Is Three Network Down UK? How to Check and What to Do During Outages

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Key Takeaways

• As of recent reports (June 25, 2025), Three UK *is* experiencing notable network issues, particularly affecting voice calls nationwide.
• Common problems during Three outages include “**three mobile calls not working**” and the perplexing situation where “**three network data working calls not**”.
• You can check the official **is three network down UK** status using Three’s own coverage checker (with a caveat), their social media, and community forums.
• Third-party sites like Down Detector are useful for confirming user reports of a potential “**three network outage June 2025**”.
• Outages can be caused by planned maintenance, unexpected local faults, or severe national issues.
• Basic troubleshooting steps on your phone (like restarting or toggling airplane mode) can help rule out device-specific issues before assuming a network-wide problem.
• If the Three network is confirmed down for calls, you generally cannot make standard calls. Alternatives include Wi-Fi Calling (if working) or internet-based calling apps. Understanding how to make calls using WiFi can be crucial.

“Is **Three network down UK**?” This is the burning question on the minds of countless mobile users across the country right now. With daily life, work, and staying connected increasingly relying on mobile services – especially as we interact with powerful modern devices like AI-powered smartphones – any disruption can feel significant. Recent reports indicate that, as of the timeframe specified in the research (specifically around June 25, 2025), Three UK *is* indeed experiencing notable service problems.

The primary impact seems to be on voice calls, affecting users nationwide. This post aims to provide clarity on the current situation, guide you on how to check the official status, detail common issues like “**three mobile calls not working**”, and offer actionable advice on what to do, whether you’re facing a widespread **three network outage June 2025** or a more localised issue. Understanding the difference and having the right steps at hand is key to navigating mobile network problems.

Checking the Current Three Network Status

When you suspect something is wrong with your mobile service, perhaps you can’t make a call or your data seems sluggish despite having signal bars, the first step is always to confirm the network status. Is the problem just you, or is there a wider **three network outage June 2025** underway? Relying on official sources provides the most accurate picture of whether the **is three network down UK** question has a “yes” answer right now.

There are several methods to check the current Three network status, each with its own strengths and weaknesses:

Official Methods

*The official Three UK coverage checker tool* is typically your first port of call. You can visit the Three network and coverage page and enter your postcode. This tool is designed to show you the expected 4G and 5G status in your specific area. It can indicate if there’s known maintenance work or local issues affecting masts near you. However, it’s important to be aware of a critical caveat mentioned in Three’s own documentation: this tool can sometimes lag behind real-time events by up to 30 days. This means that a sudden, widespread outage might not appear on the coverage checker immediately, or even for some time. It’s more reliable for planned work than unforeseen faults.

*Monitoring Three’s official social media channels*, particularly platforms like Twitter (now X) and Facebook, is another crucial step. Network operators frequently use these channels to communicate real-time updates during major incidents, planned maintenance, or even just to acknowledge widespread reports of issues. Following their official accounts can give you quicker insight into a nationwide problem than waiting for the coverage checker to update. The Three Community Forum can also be a good source, as users and moderators might discuss known issues.

Third-Party Tools

When official channels are slow to update or you just want independent confirmation, *third-party outage detector websites* like Down Detector and Is It Down Right Now are incredibly useful. These sites aggregate user-submitted reports of problems.

If you see a large spike in reports for Three UK on Down Detector, it’s a strong indicator that many other people are experiencing issues, lending weight to the idea that the **is three network down UK** question might have a positive answer. For example, reports around June 25, 2025 clearly showed Down Detector indicating UK-wide problems for Three, particularly affecting voice calls, starting around 7:45 a.m. BST. These tools aren’t just for mobile networks; they can track outages for everything from websites to massive internet infrastructure providers like Google Cloud or Cloudflare.

However, it’s essential to add a *note of caution*: always treat third-party reports with a degree of skepticism. They are based on user submissions, which can sometimes be mistaken or relate to highly localised problems rather than a widespread outage. They are best used as a corroborating source alongside official information. If both official channels *and* third-party sites show widespread issues, it’s highly probable that a significant **three network outage June 2025** is indeed affecting many users.

Common Issues Users Report During Outages

When the Three network is experiencing problems, users typically encounter a range of frustrating issues that severely impact their ability to use their mobile phones as intended. Understanding these common symptoms can help you determine if the problems you’re facing are likely due to a network issue.

