IT General

Verizon has announced that its mobile network is finally back up and running again, after an outage prevented users from making phone calls for over 10 hours on Wednesday. You should now be able to resuming using your phone as usual, though you may have to restart it first.

"The outage has been resolved," Verizon posted to X at 10:20 p.m. ET / 7:20 p.m. PT. "If customers are still having an issue, we encourage them to restart their devices to reconnect to the network. For those affected, we will provide account credits. Details will be shared directly with customers. We sincerely apologize for the disruption."

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The Verizon outage began earlier on Wednesday at around 11:55 a.m. ET / 8:55 a.m. PT, when crowdsourced outage tracker Downdetector began receiving thousands of reports from customers having trouble connecting. (Disclosure: Downdetector and Mashable are both owned by parent company Ziff Davis.)

The outage stuck Verizon customers' devices in SOS mode, preventing them from making phone calls or using their mobile data. Unfortunately, while calling 911 should have worked regardless, some Verizon users reported that they were unable to contact emergency services during the outage, while government officials advised people to use other networks if they needed help.

Verizon has apologised for the temporary lack of service, and promised to assign credits to impacted users' accounts in order to compensate them. However, no explanation has yet been given regarding what caused the Verizon outage. It's likely that further information will be released in the coming days. For now, upset customers are taking to social media to demand answers, with some threatening to switch carriers.

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Bagel lovers, unite. Thursday, Jan. 15 is National Bagel Day. Don't act like you haven't had this date circled in your calendar. We know this is the highlight of your year. OK, maybe that's a bit much. Maybe it's the highlight of your month. There's not much else going on right now.

So how should you celebrate this special occasion? By eating as many bagels as possible, of course. And the good news is that there are plenty of promotions going live today to help you do exactly that. If you're looking to involved, check out some of the best freebies and discounts we found below.

National Bagel Day dealsBiggby Coffee

Get your hands on a bagel and cream cheese for just $1 on National Bagel Day at Biggby Coffee. To qualify, you need to purchase any 20-ounce or 24-ounce specialty beverage.

Bruegger’s Bagels

Bruegger's Rewards members can get a free bagel and cream cheese with any purchase on National Bagel Day.

Einstein Bros. Bagels

Get a free Bagel & Shmear with any purchase on National Bagel Day. To qualify, mention "National Bagel Day" when ordering in-store.

Goldbergs Fine Foods

Get a free bagel with cream cheese included with any purchase.

H&H Bagels

H&H Rewards members can get a free bagel and spread sandwich on National Bagel Day. Order online or in the app to qualify.

Panera Bread

For National Bagel Day, when you buy an Asiago Bagel Stack you can get a second stack of your choice for free with code BOGOSTACK.

Stop & Shop

Get a free bagel when you check in on your GO Rewards account (limit of one bagel per household). Not already a member? Sign up for free in store.

Western Bagel

Get a 13 bagels for $15 with this special National Bagel Day deal.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Malnourished.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

UNFED

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To produce.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 15, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SPAWN

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A current switch.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 15 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 15, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

DIODE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Clouded.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

FOGGY

Final Hurdle hint

A solid red block.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

BRICK

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

It's day 26 of the lunar cycle, so there's not much to see on the Moon's surface tonight. If you have viewing gear, however, you may still catch a glimpse. Keep reading to see what's happening with tonight's Moon.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Thursday, Jan. 15, the Moon phase is Waning Crescent. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 10% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.

Tonight, the only thing to spot on the Moon's surface is the Grimaldi Basin. To be able to see it, you'll need either binoculars or a telescope.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will be on Feb. 1. The last full moon was on Jan. 3.

What are Moon phases?

Moon phases are what make up the lunar cycle, a phase that NASA tells us takes about 29.5 days. This is the time that the Moon takes to complete a full orbit. As it moves around Earth, it goes through a series of eight distinct phases. The same side of the Moon always faces our planet, but the sunlight hitting it changes depending on its position in orbit. This is why the Moon can sometimes appear full, partially lit, or completely dark. The eight phases that make up the lunar cycle are:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok has announced a change in policy that purports to offer more protections against sexualized deepfakes, at least on X. The new policy comes as California launches an investigation into the issue, while the UK is threatening a ban.

