I can't make nor receive calls using my iPad 5thgen with my sim card.

Your iPad is not a cellular telephone. It cannot make or receive calls. A cellular iPad can receive data using cellular technology.

If you happen to also own an iPhone, you may forward calls to/from your iPad using that iPhone. (Settings > Phone > Calls on Other Devices on your iPhone.)

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 an eSIM or physical 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. An iPad is not, and can never be, a standalone substitute for an iPhone.

However, when coupled 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. For the most part, an iPad using Continuity is able to access Cellular calling features, of the iPhone, when both the iPad an iPhone are in close physical proximity and are connected to the same WiFi network - but this is not the end of the story.

Now, if your both your Cellular Carrier and your calling plan support WiFi Calling, your iPad can make and receive calls independently of the iPhone - even when the iPhone is switched off, elsewhere, or using a different WiFi network. Not all carriers support full WiFi calling.

Assuming that you have an iPhone, the settings that you need to change/verify on your iPhone and iPad are:

On your iPhone

Settings > Mobile Data >WiFi Calling > 

• WiFi Calling on This iPhone - set to ON
• Add WiFi Calling for Other Devices - set to ON

Settings > Mobile Data > Calls on Other Devices > 

• Allow Calls on Other Devices - set to ON
• [Allow Calls On] - explicitly enable your new iPad from the list of devices.

On your iPad

Settings > FaceTime > Calls from iPhone > Calls from iPhone - set to ON

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

Continuity

Work across all of your devices seamlessly – Apple Support

SMS/MMS Messaging

Forward SMS/MMS text messages from your iPhone to your Mac or iPad - Apple Support

WiFi Calling

Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling – Apple Support

Making and receiving calls on iPad

Make and receive phone calls on iPad - Apple Support

When correctly configured, the iPad FaceTime App provides access to Cellular Voice Calling features - whilst Messages supports SMS/MMS messaging services.

In conclusion, in conjunction with an iPhone, it is theoretically possible to configure WiFi Calling service for your iPad. After WiFi Calling is enabled and configured, your iPad can make and receive cellular calls whilst connected to a WiFi network (caveat: any associated firewall must not block WiFi Calling or VoIP services) - even in absence of the iPhone.

iPads are not telephones. The SIM card or ESIM card are for connection to cellular networks for transmission and reception of data, but not voice. You may be able to find third party apps that support VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) on the Apple App Store that will support voice calls. One issue that you may need to address is that VOIP does not support 911 or emergency calls in your country or region.

iPads are not phones. They have no cellular voice circuitry. You can make voice over IP calls using apps like Facetime but not standard cellular calls.

Great minds think alike! 😀

Jeff Donald wrote:

Great minds think alike! 😀

I feel in good company with you and sberman!

IdrisSeabright wrote:

Jeff Donald wrote:

Great minds think alike! 😀

I feel in good company with you and sberman!

Thanks. I concur with you both.