Perhaps the most frequently reported problem during periods of network instability is the *inability to make or receive voice calls*. This directly relates to the keyword phrase “**three mobile calls not working**”. You might try to dial a number, hear silence, get an error message like “Call Ended”, or find that incoming calls aren’t connecting or your phone isn’t ringing. This is often the first sign that something is wrong with the network’s core voice infrastructure.

Another common and particularly confusing scenario is when *data services are working, but voice calls and texts are failing*. This is perfectly captured by the phrase “**three network data working calls not**”. Imagine you can still browse the web, check social media, or send messages via apps like WhatsApp, but you cannot make a standard phone call or send a traditional SMS text message. This happens because mobile networks often handle data traffic and voice calls on different parts of their infrastructure (especially with the transition from older 2G/3G voice services to modern 4G/5G networks that handle voice calls over data using technologies like VoLTE – Voice over LTE). An issue affecting only the voice component, while leaving the data network operational, leads to this specific, frustrating symptom.

Compounding the issue, the research indicates that *some users might also experience problems with Wi-Fi calling* during a severe outage, even if their underlying Wi-Fi or mobile data connection *appears* to be working. Wi-Fi Calling routes calls over the internet instead of the cellular network, but it still relies on Three’s backend systems to connect and manage the call. If those backend systems are the source of the outage (as might be the case in a major event like the reported **three network outage June 2025**), even Wi-Fi Calling might fail.

These specific issues – failed calls, texts, and sometimes even Wi-Fi calling, often while data remains functional – are typical indicators that Three’s network is experiencing significant problems, especially with its voice services, mirroring the situation reported on June 25, 2025.

Why Might the Three Network Be Down? (Potential Causes)

Mobile networks are incredibly complex systems, a vast web of masts, cables, data centres, and software constantly working together. Because of this complexity, disruptions can occur for various reasons, ranging from routine work to unexpected catastrophic failures. Understanding the potential causes behind why the **is three network down UK** status might be “yes” helps manage expectations during an outage like the **three network outage June 2025**.

Planned Maintenance

Network operators, including Three, regularly carry out *planned maintenance or upgrades*. This work is essential for improving network performance, capacity, and reliability in the long term. Projects like “The Big Network Build” to expand 4G and 5G coverage, or the ongoing work related to the 3G switch-off campaign, require engineers to work on network infrastructure. While every effort is made to minimise disruption, sometimes these activities can cause temporary service interruptions in specific areas, or occasionally even wider issues if dependencies are affected. Planned work is usually scheduled during off-peak hours (like overnight) but can still impact users. Information about officially announced maintenance is typically available on Three’s network status page.

Unexpected Technical Faults

Despite rigorous monitoring and testing, *unexpected technical issues or failures* can occur. A piece of equipment at a local mast site might fail, underground fibre optic cables connecting parts of the network could be damaged (for example, by construction work), or software glitches in the network’s core systems might arise. These kinds of faults often cause disruptions that are limited to a specific geographical area or affect only certain services (like only voice or only data) in that region. These are unplanned events, making them harder to predict and sometimes slower to diagnose and fix compared to planned maintenance.

Severe, Cascading Faults

In rare cases, a *significant fault* can occur in a critical part of the network infrastructure that triggers a cascading effect, leading to *widespread, national service disruptions*. These events are the most impactful, as they can affect large numbers of users across the country simultaneously. Such widespread issues might not only impact Three’s direct contract and Pay As You Go customers but also users of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) that utilise Three’s infrastructure, such as Smarty or iD Mobile. The situation reported on June 25, 2025, where widespread problems with voice calls were noted, appears to be an example of such a severe, potentially cascading fault impacting a core service nationwide.

Information about these official issues, both planned work and significant faults, is ideally communicated via Three’s network status page or through their official channels. Planned work and major outages, like a potential **three network outage June 2025**, might come with estimates for when service is expected to be restored, though updates aren’t always immediate or perfectly accurate during rapidly evolving situations.

Basic Troubleshooting Steps (Before Assuming a Network-Wide Outage)

Before you conclude that the **is three network down UK** answer is affecting you due to a major national event like the **three network outage June 2025**, it’s always prudent to perform some basic troubleshooting steps on your own device. Many seemingly network-related problems, particularly issues like “**three mobile calls not working**” or when you find “**three network data working calls not**” but data is fine, can sometimes be resolved by addressing simple, local issues with your phone or SIM card. Taking a moment to check these can save you frustration and help you accurately diagnose the problem. As part of maintaining a functional device, learning how to secure your smartphone is also a good proactive step.

