Apple no longer uses cellular data to activate its exclusive SIM cards for iPads.

Without WiFi, you’ll need to utilise a carrier card or an eSIM to access the internet.

To connect an older iPad to cell networks, you might need to put in a little extra effort. According to information obtained by MacRumors, the business ceased performing Apple SIM activations in some iPads as of October 1st. If you’re impacted, you’ll need to either utilise an eSIM in newer tablets or contact your carrier (and probably get a SIM card). If you already have mobile service enabled, this won’t effect you.

The iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 4, 5th and 6th generation base iPads, and the first 12.9-inch iPad Pro all came with a standard SIM card from Apple. The card was preinstalled on the 9.7-inch, 10.5-inch, and second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro models. Since the fall of 2018, all iPad models have supported eSIMs.

This choice fits into a larger pattern. In recent years, Apple has shifted its focus toward eSIMs, even going so far as to remove the SIM tray from the US versions of the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro. The technology is more widely supported than Apple SIM and eliminates the need for a physical slot, saving both money and space. However, if you intended to utilise cellular data on an older iPad and didn’t set up the SIM until later, this could be a pain.