"We have implemented technological measures to prevent the Grok account from allowing the editing of images of real people in revealing clothing such as bikinis,” read a statement from the X Safety account on X, a sister site of Grok’s, posted just before 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT on Wednesday. "This restriction applies to all users, including paid subscribers.”

The X Safety update also stated that it takes Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and non-consensual nudity seriously before reiterating another recent change: Image creation and editing via the Grok account on X is now limited to subscribers.

The X Safety account also announced that it now has the ability to geoblock "all users to [sic] generate images of real people in bikinis, underwear, and similar attire via the Grok account and in Grok in X in those jurisdictions where it’s illegal.”

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Grok and X have faced a wave of scrutiny in the new year as sexualized, non-consensual images of celebrities and children, prompted by users and created by its AI, have proliferated on X. California attorney general Rob Bonta has demanded Grok and its developer xAI take steps to remove and prevent such images, threatening to use "all tools at our disposal" to keep its residents safe.

"This material, which depicts women and children in nude and sexually explicit situations, has been used to harass people across the internet,” Bonta said in a statement on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, xAI/X/Grok boss Elon Musk appeared to dare users to "break Grok image moderation" on the same day that X Safety announced its new safety updates:

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. SEE ALSO: Grok ban: The nations considering blocking AI chatbot over nonconsensual sexual content

British prime minister Keir Starmer on Monday threatened to take action against Musk, saying "if X cannot control Grok, we will," according to a BBC report. Indonesia and Malaysia already blocked Grok access this weekend.

Politicians have also targeted Grok and X, with three senators calling on Apple to remove the services from its app store. The apps are still available in Apple's app store as of Wednesday evening.

X's recent changes to its policy may reflect an acknowledgment by company leaders that it is not protected by Section 230 of the U.S.'s 30-year-old Communications Decency Act, according to the BBC. Section 230 shields tech companies from lawsuits related to user-generated content, but images and other content created by an app's own technology may be less impervious to such legal immunity.

Verizon's network was down for much of Wednesday, the company eventually announcing that it had been restored at 10:20 p.m. ET / 7:20 p.m. PT. Thousands of users across the U.S. were left with their phones in SOS mode due to this outage, meaning they could only make emergency calls. Well, at least in theory. In practice, some attempts to contact 911 reportedly struggled to get through.

SEE ALSO: Verizon outage cause: What we know, what we don't

Though the Verizon mobile network was down for hours, one silver lining was that 911 calls should have still worked. Calls to emergency services can connect to any mobile tower, helping ensure customers of a downed network aren't cut off from help.

Unfortunately, it seems the system might not have worked entirely as intended. Some Verizon users claimed this outage prevented them from calling 911, while multiple official emergency services recommended contacting them via alternate means.

"This light caught fire today and my family was unable to call 911 because of @Verizon's incompetency," X user @OmarMKAhmad alleged, sharing a photograph of a burnt and melted ceiling light. "Thankfully our cleaners happened to be at the house (who have @TMobile) and called 911."

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The Office of Unified Communications (OUC) acknowledged the then ongoing Verizon outage on Wednesday evening via X, warning that the outage was impacting some people attempting to call for emergency services. It also sent a message via AlertDC, the District of Columbia’s official emergency notification system.

"OUC is aware of a nationwide Verizon outage affecting some users trying to reach 911," wrote OUC. "If you have an emergency and cannot connect using your Verizon device, please connect using a device from another carrier, a landline, or go to a police or fire station to report the emergency."

New York's official emergency notification system addressed Verizon's outage as well. Notify NYC stated that the issue "may affect some users trying to call 911," and also recommended people who require emergency services reach out via a different network or a landline, or alternatively seek help in person. Fortunately, people in New York can also use LinkNYC kiosks or FDNY call boxes to contact emergency services. 