Here are some practical steps you can take:

• • *Restart your phone*: This might sound overly simple, but a classic reboot can resolve a surprising number of temporary glitches. It refreshes the phone’s connection to the network and clears out any minor software bugs that might be interfering with calls or data. It’s the first step recommended by most support guides for a reason.
  • *Toggle airplane mode on and off*: Activating airplane mode disconnects your phone from all wireless networks (cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth). Leaving it on for about 10-15 seconds and then turning it off can force your phone to re-establish a fresh connection to the nearest cellular mast and Wi-Fi network. This can often resolve minor registration issues with the network.
  • *Check the physical SIM card placement*: Power off your phone and remove the SIM card tray. Take the SIM card out and inspect it for any visible damage (though physical damage is less common these days). Gently wipe the gold contacts (be careful not to scratch them) and reinsert the SIM card firmly into the tray. Ensure the tray is correctly and securely placed back into the phone. A slightly dislodged or poorly seated SIM can prevent your phone from registering correctly on the network.

• *Review phone settings*: Dive into your phone’s network and call settings. Check if you’ve accidentally activated call barring for outgoing or incoming calls. Ensure ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode isn’t blocking calls (or is configured correctly). Look at network selection settings – it should typically be set to ‘Automatic’, allowing your phone to find the best available network, but sometimes toggling to manual and back to automatic can help. Also, check if VoLTE (Voice over LTE) is enabled, as this is how modern phones make calls over 4G; if it’s off or buggy, it could explain why data works but calls don’t.
• *Test in a different physical location*: Move to a different room in your house or go outside. Localised interference from building materials, electronic devices, or even just being in a signal ‘dead spot’ can affect connectivity. Similarly, if there’s a very specific issue with only the cell mast serving your immediate micro-location, moving away from it might allow you to connect to a different one and restore service.

These simple steps, often referenced in support resources like the Three Community Forum, can often help you distinguish whether you have a personal device or SIM card issue versus a broader network problem reported by others. If these steps don’t resolve your issues and the network status checkers indicate a wider problem, then it’s more likely you’re being affected by a genuine outage.

What to Do When the Three Network Is Confirmed Down

So, you’ve checked the official sources, looked at third-party detectors like Down Detector, and performed basic troubleshooting, and it’s confirmed: the **is three network down UK** answer is affirmative, especially regarding voice services as noted around June 25, 2025. This brings up a critical question: “**how to make calls Three network down**”.

Let’s be clear: if the Three cellular network is confirmed down, especially for voice services, you will generally *not* be able to make standard mobile calls using Three’s traditional cellular infrastructure. This includes standard emergency calls (999 or 112) that rely on the cellular network. Modern phones are supposed to be able to connect to *any* available network for emergency calls if your own isn’t working, but during a widespread and severe outage affecting national infrastructure, even this fallback might be impacted in some areas.

However, you might have alternative options, depending on the nature and severity of the outage:

• *Wi-Fi Calling*: If Wi-Fi Calling was enabled and previously set up on your device, and *if* your Wi-Fi connection (separate from the mobile network) is working reliably, you *might* still be able to make and receive calls and texts over Wi-Fi. This technology routes communication over your internet connection rather than the cellular signal. *However*, as highlighted in the research concerning the June 25, 2025 outage, a severe network issue can sometimes impact Three’s backend systems responsible for Wi-Fi Calling registration and routing, meaning it *may also fail* even if your internet is fine and your data connection (mobile or Wi-Fi) appears to be working. Don’t assume Wi-Fi Calling will work just because you have internet access; it depends on which specific part of Three’s network is down.
• *Internet-Based Communication Apps*: This is often your best bet if standard calls are impossible. Apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Zoom, Skype, Telegram, etc., offer voice and video calling features. These services rely purely on a data connection. If your phone’s mobile data is still working (the “**three network data working calls not**” scenario), or if you have access to a separate, functional Wi-Fi network, you can use these apps to communicate. This bypasses Three’s cellular voice network entirely. If you need to make calls, prioritizing apps that use data is the way to go when the voice network is down.
• *Use a Different Phone or Network*: For critical calls or emergencies, if your Three service is completely unusable (including potential Wi-Fi Calling issues), the most reliable solution is to use a different phone connected to another network (if available from a family member, friend, or colleague) or a landline phone if you have access to one. This ensures your call doesn’t rely on the affected Three infrastructure.

During widespread network repairs, operators like Three are working urgently to restore services. Patience is often necessary. Avoid repeatedly restarting your phone or contacting customer support unless the official status indicates the issue is resolved in your area but you’re still affected. Excessive contact during a major outage can overwhelm support lines and slow down the overall recovery process.

