You finally did it. You bought the iPad with the little plastic antenna band on the back. It’s the cellular model. Now, instead of hunting for sketchy Starbucks Wi-Fi or draining your iPhone battery through a personal hotspot, you’re supposed to have internet everywhere. But staring at the "No Service" icon in the top corner is frustrating. How to set up cellular on iPad isn’t always as "plug and play" as Apple’s marketing makes it seem, especially with the industry's messy transition from physical SIM cards to eSIM.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a maze. Depending on whether you have a brand-new iPad Pro M4 or an older iPad Mini, the steps change significantly.
The SIM vs. eSIM Dilemma
First, look at your iPad. If you have the newest 2024 models—the iPad Pro (M4) or iPad Air (M2)—Apple actually removed the physical SIM tray entirely. It’s eSIM only. You can’t go to a store, buy a piece of plastic, and poke it into the side with a paperclip. You’re forced into the digital world.
Older models still give you the choice. If you have a physical SIM card from a carrier like Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile, just find the tray. It’s usually on the bottom right side. Pop it, drop the nano-SIM in, and wait. If the bars don't appear in thirty seconds, you've likely got a carrier lock or an unprovisioned card.
The eSIM is where people get tripped up. It’s basically a chip soldered onto the logic board that mimics a physical card. To activate it, go to Settings > Cellular Data. If you see "Set Up Cellular Data," tap it. Apple has a feature called "Carrier Activation" where the carrier assigns the plan to your iPad’s EID (Electronic Identity Device) number before you even open the box. If you bought it from a carrier, it might just work the moment you sign into Wi-Fi.
Activating a New Plan on the Fly
What if you bought the iPad at the Apple Store and didn't pick a carrier? You can actually shop for a plan directly on the device. This is arguably the coolest part of knowing how to set up cellular on iPad.
Navigate to Settings > Cellular Data > Set Up Cellular Data. You’ll see a list of local carriers. In the U.S., you'll usually see the big three, plus maybe some boutique options. You pick a plan, put in your credit card info, and the eSIM downloads itself. It’s sort of like magic.
But there is a catch. Sometimes the iPad refuses to connect to the carrier’s server. If you’re stuck on a spinning wheel, check your iOS version. Apple pushes "Carrier Settings Updates" that are separate from main iOS updates. Go to Settings > General > About. If an update is available, a pop-up will appear instantly. Don't ignore it. It’s often the fix for "Searching..." or "No Service" errors.
The QR Code Route
Sometimes your carrier—maybe a smaller one like Mint Mobile or a global roaming provider like GigSky—will send you a QR code. This is the manual way to do it.
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- Go to Settings.
- Tap Cellular Data.
- Tap Add a New Plan.
- Use the iPad camera to scan the QR code provided by the carrier.
If the camera won't focus or the code is on the same iPad (which happens if it’s in your email), you can enter the details manually. You’ll need the SM-DP+ Address and an Activation Code. These are long, annoying strings of alphanumeric characters. Copy-paste is your friend here.
Transferring an Existing Plan
Moving a plan from an old iPad to a new one is where the real stress starts. Apple uses "eSIM Quick Transfer." On your new iPad, during the initial setup or in the Cellular settings, look for the option to Transfer from Nearby iPad.
Both devices need to be on iPadOS 17.4 or later. They both need Bluetooth on. They need to be sitting right next to each other. Your old iPad will ask if you want to move the number. Tap yes.
Wait.
Don't touch anything.
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If it fails—and it does fail about 20% of the time—you'll have to call your carrier. Tell them you need to "update the IMEI and EID" for your line. They will ask for these numbers, which you can find in Settings > General > About. Once they update their system, you usually just have to restart the iPad.
International Roaming and Local eSIMs
One of the biggest mistakes people make with how to set up cellular on iPad is paying their home carrier $10 a day to use data abroad. That’s a ripoff. Since iPads have eSIM, you can download an app like Airalo or Holafly before you even leave for the airport.
These apps install a secondary eSIM. When you land in London or Tokyo, you just go into settings and toggle the "Cellular Data" switch from your home plan to the travel plan. Just make sure "Data Roaming" is turned on for the travel SIM, or it won't connect to the foreign towers.
Troubleshooting the "No Service" Bug
If you've followed every step and you still have no bars, it’s time for the "Nuclear Option."
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Reset Network Settings.
Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
Warning: This will nukes all your saved Wi-Fi passwords and Bluetooth pairings. It’s a pain. But it also clears out the cache for cellular handshakes. Nine times out of ten, this fixes the "No Service" bug that happens when an iPad gets confused between LTE and 5G bands.
Also, check for a "Carrier Lock." If you bought your iPad used, it might be tied to AT&T. Even if you put a T-Mobile SIM in, it won't work. You can check this in Settings > General > About > Carrier Lock. It should say "No SIM restrictions." If it says anything else, you have to contact the original carrier to get it whitelisted.
Actionable Next Steps
To get your iPad connected right now, start by verifying your hardware. If you have a 2024 M4 Pro or M2 Air, skip the plastic cards and go straight to the eSIM menu. If you're moving a plan from an old device, ensure both are updated to the latest version of iPadOS to avoid the dreaded "Transfer Not Supported" error. For those traveling soon, download a third-party eSIM app today and verify your iPad is "unlocked" in the settings menu before you leave your home country. If all else fails, the EID number found in your "About" settings is the key piece of information any carrier support agent will need to manually push a signal to your device.