How do i activate my sim card on my iPad?

On ipad, we have two types and which includes Wi-Fi only iPad and the cellular iPad. Before you going ahead to buy an iPad, you must have made up your mind to go for either Wi-Fi only iPad or the cellular iPad.

On today’s question of how do i activate my sim card on my iPad, we’ll be looking at the two types of iPads and how you can use a sim card on your iPad. But before going further into the article, I will first explain the two types of iPads as you wouldn’t have to waste your time searching for how to activate a sim card on Wi-Fi only iPad.

Cellular iPad

how do i activate my sim card on my iPad

This type of iPad has a provision for a sim card and which cellular data works on the iPad. On cellular iPad, you have the option to use Wi-Fi or cellular data for your internet activity which is not possible on Wi-Fi only iPad.

With cellular Wi-Fi, you will enjoy high speed internet connection if the iPad support 5G network. But the truth is that cellular ipads cost more than Wi-Fi only iPads.

You may be paying extra $300 on order to get a cellular ipad.

Wi-Fi only iPad

how do i activate my sim card on my iPad

This type of iPad doesn’t support cellular data but rather you only have Wi-Fi for your internet connectivity.

On Wi-Fi only iPad, there is no provision for a sim card and this literally means that you cannot use a sim card on Wi-Fi only iPad. If you happen to find yourself in a situation whereby there is no available Wi-Fi for your internet connectivity, then you can’t use internet on Wi-Fi only iPad.

Do all iPad have SIM card slot?

The answer is no. Not all iPads do have a sim card slot as we have Wi-Fi only iPad that doesn’t have a sim card slot and a cellular ipad that do have a sim card slot. 

Cellular ipads are more costly than the Wi-Fi only iPad with an additional $300 or more depending on the iPad.

As long as an iPad has a sim card slot, you can enjoy high speed internet especially on 5G network and if your network carrier has phone app you can download and install it on your iPad and make cellular calls from the app.

I’m saying this because ipads can’t make or receive calls except when paired with an iPhone. However, cellular ipads do have a cellular network for internet only. 

How do i activate my sim card on my iPad?

To activate a sim card on an iPad, you simply have to insert your sim into your iPad and it will automatically activate the sim.

There is no much work when it comes to activate a sim card. As long as the sim card is compatible with the iPad, there’s no any other step to take other than inserting the sim card into the iPad and it will automatically detect network service.

If you bought a new sim card and which you believe that should be activated, then you have to contact your network service provider and request for the activating process. 

Once you bought a new cellular ipad, all you needs to do is to remove the sim tray using the sim ejector and insert your sim card into the iPad. Definitely the sim card should automatically activate on your iPad unless the sim card is not compatible with your iPad, the sim card is disconnected or the sim card is faulty.


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How do I get my iPad to read my SIM card?

To get your iPad to read your SIM card, you have to make sure that the sim card is compatible with the iPad and active or not damaged. 

Most of the times when a sim card refuses to read on a phone or tablet, there are certain things that causes such problem and they are as follows;

  • The sim card is not compatible with the iPad or the phone. 
  • The phone or iPad is disconnected by the network service provider. 
  • The sim card slot is damaged. 
  • The sim card is faulty, damaged or dirty. 

The sim card is not compatible with the iPad or the phone: This is usually the case when the iPad or the phone is carrier locked and instead of using a sim card of the iPad network carrier you tried using sim card of another network. 

In this type of scenario there is no way the iPad or the phone will read the sim card because they are not compatible with each. 

The sim card slot is damaged: Another issue that causes an ipad or an iphone from reading a sim card is when the sim slot is practically damaged. Here, you will detect if you tried multiple sim cards and same problem persist. 

The only solution to this is to change the sim slot and this doesn’t cost much at all. Mostly it is between $2 to $5 to change a sim slot. 

 The sim card is faulty, damaged or dirty: Another problem that causes difficulty for an ipad to read a sim card is when the sim card is faulty, damaged or dirty. If a sim card is faulty or damaged, you only need to get a sim replacement but if the sim card is dirty, kindly clean of dirt from the sim card. 

Why does my iPad say no SIM card installed?

This is caused when the sim card has dirt on it and the iPad fails to read the sim card. To fix this problem, all you need to do is to remove the sim card and clean off dirt on the sim card. 

After you must have done that, insert the sim card back into the iPad and definitely your iPad should be able to read your sim card. This isn’t just all about ipad but also on iPhone and this method also fix the problem on iPhone. 

How to activate Cellular data on iPad Verizon

To activate Cellular data on iPad Verizon, you only need go to and check out their data plans for iPad. Next is to select your preferred data plan and subscribe to it. Once you have subscribed for a data plan on Verizon network, you can start browsing and there is nothing more to do.

How to get internet on iPad without WiFi

To get internet on ipad without Wi-Fi, then you simply have to subscribe to a data plan on your iPad. However, this is possible only if you have a cellular ipad that has a provision for a sim card.

On ipad, there are two ways to get internet and that includes Wi-Fi and cellular data. If you have a cellular ipad then you can use any of the Wi-Fi or cellular data for your internet activity on your iPad.

Can’t find cellular data on ipad

If you can’t find cellular data on ipad, then it simply means that you have Wi-Fi only iPad and it doesn’t support cellular data. The only means of internet connectivity is through Wi-Fi.

You can only find cellular data if you have the cellular iPad.

So this is how to activate sim card on an iPad and remember that once you insert a working sim card into your iPad, it will automatically activate on it’s own without you doing any further work to activate the sim card. 

About Kennedy

I'm Amaechi Uchenna by name, a mobile tech enthusiast who love writing articles about tips and tutorials especially relating to gadgets.

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