Contacting Three Customer Support

While it’s important not to overload customer support during major, confirmed outages that are actively being addressed, there are situations where contacting Three’s customer support team is the right course of action.

You should reach out to support if:

• Your mobile service issues persist after you have performed the basic troubleshooting steps mentioned earlier.
• The official Three network status checker or their social media channels do *not* show any known faults or maintenance in your specific area, yet you are experiencing problems (like “**three mobile calls not working**” or “**three network data working calls not**”). This might indicate a highly localised fault not yet reported, or an issue specific to your account or SIM card.
• You suspect a specific account issue, such as billing problems that might have led to service restriction (though Three usually notifies you beforehand).
• You need detailed information about a fault that is listed in your area and the online resources aren’t providing sufficient updates.

You can usually contact Three customer support via their online chat services (if available and if your data connection is working) or by calling them. Remember that if Three’s voice network is down nationally, you will likely need to use a different phone (on another network) or a landline to call them. The support team can often run diagnostics on your specific account and connection, and they have access to internal systems that can provide more detailed information on known local or national faults than publicly available tools. As noted in resources like the Three Community Forum, customer service representatives are trained to assist with diagnosing connectivity issues.

Conclusion

Determining whether the **is three network down UK** question applies to you requires a combination of checking official sources, consulting third-party outage reporters, and ruling out issues with your own device. Issues like “**three mobile calls not working**” or the scenario where “**three network data working calls not**” can stem from various causes, including widespread events like the significant **three network outage June 2025**, planned maintenance, or localised technical faults. Rely primarily on Three’s official tools such as their coverage checker and social media feeds, alongside reputable third-party sites like Down Detector for the most accurate picture of the network’s health. Remember that basic troubleshooting steps can often resolve personal issues. If the network is genuinely down, especially for voice services, options like “**how to make calls Three network down**” via the standard cellular network are generally unavailable, making internet-based communication apps or using an alternative network necessary fallbacks. For more tech insights on mobile apps, games, and innovation, AkWebGuide offers a wealth of information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the Three network currently down in the UK?

A: According to recent reports around June 25, 2025, Three UK is experiencing significant network issues, primarily affecting voice calls nationwide. You should check Three’s official channels and third-party outage detectors for the most current status.

Q: How can I check the official status of the Three network in my area?

A: Use the Three UK coverage checker tool by entering your postcode. Also, monitor Three’s official social media accounts (like Twitter/X and Facebook) as they often provide real-time updates, especially during widespread issues. Be aware the coverage checker may lag behind live events.

Q: My Three mobile calls are not working, but my data is. Why?

A: This common issue, “**three network data working calls not**”, occurs because mobile networks handle voice and data services on different parts of their infrastructure. An outage or technical fault might affect only the voice component, leaving data services operational. This is a frequent symptom during voice-specific network problems like the one reported around June 2025.

Q: Can I use Wi-Fi Calling during a Three network outage?

A: Potentially, yes, *if* you have Wi-Fi access and Wi-Fi Calling was set up previously. However, a severe network outage can sometimes impact the backend systems that support Wi-Fi Calling, meaning it might also fail even if your internet connection is working. It’s not guaranteed to work during a major outage.

Q: What should I do if the Three network is confirmed down and I need to make a call?

A: If you cannot make standard calls (**how to make calls Three network down** on the cellular network is generally not possible), try using internet-based communication apps like WhatsApp or Zoom over Wi-Fi or mobile data (if data is still working). For critical calls, use a different phone on another network or a landline if available.

Q: My phone isn’t working, but the Three status page shows no issues. What should I do?

A: First, perform basic troubleshooting steps like restarting your phone, toggling airplane mode, and checking your SIM card. If problems persist and official/third-party checkers show no network issues in your area, contact Three customer support. It might be a localised fault not yet reported, or an issue specific to your device or account.

Q: How long do network outages typically last?

A: The duration of an outage varies greatly depending on the cause. Planned maintenance is scheduled and usually resolves within a set window. Local technical faults can sometimes be fixed within hours. Severe, widespread faults like a national **three network outage June 2025** can take longer to diagnose and repair, potentially lasting several hours or even longer in complex cases. Three will usually provide updates via their official channels.

Q: Does a Three network outage affect MVNOs that use Three’s network (like Smarty or iD Mobile)?

A: Yes, since MVNOs like Smarty and iD Mobile operate on Three’s infrastructure, they are typically affected by significant outages on the Three network. Users of these MVNOs should follow similar steps to check status and troubleshoot.