iOS 26.0.1 persisting cellular data issues (?Private Relay)

[Jgpsolo]

Hi all,

I’m running iOS 26.0.1 on an iPhone 17 Pro Max and am struggling with cellular data connections in specific contexts:

• Accessing websites via Safari or Chrome over 4G or 5G (sites fail to load entirely, left with a clean white tab but no error)
• Using certain apps which rely on internet (such as PayByPhone, Gemini, Instagram, Speedtest which say there’s no connection)
• Calls, texts, iMessage and WhatsApp are unaffected, so it’s not a data issue across the board

The problem is not replicated on WiFi, but persists over 4G or 5G with 2-4 bars. Restarting provides a temporary fix, but the problem soon reoccurs. I have reset network settings but this has not resolved the issue. I’m not running any third-party VPNs or connecting via proxy etc.

I’ve noticed a possible link with iCloud Private Relay: when off, pages load as expected and apps connect without difficulty (in the exact same location with the same signal strength). I can tether my iPhone to my iPad, and find I then need to disable Private Relay on my iPad to get sites to load. I had a quick look for existing threads, but couldn’t find the exact issue. I understood that 26.0.1 was there to fix cellular issues, but this is not fixed.

So…

• Is anyone else having this issue on their device when WiFi is disabled, or when out and about on cellular? [turn off WiFi, and access a non-cached page via Safari should highlight if this is the case]
• Any thoughts on the cause here? I’m hoping the new modem technology is just experiencing some software quirks and it’s not a deeper issue.
• Any other suggestions (other than permanently disabling Private Relay until 26.0.2)?

Please redirect me if there’s an existing threads. Thanks everyone!
JP

 

[Bigwaff]

Any other suggestions (other than permanently disabling Private Relay until 26.0.2)?

Nope. Private Relay has always been a nuisance for me; same flaky behavior you describe. I keep it disabled.

 

[loneshade]

Did you ever figure it out.

Here’s my issue, I’m in the UK so will be explaining with UK networks:

I have an iPhone 16 pro.
My main sim is running on the O2 network. Since being on 26.0.1 it has had issues loading pages and some apps due to the Private Relay, if I turn off private relay, then it will all work.
If I swap my mobile data to be used with my Three eSIM, there is no issue with the iCloud Private Relay and everything loads normally.

Now here’s the interesting bit.

My Mac Studio only connects to my 5G router which is running on a Tesco Mobile sim. (Tesco runs off O2 network) and when the e private relay is on, the internet won’t work unless I turn it off or turn on an additional VPN.

When I use my MacBook Air on this 5G router it’s the same issues, but when I take the MacBook to other locations it’s hit and miss with different providers.


So could it be the network providers or is it a bug somewhere either with the accounts linking the devices or a bug in the softwares. All devices are running on the latest iOS or macOS just not the beta versions.

 

[ManuCH]

I have these issues on and off at random whenever I decide to give iCloud Private Relay a try. It's been way too unreliable over the years so I've just given up on it.

I need something that works 100% of the time. Without iCloud Private Relay, I'm good. If I enable it, after a few days I will inevitably encounter the odd website that will refuse to load, and then I need to go disable it. I just can't be bothered.

 

[Jgpsolo]

Did you ever figure it out.

Here’s my issue, I’m in the UK so will be explaining with UK networks:

I have an iPhone 16 pro.
My main sim is running on the O2 network. Since being on 26.0.1 it has had issues loading pages and some apps due to the Private Relay, if I turn off private relay, then it will all work.
If I swap my mobile data to be used with my Three eSIM, there is no issue with the iCloud Private Relay and everything loads normally.

Now here’s the interesting bit.

My Mac Studio only connects to my 5G router which is running on a Tesco Mobile sim. (Tesco runs off O2 network) and when the e private relay is on, the internet won’t work unless I turn it off or turn on an additional VPN.

When I use my MacBook Air on this 5G router it’s the same issues, but when I take the MacBook to other locations it’s hit and miss with different providers.


So could it be the network providers or is it a bug somewhere either with the accounts linking the devices or a bug in the softwares. All devices are running on the latest iOS or macOS just not the beta versions.