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Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 15, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for January 15, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 15 Pips

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this red space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this green space must be equal to 1. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically; 1-1, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 15 Pips

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this green space must add up to 5. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically; 2-5, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this purple space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 15 Pips

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 0. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically; 0-3, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 1-1, placed vertically.

Not Equal: Everything in this dark blue space must be different. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically; 2-1, placed vertically.

Not Equal: Everything in this green space must be different. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically; 2-5, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this purple space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this green space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 1-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this dark blue space must be greater than 3. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you know Italian soccer teams.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: NO

• Green: Italian

• Blue: Scrap

• Purple: Sounds like a Yankee

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Reject a Shot

• Green: Serie A Teams

• Blue: Benches-Clearing Brawl

• Purple: Yankees Greats, With The First Letter Changed

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #479 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Reject a Shot - BLOCK, DENY, STUFF, SWAT

• Serie A Teams - BOLOGNA, COMO, JUVENTUS, ROMA

• Benches-Clearing Brawl - BROUHAHA, FGHT, FRACAS, RHUBARB

• Yankees Greats, With The First Letter Changed - FUDGE, METER, TERRA, WORD

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you have a green thumb.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for January 15, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Landscaping instruments

• Green: Fixed

• Blue: Small units

• Purple: Male titles

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Gardening tools

• Green: Unmoving

• Blue: Things that come in flakes

• Purple: Words formed by two men's names

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #949 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Gardening tools: HOSE, RAKE, SHOVEL, SPADE

• Unmoving: FROZEN, STATIC, STATIONARY, STILL

• Things that come in flakes: CEREAL, DANDRUFF, SALT, SNOW

• Words formed by two men's names: JACKAL, LEVITATE, MELTED, PATRON

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 15, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you have great hearing.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 15, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 15, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: The ears have it!

The words are related to a body part.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe parts of your hearing aids.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Hear Hear.

NYT Strands word list for January 15

• Stirruo

• Cartilage

• Lobe

• Hammber

• Anvil

• Hear Hear

• Drum

• Canal

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love geology.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 15, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for January 15, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A gorge.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

CHASM

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 15, 2026

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

Updated on Jan. 14 at 11:37 p.m. ET : Verizon states that the outage has now been resolved, though hasn't yet shared any details on what caused it. If you're still having difficulty connecting to the network, Verizon recommends restarting your device. The company also confirmed again that it will provide account credits to impacted customers.

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Updated on Jan. 14 at 9:18 p.m. ET: In an apology to its customers posted on X and provided to Mashable on Wednesday evening, Verizon said that it would be providing "account credit" to users affected by the outage. The company also said it would provide further updates soon.

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Verizon customers from Los Angeles to New York City reported phones stuck in SOS mode on Wednesday afternoon as the mobile company experienced a major outage — with no explanation offered.

But as customers complained about the service disruption on social media, one Verizon support account suggested customers may see a discount on a future bill.

"I pay $175 for my Verizon phone bill I better get a discount next bill cycle," a user named "Kardashiangirl" wrote. A Verizon support account replied: "You are very welcome, once service is restored we can review and adjust based on how long the outage occurs." The message was signed by "Sydney," who also offered a happy smiling emoji

Many angry Verizon customers have been complaining on X (and elsewhere) about the cost of their bills and the length of the disruption. Meanwhile, statement from Verizon Support posted on X thanked users for their patience.

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This isn't the first time Verizon has experienced an outage in recent years.

In September 2025, and again in October 2025, many Verizon mobile customers experienced mobile outages, which Verizon eventually attributed to software issues. A previous service disruption in 2024 sent some Verizon customers' phones into SOS mode, as in this 2026 outage.

While in SOS mode, customers are only able to make emergency 911 calls.

As of this writing, T-Mobile and AT&T's networks appear to be operating normally.

This is a developing story...

