Since iOS 8.1 update my phone now shows extended coverage only. Help!!

Ever since I updated to ios 8.1 my phone has shown extended coverage instead of Verizon. I am not in any roaming area. Just in the same spots I always am. I have tried resetting the network and other various resets/ restarts. I have read that others are having this problem. Is there any solution yet? I have a 5s phone. Any help would be appreciated.

Accepted answers

Genenaples

Being in extended mode's very basic definition is Roaming. Years ago when you were outside of your home network you used other towers whether in your providers network or other providers towers. Back then you typically paid extra fees for Roaming and for air time. Today (2014) there is no such thing as that type of roaming with the big providers. Everyone gets nationwide calling and no Roaming fees. Now I cant speak for small pre paid phones or companies that provide ultra local service only. I am talking about Spring - Verizon - AT&T - those providers, so if you have on of the big providers the answer is no - no extra fees when you see Extended. In certain areas and with certain iPhones generally 5S or less after the 8.1 update you will see extended more often. It does mean that you are on other providers towers or Roaming but as you get a stronger Verizon tower it should switch over. I have also read that there are some people's 5S phones that will not say Verizon even in a Verizon store. If I can read between the lines of the tech blogs and what I have learned from both Apple and Verizon, there is a bug or glitch with 8.1 that will be fixed with the next update.

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Genenaples

Solution

After two days on the phone with Verizon (Vzw) tier 2 support and Apple support I was able to get an answer, and get this fixed. There are some known issues with the Vzw iPhones staying in extended mode - so check these first! This is a very important issue to get fixed because until you do you are stuck on other cell operators towers and not Vzw and you will not get high definition calling!

1) IMPORTANT- If you are using a Vzw Network Extender in your home or office, since update of iOS 8.1 you will always see extended mode on your phone, no matter what, for now. (4g HD calling not yet available through Vpn tunnel)

2) 8.1 apple update defaulted all the iPhone cellular mode LTE setting to data only. to fix, go to settings> Cellular > Enable LTE > Select Voice & Data. a check mark should appear within 30 seconds and Verizon will reappear on iPhone. If the check mark appears you are now back on Vzw cell network and have High Def calling. If not - complete a "hard reset on the iPhone" Do this by holding down your power button and home button until you see the apple logo on the screen, This actually disconnects the battery on the phone and forces the sim card to reach out to the towers and reinitialize settings.

If this does not work, toggle on and off Airplane Mode

If that does not work; go to settings> General> Reset> Reset Network Settings

Now if after all that your check mark does not appear or you get a pop box on the phone that says "call Vzw to enable LTE calls" then here is the solution:

Call Vzw, have them add the following 3 codes on your account:

A) Advanced Calling 1.0 - Vzw Feature Code 81143

High Def Voice - Vzw Feature Code 81158

C) High Def Access - Vzw Feature Code 81186

If you give the Vzw rep the three feature codes it will make your life easier because this is a very new issue!

Now you can hard reset and select LTE Voice and Data and get back on the Vzw Network

2 days and 4 hours on the phone with both companies solved this issue, I am not that smart, just pushy to get my new HD calling that I bought the dam iPhone 6 for! Cheers! gene

Note: When doing all this you must be in good range of a Vzw cell tower and have at least two bars of signal on your phone

hog66

Thanks for the response. Sadly, this advice does not apply to an iphone 5s since the settings are different. :smileysad:

iphonerunner

Did you ever fix this? I updated my 5c last night & I'm in "extended" now. It doesn't seem to be affecting my phone calls or data or texts but I want to ensure I won't get any extra charges on the bill for something I'm not doing.

hog66

No, I still have not heard of a fix for this. Only have heard fixes for iphone 6- not any of the 5s. :smileysad:

iphonerunner

:smileysad: Do you know if always being in "extended" will cause extra charges on the plan? I can't seem to find the true definition of "extended". If it's not going to affect the bill at the end of the month then I guess I'll just ignore it until the bug gets fixed.

hog66

I have not found a definite answer to this, but I don't think it will cost extra. I have been checking my usage online the past few days and it looks ok there.. but that doesn't mean it will be ok at the end of the month/billing. I am hoping someone from Verizon will respond to this discussion and help us. :smileysad:

cindye54

Perfect! Thank you so much for the step by step instructions! I was able to get my iPhone 6 back on 'Verizon LTE' and off of the "Extended LTE'.

iphonerunner

I hope so! I also started a question thread but no reply this far.

iphonerunner

I did find this... I guess home air rates still apply as long as it doesn't say roaming.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/support/knowledge-base-16455/

Genenaples

hog66

Thanks for the info!!

iphonerunner

Thanks for the info!

Verizon_Support

Thanks for bringing this to our attention since the software update. Please go to Settings-->Cellular-->Enable LTE--> choose Voice and Data.

If this does not resolve the issue, our technical support team will need to file a ticket to the engineers for further investigation.

As the device shows "Extended" you will not incur any additional charges.

Apple is aware of the notification and they are working on an update to correct this for the people who are affected.

TamaraH_VZW

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

hog66

Thank you so much for the response! Unfortunately, your directions do not apply for an iphone 5s as the settings are different. Once in settings-cellular- the only option is to toggle on/off "enable LTE". There is not a further option past this for voice and data. Please see picture attachment. Please let me know if there is as fix for someone with an iphone 5s. Thanks again for your response in this matter.

Verizon_Support

Thanks, hog66! You're correct, the steps I provided are for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Thanks for the screenshot!

