing phone issues can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you rely on your device for constant communication. Imagine the scenario: you’re expecting important messages, perhaps from family or work, but your phone seems to be acting up. You might start wondering, “Why aren’t phones working today?” This question can stem from a variety of underlying problems, and for one iPhone user, the answer seems to be tangled in the complexities of the latest iOS 18 update and the sometimes unreliable nature of Rich Communication Services (RCS).
This user, the sole iPhone owner in a household of five, recently updated to iOS 18 and initially saw RCS working seamlessly with the other Android phones on the same AT&T network. However, this smooth communication was short-lived. The problem isn’t a complete outage, but rather an infuriating intermittency. RCS works, then it doesn’t, then it works again, seemingly at random. All five phones are on the same cellular network, and the fact that RCS functions some of the time confirms that AT&T supports it and the phones are capable. Activation isn’t the issue either, as proven by the sporadic functionality.
The real trouble begins when the iPhone message box reverts to SMS. In this mode, replies from the other household members simply vanish into the digital ether. They aren’t received until the iPhone, in its own mysterious timing, decides to switch back to RCS. This switch can happen unpredictably, even when the phone is stationary at home. The user recounts a particularly concerning 3-4 hour gap in communication. Adding to the disruption, phone calls and voicemail alerts were also delayed for hours, with a voicemail notification appearing approximately four hours after the text messages finally came through. This incident raises serious questions about the reliability of communication, especially in urgent situations.
Troubleshooting steps have been taken, but to no avail. Multiple phone restarts and toggling the RCS feature on and off haven’t resolved the issue. Even a visit to the AT&T store yielded no answers, leaving the staff “baffled.” This suggests the problem isn’t a simple user error or a widely known network issue, but potentially a bug within the iOS 18 update’s handling of RCS, particularly on iPhones within a mixed-device household.
The user’s frustration is palpable, and understandably so. The inability to reliably communicate with family, especially driving teenagers, is a significant concern, especially in emergencies. The uncertainty of whether messages are being sent or received, coupled with missed calls and delayed voicemails, creates a stressful and unreliable communication environment. For anyone asking “why aren’t phones working today?”, this personal account highlights how complex software updates and network protocols can sometimes lead to very real and disruptive communication breakdowns. Hopefully, Apple will address these bugs swiftly to restore reliable communication for all users, particularly those navigating the complexities of RCS in a multi-device world.
