How to Fix Cellular Data Not Working on iPad

Not being able to use cellular data on your iPad when you’ve no Wi-Fi around can turn out to be your worst nightmare. If you’re unable to understand and fix the issue despite your best efforts, we got you covered. This guide discusses several promising ways to fix cellular data not working on your iPad.

There can be multiple reasons why cellular data is not working on your iPad. Some prominent ones include poor network connectivity, system bugs, or SIM card issues. Due to this, your iPad might show a “No Service” or “Searching” in the status bar. Below are some ways to fix cellular data not working on your iPad.

1. Disable and Re-enable Cellular Data

Disabling and re-enabling cellular data is the first step to fixing mobile data not working on your iPad. Swipe down from the screen top and tap the Cellular Data toggle button in the control center to toggle it off and turn it back on. If data is on, the antenna icon should be green. Check for the LTE, 4G, or 3G symbols to confirm that your iPad is connected to the mobile data network.

Additionally, enable and disable airplane mode on your iPad to soft reset the network, potentially fixing the cellular data inaccessibility issue. Tap the Airplane Mode button in your iPad’s control center for this.

2. Enable Data Roaming

If you frequently travel outside the coverage area of your home cellular network (where your SIM/eSIM was originally issued), it is important to enable data roaming. Otherwise, your iPad won’t connect to the mobile data network. Just remember that your carrier might charge you extra for using mobile data on roaming. 

1. Open the Settings app and tap Cellular Data/Mobile Data.
2. Tap Cellular Data Options.
3. Turn on Data Roaming.
   

3. Restart Your iPad

As simple as it sounds, rebooting your iPad fixes most problems including issues with cellular data connectivity. Follow these steps to restart different models of iPads:

1. On iPads with FaceID or Touch ID in the top button, press and hold the physical top button simultaneously with either of the volume buttons to see the power menu and drag the slider to turn it off. To power up, press and hold the top button until the Apple logo shows up.
   
2. On iPads with a home button, press and hold the top button and drag the slider to shut it down. Repeat the action until the Apple logo appears to power it back on.
   
3. Alternatively, open the Setting app and tap General.
4. Scroll down to the bottom and press Shut Down. Once powered down, long-press the physical power button to boot it.
   

4. Re-insert the SIM Card

If you’re using an old iPad model that supports a physical SIM card, ejecting and re-inserting the SIM card should solve most cellular data issues. Make sure to thoroughly clean the SIM card and the physical tray to ensure dust particles are not causing any network issues.

5. Install Pending Carrier and System Updates

Inaccurate carrier configuration and obsolete system software are common reasons behind cellular data not working on your iPad. Head to your device settings and install all pending carrier and system updates to resolve the issue.

1. Open the Settings app and tap General.
2. Press About and wait a few seconds to receive a carrier update (if available).
   
3. Press Update when prompted to update the carrier network settings on your iPad.
4. Next, tap Software Update under General settings to install a pending iPadOS update.

6. Disable VPN

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are a known culprit behind disrupting cellular signals on an iPad. Head to your Settings app and disable the active VPN profile to check whether it resolves the cellular data not working issue. 

1. Open General settings on your iPad and tap VPN & Device Management.
   
2. Turn off the active VPN profile to disable it.

7. Reset All Network Settings

Resetting network settings can remedy the issue of cellular data not working on your iPad. Doing this will reset cellular settings, Wi-Fi network passwords, Bluetooth devices, APN, and VPN settings to default. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Open General Settings on your iPad.
2. Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPad.
   
3. Tap Reset and pick the Reset Network Settings option. Enter your device passcode or use FaceID when prompted to authorize the action. 
   

If resetting the network settings doesn’t help, you can back up your iPad data and perform a factory reset.

8. Contact Carrier Support or Apple Support

An issue with your carrier account such as plan expiration, or device blockage can also lead to cellular data not working on your iPad. Contact your network support team via their helpline number or install their dedicated app to learn precise details and troubleshoot the problem. 

If you get confirmation from your carrier that everything in your network and account has no issue, but you still can’t use the cellular data, contact Apple support. The Apple support team can give you more troubleshooting tips and offer more solutions to handle the issue on your iPad. If there’s a hardware issue, you can get your iPad replaced or repaired for free if it is covered under warranty.

Get Your iPad Back Online With Cellular Data

Cellular data issues are common and can happen on any iPad unexpectedly. Thankfully, you can resolve them with the above-listed methods before reaching out to Apple support for a hardware diagnosis. After scheduling an appointment, make sure to backup your iPad data before you bring it in for a repair.

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