Updated on Jan. 14 at 11:51 p.m. ET: Verizon states that the outage has now been resolved, though hasn't yet shared any details on what caused it. If you're still having difficulty connecting to the network, Verizon recommends restarting your device. The company also confirmed again that it will provide account credits to impacted customers.

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Updated on Jan. 14 at 9:22 p.m ET: Verizon has posted an update about the situation on X, stating that it is working through the night to solve the issue and has been "making progress." The company also apologised for the outage, and said it would issue account credits to impacted customers. Unfortunately, there is still no information on when service might be restored, or what caused it the outage.

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Updated on Jan. 14 at 8:00 p.m. ET: Eight hours after the mobile outage began, Verizon still hasn't made any statements on the cause of the problem, and customers are still reporting a lack of service. The problem is serious enough that the Federal Communications Commission has now weighed in:

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Updated on Jan. 14 at 5:57 p.m. ET: The platform Downdetector has now received more than 1.7 million user error reports for Verizon. By Wednesday evening, some Verizon customers reported restored service; however, many social media users are still complaining of ongoing problems.

Verizon has not yet explained the source of the outage or provided a timeline for a potential fix. On X, a Verizon support account suggested that customers may receive a discount on their phone bill based on the outage.

Updated on Jan. 14 at 4:46 p.m. ET: Verizon issued a new statement Wednesday afternoon, saying its team was on the ground working on a resolution.

"Verizon's team is on the ground actively working to fix today’s service issue that is impacting some customers," the company posted on X. "We know this is a huge inconvenience, and our top priority is to get you back online and connected as fast as possible. We appreciate your patience while we work to resolve this issue."

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Updated on Jan. 14 at 4:02 p.m. ET: As the Verizon outage continued, T-Mobile issued a statement on X confirming its own network was still working normally:

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At this time, only Verizon has confirmed a wireless network outage.

Updated on Jan. 14 at 2:27 p.m. ET: Verizon issued a new statement regarding its ongoing service disruptions. The company indicated the issues persisted, but that it was working on a fix.

"Verizon engineering teams are continuing to address today's service interruptions," the company wrote on X. "Our teams remain fully deployed and are focused on the issue. We understand the impact this has on your day and remain committed to resolving this as quickly as possible."

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On Wednesday afternoon, thousands of Verizon mobile customers reported an outage, with widespread service outages sending some customers' phones into SOS mode.

User-reported issues spiked at Downdetector around midday Eastern time. (Disclosure: Downdetector is owned by Ziff Davis, the same parent company as Mashable.)

"Verizon is currently grappling with a nationwide service disruption that has generated over 1 million reports (1,053,104) within the last 24 hours," noted Downdetector in an update Wednesday afternoon. The majority of Downdetector users reported problems with either "total loss of signal" or "mobile phone failure."

Verizon's support page on X wrote that it was aware users were having issues and that it was working on fixing the problem. A company representative provided the same statement to Mashable.

"We are aware of an issue impacting wireless voice and data services for some customers," the account posted. "Our engineers are engaged and are working to identify and solve the issue quickly. We understand how important reliable connectivity is and apologize for the inconvenience."

As the outage continued, users shared their frustration on social media.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. What does SOS mean on your phone?

In short, when you see SOS on your phone, it means you're not connected to a cellular network. "If you see SOS or 'SOS only' in the status bar, your device isn't connected to your cellular network, but you can still make emergency calls through other carrier networks," reads an Apple support page on the feature.

In short, while affected customers will be unable to make or receive calls and texts or access data services, they should still be able to place emergency 911 calls via satellite.

Are T-Mobile, AT&T having issues, too?

Around the same time user-reported issues for Verizon spiked, the same trend occurred for T-Mobile and AT&T. Both services experienced spikes in reports on Downdetector. That does not mean, however, that the carriers were necessarily experiencing the same issue confirmed by Verizon. Downdetector tracks user-reported issues, which can be made in error or for an entirely different problem.

What is the cause of the Verizon outage?

So far, Verizon has not released any information on the cause of the January 2026 outage. However, this isn't the first time Verizon customers have dealt with service disruptions.