That is interesting. Exactly as you describe. I am on O2. The issue is persisting but the 26.1 RC is out so the public release must just be round the corner. Hoping that solves things.

It could be an O2 carrier settings issue but it does seem to be since 26.0.1 so my money’s on some software issues in interaction with carriers. Your 16 Pro Max excludes a new modem problem as thy are different. Very little information on this out there at the moment.

 

[Jgpsolo]

Fair enough. I miss ‘it just works’.
If a feature is advertised (and paid for) I want to know it’s an option. I do notice less cross site tracking and annoying targeted advertising when enabled. It’s off for now, but this is the first time I’ve had issues.

I have these issues on and off at random whenever I decide to give iCloud Private Relay a try. It's been way too unreliable over the years so I've just given up on it.

I need something that works 100% of the time. Without iCloud Private Relay, I'm good. If I enable it, after a few days I will inevitably encounter the odd website that will refuse to load, and then I need to go disable it. I just can't be bothered.

 

[kcsdnmwbzt]

I‘d like to add three data points from my experience:

The situation is almost exactly the same for my devices (located in UK) but for one difference. It definitively not a 26 issue. How do I come to this comclusion? Evidence.

I use two iPhones:
- one on 26 (company) with an O2 company contract and eSIM
- one still on 18.7.1 (personal) with an O2 personal contract and eSIM

When Private arelay is enabled, neither phone will load web pages when on O2’s cellular network in the UK. As soon as I disable Private Relay, web pages get loaded normally. This reproducible on both phones.

My wife‘s phone, also on 18.7.1, also with O2 contract and eSIM: 100% the same behaviour. Also reproducible.

Private Relay has worked flawlessly with O2 for years on all of our phones. It sopped working when we returned from holidays abroad mid-October. Suffice to say that Private Relay works also flawlessly when roaming abroad. It is definitively an O2 UK issue.

 

[ManuCH]

I‘d like to add three data points from my experience:

The situation is almost exactly the same for my devices (located in UK) but for one difference. It definitively not a 26 issue. How do I come to this comclusion? Evidence.

I use two iPhones:
- one on 26 (company) with an O2 company contract and eSIM
- one still on 18.7.1 (personal) with an O2 personal contract and eSIM

When Private arelay is enabled, neither phone will load web pages when on O2’s cellular network in the UK. As soon as I disable Private Relay, web pages get loaded normally. This reproducible on both phones.

My wife‘s phone, also on 18.7.1, also with O2 contract and eSIM: 100% the same behaviour. Also reproducible.

Private Relay has worked flawlessly with O2 for years on all of our phones. It sopped working when we returned from holidays abroad mid-October. Suffice to say that Private Relay works also flawlessly when roaming abroad. It is definitively an O2 UK issue.

If you have the issue only on O2 UK, could it be you have some kind of parental control / Internet filtering service active? Many operators enable that by default, and some badly configured services can block iCloud Private Relay. Check your account with O2 to be sure.

 

[skment]

I‘d like to add three data points from my experience:

The situation is almost exactly the same for my devices (located in UK) but for one difference. It definitively not a 26 issue. How do I come to this comclusion? Evidence.

I use two iPhones:
- one on 26 (company) with an O2 company contract and eSIM
- one still on 18.7.1 (personal) with an O2 personal contract and eSIM

When Private arelay is enabled, neither phone will load web pages when on O2’s cellular network in the UK. As soon as I disable Private Relay, web pages get loaded normally. This reproducible on both phones.

My wife‘s phone, also on 18.7.1, also with O2 contract and eSIM: 100% the same behaviour. Also reproducible.

Private Relay has worked flawlessly with O2 for years on all of our phones. It sopped working when we returned from holidays abroad mid-October. Suffice to say that Private Relay works also flawlessly when roaming abroad. It is definitively an O2 UK issue.

I have the identical experience and also on O2 in the UK. Issues have started prior to me upgrading to iOS 26 and, bar below average O2 network quality, seem to be resolved with turning off the private relay.

Often, when on mobile data it turns off by itself, saying the private relay is unavailable.

Would be good to get O2’s view in the discussion…