Carrier iPad eSIM locked on Verizon?

[Lockon]

Took the Verizon physical sim out of my Mini 5, but there’s no option to sign up for other services. There’s only a scan qr code option. Am I going to have to buy a fully unlocked iPad directly from Apple in order to try other networks? Thanks.

 

[chscag]

I don't know about your Mini 5, but I took the sim card out of my Verizon iPad and replaced it with one from T-Mobile. Worked great. I don't think your Mini 5 is locked to Verizon. The new sim from T-Mobile was $10.00.

 

[rui no onna]

@chscag
OP is talking about the eSIM slot, not the physical Nano SIM one.

@Lockon
Possibly. AT&T did that on older Embedded Apple SIM iPads purchased from them. The Verizon ones had the Embedded Apple SIM completely disabled. This is why I'm hesitant to buy a new iPad from carriers.

 

[Apple_Robert]

If you bought the iPad from Verizon, there is no eSIM option available for other carriers. I don’t know if adding the carrier manually works, as I haven’t tried.

 

[AutomaticApple]

I don't know about your Mini 5, but I took the sim card out of my Verizon iPad and replaced it with one from T-Mobile. Worked great. I don't think your Mini 5 is locked to Verizon. The new sim from T-Mobile was $10.00.

You mean the eSIM?

 

[Lockon]

If you bought the iPad from Verizon, there is no eSIM option available for other carriers. I don’t know if adding the carrier manually works, as I haven’t tried.

This must be the case (I bought the iPad used). I inserted inactive AT&T and T-Mobile physical sims, and the iPad connected to their networks. So it may be just the eSIM that is locked. Very frustrating.

 

[Lockon]

@chscag
OP is talking about the eSIM slot, not the physical Nano SIM one.

@Lockon
Possibly. AT&T did that on older Embedded Apple SIM iPads purchased from them. The Verizon ones had the Embedded Apple SIM completely disabled. This is why I'm hesitant to buy a new iPad from carriers.

Thanks. Bought this second hand. Didn’t think to research this issue. Guess it’s time to sell it, and try again.

 

[Kegs22]

Don’t buy an AT&T one either—they lock their eSim too (at least my 10.5 Pro embedded Apple SIM). I was able to get it unlocked, but it was a bit of a process.

 

[Lockon]

Don’t buy an AT&T one either—they lock their eSim too (at least my 10.5 Pro embedded Apple SIM). I was able to get it unlocked, but it was a bit of a process.

Did At&t customer service help unlock it? I figure calling Verizon is a mute point.

 

[Kegs22]

Yes, AT&T customer service helped unlock it. The person I bought it from also called AT&T on my behalf, not sure if that was necessary or not. And then I needed to restore the iPad while tethered to iTunes on a computer to complete the unlocking process. For sure I would try restoring your iPad via iTunes while it is connected to a computer.

Regarding unlocking, I am referring to the embedded Apple SIM. The removable SIM was usable from the get go. By the way, several reps at AT&T claimed the iPad was unlocked when it really wasn’t. And if I went the AT&T unlock website and entered the IMEI #, it said it was unlocked when it wasn’t. So it took an AT&T rep who knew what they were doing to make the necessary change (and I went through several reps, including 2 at a store who didn’t have a clue).