Verizon mobile customers also experienced brief outages in August and October 2025, which Verizon eventually attributed to software issues. A service disruption in 2024 also sent some Verizon customers' phones into SOS mode.

This story is developing and will be updated as necessary...

UPDATE: Jan. 14, 2026, 11:28 p.m. EST Verizon states that the outage has now been resolved, though hasn't yet shared any details on what caused it. If you're still having difficulty connecting to the network, Verizon recommends restarting your device. The company also confirmed again that it will provide account credits to impacted customers.

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UPDATE: Jan. 14, 2026, 9:45 p.m. EST Verizon has posted an update about the situation on X, stating that it is working through the night to solve the issue and has been "making progress." The company also apologised for the outage, and said it would issue account credits to impacted customers. Unfortunately, there is still no information on when service might be restored, or what caused the outage.

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In the midst of a widespread service disruption affecting Verizon Wireless customers in the United States, the company is facing a deluge of angry customers on social media.

The company has made a series of statements about the outage, which is ongoing as of this writing.

But what caused the Verizon outage that affected so many mobile customers all over the country? While Verizon hasn't issued any statements addressing the cause, we'll provide more information as it becomes available. In the meantime, here's everything we know so far.

The Verizon service outage cause: What we know

Starting around 11:55 a.m. ET, the platform Downdetector started to receive a spike in user error reports from Verizon customers. Error reports peaked around 12:45 p.m. ET, when Downdetector received "178,284 concurrent reports" within a 15-minute period." So far, the platform has received more than 1.7 million error reports. (Disclosure: Downdetector and Mashable are both owned by Ziff Davis.)

Mashable reporters reached out to Verizon with questions about the outage, but the company has yet to say anything concrete about the source of the problem.

SEE ALSO: Verizon support hints at phone bill 'discount' for outage

Instead, the company responded with the same statements it's posted to its website and social media platforms. The statements thank customers for their patience and promise that Verizon engineering teams "remain fully deployed" to address the issue.

A recent statement on X reads:

"Verizon's team is on the ground actively working to fix today’s service issue that is impacting some customers. We know this is a huge inconvenience, and our top priority is to get you back online and connected as fast as possible. We appreciate your patience while we work to resolve this issue."

At this time, it's not clear where on the ground Verizon is working, or what they're working on.

Verizon outage cause: What we don't know

Global mobile networks involve a vast infrastructure, and we don't yet know which part of Verizon's telecommunications system has malfunctioned. It's even possible that the outage was caused by a third-party contractor or vendor that works with Verizon, rather than the company itself. Likewise, the outage could be the result of a cybersecurity attack by an unknown actor.

If the outage did originate with Verizon, we don't know if it's a software problem, a hardware problem, or both, though Verizon has blamed previous outages on software problems.

Mashable reported on several major internet outages in 2025. Typically, the companies responsible for an outage provide an initial update the day of the disruption, followed by a more in-depth report in the weeks ahead.

We will update this story as we learn more about the outage.

Verizon Wireless outage timeline

Verizon experienced a major service disruption on Wednesday, Jan. 14, with confused customers taking to social media to report that their phones were suddenly stuck in SOS mode.

The outage began around noon ET, and Verizon quickly acknowledged the outage in a statement posted on X; a Verizon spokesperson also provided the same statement to Mashable reporters.

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By the evening, some customers reported restored service, though many customers on social media still complained of ongoing problems. While the service was down, many angry Verizon customers criticized the company in social media posts.

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This isn't the first time Verizon customers have experienced an outage.

In September 2025 (and again in October 2025), thousands of Verizon mobile customers experienced brief outages, which Verizon eventually attributed to software issues. A service disruption in 2024 also sent some Verizon customers' phones into SOS mode.

Before Reddit became the de facto "front page of the internet," there was Digg. 

Digg, the crowdsourced content platform, is where "upvoting" links was popularized. However, a failed redesign wrecked the site's popularity with its user base, who fled to Reddit – and the rest was history. Digg flailed under different curated, editorial visions and Reddit became one of the internet's biggest websites.

