Related Article: Use Messages on your iPhone or iPad

How do I change the carrier on my iPad. I recently changed carriers, but my iPad continues to show my old carrier.

I recently changed mobile carriers from AT&T. My iPad shows that I am on the CC network, but the carrier is listed as AT&T (old carrier). I have tried calling the new carrier and after trouble shooting they told me that my device is active and the sim is active. However, my iPad still shows that I am on the AT&T plan. I contacted AT&T and asked the to ensure my account was closed and the did. Still they show up as my active plan/carrier.


I cannot text from my ipad due to the conflict.


I need to delete the old carrier and add my new carrier and it's plan. H

Posted on Sep 5, 2023 2:39 PM

Reply
2 replies

Sep 5, 2023 2:48 PM in response to Art Joyner

Art Joyner wrote:

I cannot text from my ipad due to the conflict.

Your iPad is not a cellular telephone. This is true regardless of any cellular data coverage you may or may not have. An iPad has no ability to send or receive SMS or MMS messages.


If you happen to own an iPhone, you may then use Text Message Forwarding to send/receive these messages on your iPad via your iPhone.

Sep 5, 2023 2:59 PM in response to Art Joyner

Do you have an iPhone - or just an iPad?


An iPad, whether a Cellular model or not, is not capable of directly accessing Cellular Voice or SMS/MMS Messaging features. An iPad with either WiFi or Cellular connectivity alone can only access IP-data services. If you have added a DataSIM and Cellular plan to a WiFi+Cellular model of iPad, the number associated with the SIM card is only used to identify your account for billing purposes. This number is not used for making calls or sending messages.


However, when paired with an iPhone, the capabilities of iPad significantly broaden to include access to Cellular Voice and Messaging services of the associated iPhone - relayed to the iPad over WiFi using Apple’s continuity features.


More information about Continuity and the relevant Cellular services can be found here:


Continuity

Use Continuity to connect your Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple Watch – Apple Support


SMS/MMS Messaging

How to forward SMS/MMS text messages from your iPhone to your iPad, iPod touch or Mac - Apple Support



If you have an iPhone - and both iPad and iPhone are signed-in to iCloud with the same AppleID - to send SMS/MMS messages (green bubbles) from your iPad you must explicitly enable Text Message Forwarding for your iPad on your iPhone...


On your iPhone:

Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding - set to ON - and explicitly enable your iPad from the list of devices.


Also ensure that Messages in iCloud is enabled on both your iPhone and iPad:

Settings > [Your Name / AppleID] > Messages - set to ON



How do I change the carrier on my iPad. I recently changed carriers, but my iPad continues to show my old carrier.

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