Since you do not have the option, we will need to have a ticket filed for the iPhone 5S.

TamaraH_VZW

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

AprilSteph

I am also having the same issue with my 5c since the IOS update. Am I still getting the 4G LTE service I am paying for while I am waiting for the "fix" and the "ticket" to be filed?

Thanks!

WasK4qbq

I was told by Verizon ( after they contacted Apple ) that the problem is in the Apple software and the phone is showing extended but it's not in extended mode. The displayed information is not correct. Maybe the next update of Apple software will fix the problem.

TennisChic

I just upgraded to iOS 8.1.1 and I now have the Extended notification showing on my phone instead of Verizon. I did not have this when I upgraded to 8.1. I've always had the Verizon name before this upgrade and the location where I am now had the appropriate Verizon Tower signal. I find it hard to believe that I'd be roaming. It has to be an Apple Upgrade Issue.

Verizon_Support

TennisChic,

I know how odd it can be for your device to show different coverage. Have you had any issues with signal since the device is showing Extended? What zipcode are you in? What version iPhone do you have?

LindseyT_VZW

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

whatevz

I went to the Apple store to troubleshoot the extended network issue as well as my poor battery performance since upgrading to 8.1. We removed my sim card, put it in a brand new iphone 5c, and when it turned on, it showed Verizon. However, this was because that new phone had ios 7 out of the box... once upgraded to 8.1, surprise! It showed extended network.

My battery performance has been SO POOR since upgrading as well. We tested my battery at the Apple store, and it is in good health and performing normally. I've previously "nuked" my phone and done a clean install, and I haven't put even half the apps I had on previously. The only thing that could be possibly killing the battery so quickly is a) bug with the ios 8.1 update or b) the phone is constantly searching for a Verizon tower since it is stuck on Extended network (most likely).

Both Apple and Verizon have been finger pointing for too long on this issue. I CANNOT be the only one experiencing this problem. The Apple store guy said he hadn't heard of it previously... maybe that's because Verizon tells people it doesn't cost extra/it's not roaming/it's a badge issue, so no more questions are raised. Either way, my battery life is dismal and this issue needs to be resolved.

HEY VERIZON AND APPLE: PLEASE STOP PLAYING HOT POTATO AND FIX THIS! It's either the update, or the network. MAYBE TROUBLESHOOT BOTH?!

WasK4qbq

Recently I took my IPhone 5 running IOS 8.1.1 to the Apple store in Sarasota, FL because of battery consumption concerns. They showed my how to decrease battery used by turning off applications running in the background. When they noticed the Extended LTE they tried to fix it but finally gave up and told me to go to Verizon. The folks at Verizon store in Sarasota installed a new sim card and it did fix the problem. They told me to call the Verizon support number 800-922-0204 and they were initially unable to help. A few days later they called me at home and while we were on the phone the Verizon folks called Apple and they were told by Apple that the problem is in the Apple software. I was told that my phone is displaying Extended LTE BUT it is actually on Verizon 4G. My wife has an iPhone 5S and her phone will display the Extended LTE only when she travels around Sarasota. I have decided to stop asking for help and I will simply wait and hope that the next release of the Apple software will fix the problem

whatevz

BTW, how come I keep getting private messages from "Verizon Employees" asking for my Verizon account password and my phone number in order to check my provisioning?? This has to be some sort of phishing scam. The private massages consistently contain spelling and sentence structure errors...

hog66

Does updating to ios 8.1.1 make any difference with this issue? Have any of you noticed your phone is better or worse after updating to 8.1.1? I am scared to update after this "extended" fiasco when I did the previous update. Any information for those who have updated would be greatly appreciated. :smileyhappy: Thanks!

saraherie

hog66 I was/am having the exact same issue as your original post (iPhone 5 updated to iOS 8.1 and now in "extended" coverage). I did update to iOS 8.1.1 and there were no changes, good or bad. I am still showing that I am in extended coverage, but it doesn't appear to have added any new problems :smileyhappy:

Hope this helps!

hog66

Thank you!!

Apl007

I have a iPhone 5c and I am still stuck in extended. When will there be a fix? Very unhappy with this issue ruining battery life

Uvapnp

I've had the same problem with extended LTE since doing the Apple 8.1 update. I've spent at least 12-13 hours with Verizon and Apple trying to get help. Apple blames Verizon and vice versa. Verizon's only solution is to buy a new phone. What a ridiculous solution !! My phone worked great until doing the update. Its now been 5 weeks and no one has any solutions. This is so frustrating!!!

Ldlanb5843

Your response was written in Oct, and it is now Dec, and the issue is still prevelant. When I contacted Verizon Customer Support, I was told that as long as I was not dropping calls, able to make and receive calls, and get online, it should be fine. I have been a customer of Alltel/Verizon for 7 years now and would hope that Verizon would offer a higher level of customer support than that for an issue such as this. Very disappointed.

Ldlanb5843

Are you still having succes with your fix? Just bought a 6plus and it immediately activated into Extended and no one wants to help rectify this issue...... Thanks. 12/16/2014

whatevz

NOPE! Went to Verizon and got a new sim card. While still in the store, nothing changed. Later, outside the store, it flipped back to Verizon coverage! But not for long... literally minutes later, I was back on extended network. The battery issues are still killing me. I won't have time until after Christmas to sit in the Verizon store and get this fixed once and for all, that is, if they can even fix it!

tl;dr -- replacing sim card didn't fix the problem, and it's still bad.

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