Now, Digg's original founder Kevin Rose is teaming up with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian to relaunch the platform. Digg is back (again) and looking to take on Reddit with the help of the guy who founded Reddit. (Ohanian left Reddit in 2020.)

On Wednesday, the beta version of Digg officially launched to the public at Digg.com. Interested users can sign up for the beta now.

SEE ALSO: Verizon support hints at phone bill 'discount' for outage

In an interview with TechCrunch, Rose shared his goals with the newly relaunched Digg of building trust with its user base and making sure it's not overtaken by AI bots looking to manipulate the platform. For example, a Digg community for those who own a particular piece of tech hardware could be asked to prove they own said piece of technology.

At launch, the new Digg has 21 general communities around topics such as science, funny, tech, gaming, and entertainment. Around 67,000 users were invited on the platform before the public launch.

With the public launch, anyone can now sign-up and a community could be created around any specific topic or niche. However, at the time, each community can only have one manager. Digg CEO Justin Mezzell told TechCrunch that the company wanted to launch the platform and then build and ship features weekly as Digg evolves.

Digg is also launching with an AI-created podcast called Digg Daily which recaps the biggest stories on the platform each day. According to the company, it's considering bringing in human hosts after hearing feedback from users.

Following the aforementioned failed 2010 redesign which led to the platform's downfall, Digg has been bought and sold by various entities, until Rose and Ohanian acquired the platform and subsequently announced their intent to relaunch Digg last year.

Users can sign up for the new Digg at Digg.com now.

When you think of Paramount+, the first name that comes to mind is Taylor Sheridan. The Yellowstone architect is behind some of the most popular shows for the streamer. Considering he writes, directs, and produces the majority of the episodes, Sheridan is Paramount’s most prolific creator.

SAVE $400: As of Jan. 14, get the TCL 85-inch T7 QLED 4K TV for $999.99. That's down from its usual price of $1,399.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon TCL 85-inch T7 QLED 4K TV $999.99 at Amazon
$1,399.99 Save $400   Get Deal

New year, new TV? If adding to your home entertainment setup in 2026 is on the agenda, you can't go wrong with a big screen TV. Whether it's for enjoying movies, sports, or your favorite shows, it's a great idea. And you can save big on one right now.

As of Jan. 14, get the TCL 85-inch T7 QLED 4K TV for $999.99, down from its usual price of $1,399.99. That's $400 off and a discount of 29%.

SEE ALSO: Samsung's new OLED TVs will probably be expensive. Meanwhile, the 2025 S90F OLED is almost 50% off.

This massive screen is part of TCL's more affordable T7 Series, which offer tons of screen real estate with budget-friendly features and options. The quantum dot display offers a crisp picture with a 144Hz refresh rate, an AI processor to optimize color, contrast, and other settings all its own, and support for Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+. In short, you're getting a ton of great features even for balling on a budget.

In addition to Google TV integration, which means you have plenty of streaming options built-in, you also get settings that work great for gamers: Motion Rate 490 with MEMC Frame Insertion, Game Accelerator 288, and an Auto Game Mode for the best lowered input lag and latency.

There's a lot to love here, so don't count it out for its discount heritage. Snag this TV ASAP before it's no longer available at its discounted price.

TL;DR: The GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable replaces multiple chargers and tools in one compact keychain design, and it’s currently on sale for $21.99 (reg. $49.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: GoCable GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable $21.99
$49.99 Save $28.00   Get Deal

Most of us don’t actually need more chargers — we just need smarter ones, or at least ones that do more than just take our phones to 100%. If your bag is still a tangled mess of different cables for every device you own, an all-in-one option can simplify things fast. The GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable replaces multiple cords with a single, compact setup, and it’s marked down for a limited time.

Labubus are cute, but this keychain actually does something. The GoCable packs eight functions into one everyday carry tool, including, but not limited to, fast charging, data transfer, a bottle opener, cutter, carabiner clip, and multiple connector options — all in a small, pocketable form factor.

