Verizon landline not working? Outage or something else

If your Verizon home phone went dead, find out which of these it is: an outage, a problem inside your home, or a change to Verizon's copper service.

Check for a Verizon outage

From a cell phone, call the Verizon number on your bill and ask about an outage at your address.

Ask a neighbor with Verizon if their phone works.

Storm damage and construction can take days to repair.

Rule out a problem inside your home

Unplug every device from your phone jacks. Plug one corded phone into the jack nearest where the line enters your home. If you get a dial tone, the issue is a device or cord inside the house.

Is Verizon retiring copper lines in your area?

Verizon has asked the FCC to stop traditional copper landline service in parts of several states. In September 2026 the FCC paused automatic approval to review the plan more closely. Verizon says no one will lose service until a reliable alternative is available.

If you rely on a medical alert

Test it right away. If the landline is dead, the medical alert may not reach anyone. Keep a charged cell phone nearby until service is back.

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