iPad not showing a phone number after adding a cellular data plan

An iPad, whether a Cellular model or not, is not capable of directly accessing Cellular Voice or Messaging features. An iPad with Cellular connectivity alone can only access IP-data services. 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 may be able to 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.

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.

ipads can't recieve sms at all or make mobile calls

the cellular modules are divided into a voice and a data version and the iPad only have the data version

and SMS use the voice module (which is why SMS was around long before data on mobiles were a thing)

to be able to send SMS to non apple devices an iPad needs an iPhone with the same apple id set on it to do it on it's behalf

if you want to know more

How to Text on the iPad

Ghostedbyhisowniphone wrote:

Hi there , I have added a mobile plan to my iPad. That number cannot be used to receive SMS or calls it is just a cellular data plan. My iPad shows no phone number paired to it , but it should even if it is just a data plan , am I right ? I remember that number was showing up the first time I added it , now it doesn’t. What am I doing wrong?

Ordinarily, you would see the number in Settings>General>About. I don't currently have an iPad with a cellular account, so I can't verify exactly where it is.

Is the cellular data working? If so, I wouldn't worry too much about it. You should be able to find the number on your cellular bill if you need it for something. The only thing I ever needed it for was if I needed to call my carrier. It speeded up access to the account.

even if a sim displays a number it's not a number one can call or SMS if it's present In a device without a voice cellular model.

Ghostedbyhisowniphone wrote:

Hi , just a little update.

erased my iPad. Won’t use it until this issue is resolved

Let us know how it all works out!