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On the charging front, it’s built for speed. If your devices always feel stuck in slow-charging purgatory, the cable is often the culprit. This one supports up to 100W fast charging, which means you can power up phones, tablets, laptops, cameras, and handheld consoles significantly quicker than with standard cables. It also handles high-speed data transfer when you need to move files between devices.

Device compatibility won’t be an issue either. Whether you primarily use Apple gear, Android devices, or a mix of both, the GoCable works across ecosystems with Type-C-to-Type-C and Lightning connector combinations. Built-in magnetic cable management keeps the cord tangle-free so you’re not fishing knots out of your backpack on the subway or mid-flight.

Since it’s meant to live on your keys or bag, it earns its space. A built-in bottle opener is there for off-the-clock moments, and the hidden safety cutter can help open packages or slice tags without exposed blades.

Normally $49.99, the GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W cable is on sale for $21.99 for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Anthropic’s newest productivity experiment, Cowork, is notable not just for what it does, but for how it was made. Cowork is essentially a version of the AI coding tool Claude Code for non-developers. And according to the company, much of Cowork was built by Claude Code itself, turning the AI into both the product and a key part of the development process.

SEE ALSO: Anthropic AI research model hacks its training, breaks bad

Instead of writing software, users grant Claude access to a folder on their computer and ask it to perform real work, such as organizing files, drafting reports, compiling spreadsheets from screenshots, or cleaning up documents. Unlike a standard chat, Cowork operates with more autonomy. You assign a task, and Claude plans and executes it step by step, keeping you informed as it progresses.

Anthropic says that after launching Claude Code, it noticed users repurposing it for everyday tasks far beyond programming, from planning trips to managing personal data. That behavior directly inspired Cowork’s agentic design.

When asked on X how much of Cowork was built using Claude Code, Boris Cherny, Anthropic’s head of Claude Code, replied simply: "All of it."

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Cowork is launching as a research preview for Claude Max subscribers on macOS, with Anthropic emphasizing that this is an early step toward more agent-like AI tools.

SAVE $150: The Ninja Slushi Max is on sale at Amazon for $349.99, down from the standard price of $499.99. That's a 30% discount that matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Slushi Max $349.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $150   Get Deal

We're down to the final weeks of football season. That means just a few more opportunities to host the football party of all football parties. If you've mastered the snacks, upgraded to a massive TV, and have the most comfortable couch ever, there's only one upgrade left — turn every beverage into a slushy. Thankfully, there's a great deal on an at-home slushy machine today.

As of Jan. 14, the Ninja Slushi Max is on sale at Amazon for $349.99, down from the standard price of $499.99. That works out to a savings of $150 from a 30% discount. This sale price also matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

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Ninja makes some of our favorite kitchen appliances, and the Ninja Slushi is a highlight. In testing the original Slushi machine, Mashable Senior Shopping Reporter Leah Stodart found it to be "a serotonin booster worth trying." She slush-ified White Claws, protein shakes, a pre-workout electrolyte drink, and straight Pepsi, finding the machine to get weekly use in her home.

But Ninja went ahead and outdid themselves with the Ninja Slushi Max. It's a steroid-ridden version of the original with a much larger capacity and more versatility in terms of what it can turn into a slushy. For starters, Ninja considers this the party drink machine, crafting up to 150 ounces of frozen dreams.

Perfect for particular parties, the Ninja Slushi Max is also a much better bartender compared to the original. This model can slush cocktails that contain up to 20% alcohol. Ninja notes that'll get you access to enjoying a slushy version of mudslide cocktail, a cosmo, or a Long Island iced tea. On the non-alcoholic side, the machine has a setting for the perfect milkshake or frozen juice. The kids will be thrilled about this treat on warm summer days.

While hosting the final few football parties of the year, impress your guests with the Ninja Slushi Max. You'll be able to get 150 ounces of frozen goodness from each batch and be able to wash most elements in the dishwasher come cleanup.