2026.07 "Improved Cellular Reliability" — Anyone Actually Seeing a Difference?

[ytblue]

Happy R1T Gen 2 owner with Connect+, successfully updated to both 2026.07 versions. Release notes claim "Improved reliability of Wi-Fi, cellular and app connectivity" — but I'm skeptical on the cellular side. There's a modem and AT&T SIM in there, and AT&T's network is what it is. A software update won't change that, and unless Rivian pushed a modem firmware update, I'm not sure how this improvement actually gets implemented. (If it's an eSIM, a profile update is at least theoretically possible.)

Still getting the annoying "network unavailable" alerts in all the same places with streaming interruptions. Anyone else?

Sponsored

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

It does seem slightly faster when switching from WiFi to cellular (when leaving home), and vice versa (when arriving home), but that might just be placebo effect, LOL.

Does RIDE menu show anything more detailed for cellular strength?

 

[VSG]

Happy R1T Gen 2 owner with Connect+, successfully updated to both 2026.07 versions. Release notes claim "Improved reliability of Wi-Fi, cellular and app connectivity" — but I'm skeptical on the cellular side. There's a modem and AT&T SIM in there, and AT&T's network is what it is. A software update won't change that, and unless Rivian pushed a modem firmware update, I'm not sure how this improvement actually gets implemented. (If it's an eSIM, a profile update is at least theoretically possible.)

Still getting the annoying "network unavailable" alerts in all the same places with streaming interruptions. Anyone else?

So you're skeptical of software in general? Or is it just that you haven't noticed anything during your 1-day of using the latest update?

Search for "software defined radio" to see how these things work nowadays. No hardware changes needed for a lot of things.

 

[ytblue]

So you're skeptical of software in general? Or is it just that you haven't noticed anything during your 1-day of using the latest update?

Actually I update all my software as soon after release as possible so opposite of skeptical. My team and I developed an enhanced mobile connectivity App for iOS that was approved by Apple in less than a half a day! I spent several hours since the release driving around to see how it worked. And I received the network unavailable alert in all of the same places I received it before the update. But I'll keep you posted.

 

[emoore]

My WiFi was working great until this update (or maybe the previous one) broke it. I get network unavailable all the time and just had mobile service out. They found nothing wrong. So I guess it’s a software bug. Hope they fix it in the next update.

 

[Time2Roll]

My XM stays connected. OK one time it seemed to have an issue but reset itself after maybe 30 seconds of driving. Previously I had to wait 1 to 5 starts before it worked again.

 

[TXR1S]

My Wi-Fi connecting to my phone hotspot was working OK-Ish before this update. Now it’s terrible. Constantly says unstable WiFi connection. This software team is terrible and I’m tired of pretending otherwise.

 

[MikeInFlagAz]

For me the post update performance is noticeably better. Spotify connects immediately now when I get in the car and drive off. Previously it was a case of having to drive a mile or so from home before it was a reliable connection. AT&T isn't very good in my area so any improvement in connectivity seems to go a long way.

 

[beatle]

PaaK is worse for me, back to its old tricks of forcing me to use the app to unlock the truck again, more frequently than before. Commands also fail to send (start charging, turn on climate) unless I send an unlock command first and then it stops throwing errors.

I did have a spat of cell connectivity issues several months back where Spotify would simply refuse to play until I came home to wifi. That's since been fixed for several months.

 

[iamnid]

PaaK is worse for me, back to its old tricks of forcing me to use the app to unlock the truck again, more frequently than before. Commands also fail to send (start charging, turn on climate) unless I send an unlock command first and then it stops throwing errors.

I did have a spat of cell connectivity issues several months back where Spotify would simply refuse to play until I came home to wifi. That's since been fixed for several months.

I don't think I've EVER gotten any of the app commands to work unless I send an "unlock" or "lock" command first to wake the vehicle up.

 

[DynamoLA]

My WiFi was working great until this update (or maybe the previous one) broke it. I get network unavailable all the time and just had mobile service out. They found nothing wrong. So I guess it’s a software bug. Hope they fix it in the next update.

I just came here to see if others were experiencing this issue. After this update my R1S is saying that my wi-fi network is unavailable, or it’s available for a few seconds and then says unavailable. Meanwhile every other device has full connectivity and we have a very strong signal in our driveway. Whatever they did messed up the wi-fi connection very badly.

 

[emoore]

I just came here to see if others were experiencing this issue. After this update my R1S is saying that my wi-fi network is unavailable, or it’s available for a few seconds and then says unavailable. Meanwhile every other device has full connectivity and we have a very strong signal in our driveway. Whatever they did messed up the wi-fi connection very badly.

Agree. And now I'll have to wait until I can download the next update over cellular hoping that they fixed it. Already had remote service out and they didn't find any hardware issues so it has to be a software issue that they broke with the last update.

 

[rodhx]

Cell performance after 2026.07 is demonstrably worse. I live in a weak area for ATT/Tmo, so much so we had to change to Verizon network for consistent service. However I have been impressed the R1T & R1S reception over the last four years. The trucks' reception was stronger than any phone we've had. After 2026.07 I now completely lose connection in spots that were never an issue before.

PAAK has always worked well for me so no change there.

 

[DynamoLA]

Agree. And now I'll have to wait until I can download the next update over cellular hoping that they fixed it. Already had remote service out and they didn't find any hardware issues so it has to be a software issue that they broke with the last update.

Here’s the weird thing I just noticed: when I check my car’s wi-fi connection in the app it says it’s connected to wi-fi and the signal is strong:

When I go in the car (at the same time) the display in the vehicle says “no internet connection- network issues”.

So now the app says the car is connected, the car says it’s not. More confused than ever.

 

[emoore]

Here’s the weird thing I just noticed: when I check my car’s wi-fi connection in the app it says it’s connected to wi-fi and the signal is strong:

When I go in the car (at the same time) the display in the vehicle says “no internet connection- network issues”.

So now the app says the car is connected, the car says it’s not. More confused than ever.

I get the exact same thing. And the app always says it’s connected for awhile and then says it’s not.

Sponsored